The Caribbean Regional
Track of the Pilot Programme
for Climate Resilience

Improving and managing geospatial data

There is a need for improved access to high quality, updated bathymetric (underwater depth) and nearshore topographic data to support climate change analysis related to sea-level rise, storm surge, flooding in the Caribbean. This component will provide the critical geospatial data for ongoing adaptation planning at the regional and national levels.

Activities include:

• Conducting bathymetric and nearshore topographic research for specific vulnerable locations in the six PPCR countries in the Caribbean.
• Processing of the data from the research to create geospatial outputs.
• Production and sharing of geospatial outputs with key national and regional stakeholders to support their ongoing climate analysis and adaptation planning.
• Development and dissemination of case studies.

Expansion of Regional Climate Monitoring Networks

Through this component area we are supporting the  expansion of the regional climate monitoring network and building the capacity of national and regional structures to deliver relevant climate products and services.  It is also strengthening the Caribbean’s linkages with global climate information centers.

Activities include:

• Improving the acquisition of weather data across Caribbean PPCR countries
• Developing priority climate products and services for some PPCR countries
• Organising capacity building workshops to help national meteorological offices deliver on their expanded role as national climate centres
• Increasing the capacity for backup storage of regional climate data

Improving Availability of Downscaled and Expanded Climate Projection Models

As climate challenges intensify, there is an increasing need for climate data to be available at scales relevant to the Caribbean. Reliable climate data for the region will support adaptation planning, decision making and sectoral level modelling efforts. It is also establishing a framework linking regional and sectoral climate models for adaptation planning in four key sectors and developing a Regional Coastal Zone Integrated Information Management System.

Activities include:

• Providing a high performance computer system (housed at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus) that is working to deliver regional and country level climate projections and high resolution maps for the Caribbean.
• Establishing a framework for linking regional climate models to sector models to support adaptation planning and decision making in the agriculture, health, water and marine resources sectors.
• Developing a Regional Coastal Zone Integrated Information Management System, including producing high resolution climatic data for the coastal zone.

Supporting key adaptation initiatives

This component is enhancing resilience across these main areas:

Health– to reduce climate variability and climate change related risks from the mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue,Chikungunya and Zika Virus

Marine Resources-to reduce climate variability and climate change related risks on the fisheries industry;

Agriculture-to improve the availability of climate resilient varieties of plants and agricultural production systems;

Water-to develop an enabling environment for Rainwater Harvesting Systems via policy and capacity building;

and through Mainstreaming climate change considerations into development planning including the use of climate change risk and adaptation tools.