Small island states are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Their small size, remote locations, limited natural resources, and fragile ecosystems make them especially susceptible to higher temperatures, sea level rise, and more frequent and severe storms. 

Tourism—the lifeblood of many small island states—depends on healthy ecosystems. Decreased tourism revenues mean reduced incomes and cutbacks in public expenditures for social services, education, and infrastructure. 

Six Caribbean nations—Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines—are part of a regional PPCR pilot aimed at tackling risks and vulnerabilities common to all Caribbean countries. The program will facilitate a regional approach to data management and monitoring in close collaboration with Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) agencies, such as the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.

Although each country will implement its own national climate resilience program, the regional work program can bolster even the most modest efforts by addressing strategic climate change initiatives that can be administered more efficiently and cost-effectively at the regional level. These regional initiatives include climate modeling and monitoring, technical assistance to improve land use management and spatial planning, awareness raising, and creation of a policy and institutional framework for climate-resilient development.

In Jamaica, for example, the government is committed to mainstreaming climate change risks into national policies and plans, identifying strategic priorities, adopting best practices, and promoting public awareness of climate change issues. The PPCR funds will complement ongoing adaptation activities at the local and national levels in support of the priorities identified in close consultation with stakeholders. These priorities include water resources, agriculture and food security, health, tourism, and human settlements and coastal resources. Lessons learned at the country level will be shared with other CARICOM nations.

Another example is the government of St. Lucia, which has also made a concerted effort to address climate change challenges. Over the past two decades, the government has played a leading role in the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change project and the World Bank-funded Second Saint Lucia Disaster Management Project, among others. A National Climate Change Committee of government officials and NGO representatives is guiding the efforts.

The government plans to use PPCR funds to build on and expand those strategic efforts. Among the key goals are an enhanced national capacity to capture and analyze climate data, use of geographic information systems to strengthen institutions and investments, and the enactment of appropriate national policies and legislation to strengthen climate resilience.

The regional PPCR can help strengthen such national programs and facilitate better regional planning and readiness as well as expand dialogue with neighbors. The overall success of the regional approach will depend on the contributions of individual countries. Close MDB collaboration and the active participation of other partners will help maximize the impact.

Expected Results: Caribbean countries are taking concrete steps to improve their disaster preparedness and reduce their vulnerability to climate change. CIF funds will support more sophisticated climate data collection and monitoring, increased public awareness of potential risks, and stronger regional cooperation.