United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Policy and Legislation Section, TLB, (Division on Technology and Logistics) DTL / UNS: sub-regional headquarters for the Caribbean, Trinidad (UNECLAC), United Nations Environment Programme

Climate change impacts on coastal transport infrastructure in the Caribbean: enhancing the adaptive capacity of SIDS (UNDA project): Regional technical assistance project focusing on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) - Case studies focusing on two vulnerable SIDS in the Caribbean Jamaica and St. Lucia were carried out to enhance the knowledge and understanding of climate change impacts on coastal transport infrastructure at the national level and to assist in the development of a transferable methodology for assessing climate-related impacts and adaptation options for critical coastal transport infrastructure in SIDS. High-quality flood maps, focusing on the ports and airports considered in depth as part of the case studies in Saint Lucia and Jamaica, illustrate the vulnerability to marine flooding of key international transport assets in both countries and under different climate scenarios, this includes the 1.5 C global warming scenario (included as an aspirational goal in the Paris Climate Agreement), which may be reached as early as in the 2030s. Vulnerability to some other climate factors was identified using a ‘thresholds method’ developed as part of the methodology. These findings illustrate the important and urgent need for further technical assistance in the design and implementation of effective adaptation measures for critical international transport assets in project countries as well as in other SIDS. An academic paper, relating some of the key findings of the case studies, is under review for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.- A methodology was developed to assist transport infrastructure managers and other relevant entities in SIDS in assessing climate-related impacts and adaptation options in relation to coastal transport infrastructure (‘Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Framework for Caribbean Costal Transport Infrastructure’). The methodology provides a structured framework for the assessment of climate-related impacts with a view to identifying priorities for adaptation and effective adaptation planning for critical coastal transport infrastructure. The methodology is transferable, subject to location specific modification, for use in other SIDS within the Caribbean and beyond. - The draft case studies and methodology were reviewed and refined at a technical Expert Group meeting in June 2016 and were presented and discussed at two national capacity-building workshops held in Saint Lucia (24-26 May 2017, Rodney Bay) and in Jamaica (30 May - 01 June 2017, Kingston). The workshops also provided an important opportunity for training and demonstration, as well as for feedback by a wide range of national stakeholders, with a view to finalizing the case studies. A follow up technical meeting with key stakeholders from St. Lucia and Jamaica was convened, back-to-back with the regional workshop in Barbados, in December 2017, to take stock of progress, identify obstacles and lessons learned as well as consider further technical assistance needs.- To ensure significant multiplier effects, a regional capacity-building workshop on ‘Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Caribbean Coastal Transport Infrastructure’ was held in Barbados (5-7 December 2017, Bridgetown), bringing together seaports and airports authorities as well as a range of other stakeholders, experts, development partners, and organizations from the wider Caribbean region (21 countries and territories). The regional workshop provided an opportunity to present and discuss the findings of the national case studies for Jamaica and Saint Lucia, and to provide demonstrations and training on methodology developed under the project. In the light of the impacts of the devastating hurricane season of 2017, the regional workshop also served as an important topical forum for exchange and discussion of collaborative action amongst stakeholders in the region. Regional workshop participants, along with participating international organizations, experts and academics expressed the need for continued work in the area and identified several specific areas for follow-up. - A dedicated web-based information-sharing platform was established under the project contributing to the long-term sustainability of project benefits and to ensure a significant multiplier effects for Caribbean SIDS as well as SIDS in other regions. All project documentation, including the case studies, methodology, related guidance and training materials, and a compilation of practices are available on the web-platform.