Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change Project (CPACC)
In 1994, Barbados hosted the Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States. The resulting Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) focused on sustainable development through adaptation to climate change impacts. In response to the BPoA, Caribbean governments approached the Organization of American States (OAS) to request support for the development of regional projects aimed at building capacity to adapt to climate change. The OAS and CARICOM jointly organized a series of national and regional workshops to facilitate maximum stakeholder consultation on climate change issues.
The result was a proposal for the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) project, which was submitted for funding to the Global Environment Facility (GEF). CPACC was approved and granted USD $5.6 million. Lasting from 1997 to 2001, CPACC was implemented by the World Bank, executed by the OAS, and overseen by a Project Advisory Committee chaired by CARICOM. Implementation was carried out by a Regional Project Implementation Unit based in Barbados.
The goal of the CPACC project was to build capacity in the Caribbean region for the adaptation to climate change impacts, particularly sea level rise. This was accomplished through the completion of vulnerability assessments, adaptation planning, and capacity building activities. Participating countries in CPACC included the majority of CARICOM members. These are: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
CPACC consisted of four regional projects and five pilot projects. The regional projects were:
- Design and establishment of a sea level/climate monitoring network;
- Establishment of databases and information systems;
- Inventory of coastal resources; and
- Use and formulation of initial adaptation policies.
The five pilot projects were:
- Coral reef monitoring for climate change (Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica);
- Coastal vulnerability and risk assessment (Barbados, Guyana, and Grenada);
- Economic valuation of coastal and marine resources (Dominica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago);
- Formation of economic/regulatory proposals (Antigua and Barbuda, and St Kitts and Nevis); and
- National communications (St Vincent and the Grenadines).
Specific project achievements included:
- Establishment of a sea level and climate monitoring system – A total of 18 monitoring systems, along with the related data management and information networks, were installed in 12 countries.
- Improved access and availability of data – An integrated database for the monitoring of climate change effects was established through the Inventory for Coastal Resources and the institutionalization of coral reef monitoring.
- Increased appreciation of climate change issues at the policy-making level – CPACC enabled more unification among regional parties and better articulation of regional positions for negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol.
- Meeting country needs for expanded vulnerability assessment – Pilot vulnerability studies were carried out in Grenada, Guyana, and Barbados.
- Establishment of coral reef monitoring protocols – This resulted in a significant increase in monitoring and early warning capabilities.
- Articulation of national climate change adaptation policies and implementation plans – Such policies and plans were formulated in 11 participating countries.
- Creation of a network for regional harmonization – CPACC developed initial collaborative efforts with a number of existing regional agencies. Partners include PetroTrin of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as key players in the insurance and banking sectors.
Before completion of CPACC, the Caribbean region successfully negotiated a CAD $3.5 million grant from the Canadian Climate Change Development Fund of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). This grant supported CPACC’s successor, the Adapting to Climate Change in the Caribbean (ACCC) project.
