In December 2015, world leaders, members of civil society and other key stakeholders gathered at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), in Paris, France. Negotiations resulted in a globally-binding agreement to combat climate change, which included a reference to CARICOM’s position to maintain a cap on the world’s temperature rise at 1.5 degrees.

While the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) is looking forward to partnering with CARICOM governments and other partners on action to address climate change in the Caribbean, we are pleased to share with you two recent policy briefs which we hope will contribute to a strong Caribbean voice on these matters.

The two policy briefs are:

1. CANARI Policy Brief #17: Strengthening institutional arrangements in Trinidad and Tobago to facilitate climate change adaptation policy formulation and execution

2. CANARI Policy Brief #20: Enabling civil society in Saint Lucia to adapt to the impacts of climate change

Policy Briefs 17 and 20 were produced under CANARI’s Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme.

CANARI, in collaboration with the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) conducted participatory institutional assessments in Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia of the readiness to respond to climate change. The study was funded by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), and managed by CARIBSAVE as part of the Caribbean Climate and Development Research Call. Please see here for the full technical reports and more information on this research.

In both countries, the research found that key sectors remain vulnerable to climate change impacts due to inadequate adaptation responses. Further, national climate change adaptation planning and investment efforts need to more effectively engage civil society. Civil society organisations need to be made aware of the needs and the opportunities available to them to engage in national adaptation efforts, and there should be stronger communication, coordination and collaboration among sectors, and between government and civil society.

CANARI is an independent regional technical institute working across the Caribbean islands since 1989 to facilitate and promote participatory approaches to natural resource governance to conserve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem goods and services, and enhance livelihood benefits and well-being of the poor. CANARI’s Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme encompasses research, communication, capacity building and facilitating resilience building on the ground.

Both policy briefs can be obtained from iNews Cayman by emailing [email protected]