Selected project reports and products
- Final Report
Unit for Sustainable Development of the Organization of American States and the CPACC Regional Project Implementation Unit (2002): Final Report of the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) Project. April 1997 – December 2001 Executive Summary
Unit for Sustainable Development of the Organization of American States and the CPACC Regional Project Implementation Unit (2002): Final Report of the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) Project
- General Report
Collymore, J. (2001): Climate Change: Adaptability and Disaster Preparedness
- Component 3: Inventory of Coastal Resources and Uses
Daniel, E., and Hughes, J. 1998: Inventory of Coastal Resources in St. Kitts and Nevis
Essa Technologies Ltd. (2001): Component #3: Inventory of Coastal Resources and Uses: Coastal Resource Information System Manual
Khan, S. M. and Rahaman, Z. (1998): Coastal Inventories and Information Management
King, I. C. (1998): Review of GIS Capability and Needs in CPACC Partner Institutions
King, I. C., Opadeyi, J., Daniel, C., and Walling, L. (n.d.): A Regional Approach to the Application of GIS for Adaptation Planning to Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise
Perch, L. (2001): Enhancing Beach Management: An Integrated Adaptive Approach. Case Studies of Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis
Phillips, E., Deleveaux, V., and Albury, C. (1998): Inventory of Coastal Resources and Use for the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
- Component 4: Formulation of Policy Framework for Integrated Adaptation Planning and Management
CARIBISS (2001): National Climate Change Issues Paper (Dominica). In Support of the Implementation of Component 4: Formulation of a Policy Framework for Integrated (Adaptation) Planning and Management
CPACC Regional Project Implementation Unit (2001): Guide to the Preparation of Country Policy Papers on Climate Change Adaptation Planning and Management. In Support of the Implementation of Component 4: Formulation of Policy Framework for Integrated Adaptation Planning an Management
D’Auvergne, C., James, A., and Barrow, D. (2001): St. Lucia Country Paper on National Climate Change Issues: Towards the Implementation of CPACC Component 4: Formulation of a Policy Framework for Integrated Coastal and Marine Management Mechanisms
James, P. (2001): Antigua and Barbuda Country Paper on National Climate Change Issues
Nurse, L. A. (2000): A Guide to the Preparation of Country Papers on National Climate Change Issues. In Support of the Implementation of Component 4: Formulation of Policy Framework for Integrated Adaptation Planning and Management
Usher, W. O. M. (2001): National Climate Change Adaptation Issues in Belize
- Component 5: Coral Reef Monitoring for Climate Change Impacts
Bood, N. D. (2001): Component 5 Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Belize
Creary, M. C. (2001): Component 5: Coral Reef Monitoring for Climate Change Impacts, Jamaica 2000
- Component 6: Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Atherley, K. (2001): Socio-Economic Assessment of Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise in Barbados
Braithwaite, A. and Miller, A. (2001): Coral and Fish Assessments for Grenada and Carriacou, 2001. Technical Assistance for the Implementation of Component Six – Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Bynoe, P., and Bynoe, M. (2000): Final Report on a Socio-Economic Assessment of the Vulnerability of Guyana’s Coast
Diaram, R. (1999): Guyana’s Experience with CPACC’s Screening Assessment of Coastal Vulnerability. Vulnerability and Adaptation Workshop,20-22 July 1999, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Ifill, A. (2001): Investigation of the Potential of Contamination of Groundwater in Barbados by Saline Intrusion due to Sea Level Rise
Julien, J. D. (200): An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Legal Framework to Cope with the Potential Effects of Sea Level Rise in Guyana
Moore, R. (2002): Barbados’s Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Moore, R. (2002): Grenada’s Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Moore, R. (2002): Guyana’s Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment
Narayan, K. (2001): Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment: Guyana
Nicholls, R. J. (2001): Guidelines for Screening Assessment
Nurse, L. (2000): A Progress Report on the Status of Work in Barbados, Grenada and Guyana and A review of the Grenada Beach Erosion Study
Oderson, D. (2000): An Assessment of the Adequacy of the Legal Framework to Cope with the Potential Effects of Sea Level Rise in Barbados. Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change
Volonte, C. R. (1999): C6: Component 6: Coastal Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (Barbados, Grenada, Guyana) Screening Assessments Draft
- Component 7: Economic Valuation of Coastal and Marine Resources
Dharmaratne, G., and Strand, I. (1999): Implementation of Component 7: Economic Valuation of Coastal and Marine Resources. “Putting a Value on Our Precious Resources”
Dharmaratne, G. and Strand, I. (2000): Draft Interim Report. Component 7: Evaluation of Economic and Regulatory Methodologies. Execution of Pilot Studies (Phase 1) Submitted in Fulfillment of the UWICED/CPACC Service Agreement No. 99016
- Component 8: Formulation of Economic and Regulatory Proposals
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Oceanic Service, International Programs Office, U. S. Department of Commerce (n.d.): Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change Component 8: A Review of Economic Instruments and Methodologies for Meeting Environmental Goals
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Oceanic Service, United States Department of Commerce (2000): Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change Component 8: Legal and Institutional Mechanisms for Coastal Management
Additional documents under the CPACC project are available upon request. Click here to view the complete list