Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean Project (ACCC)

The Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean (ACCC) Project succeeded the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC) project. ACCC, which lasted from 2001 to 2004, was overseen by the World Bank, with support provided by CARICOM.

This project was designed to sustain activities initiated under CPACC and to address issues of adaptation and capacity building not undertaken by CPACC, thus further built capacity for climate change adaptation in the Caribbean region. ACCC also facilitated the transformation of the Regional Project Implementation Unit (RPIU) originally established through CPACC into a legal regional entity for climate change (the Centre). It did so by providing the resources to develop a comprehensive business plan for the Centre and a strategy to ensure its financial sustainability (as noted below).

ACCC had nine components. They were:

  1. Project design and business plan development for a regional climate change centre;
  2. Public education and outreach;
  3. Integration of climate change into a physical planning process using a risk management approach to adaptation to climate change;
  4. Strengthening of regional technical capacity, in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), the University of the West Indies (Scenario Projection and Establishment of Climate Change Master’s Programme), and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute, in order to enhance association between Caribbean and South Pacific small island States;
  5. Integration of adaptation planning in environmental assessments for national and regional development projects;
  6. Implementation strategies for adaptation in the water sector;
  7. Formulation of adaptation strategies to protect human health;
  8. Adaptation strategies for agriculture and food; and
  9. Fostering of collaboration/cooperation with non-CARICOM countries.

The outcomes of ACCC included:

  • Development and distribution of risk management guidelines for climate change adaptation decision making; Political endorsement (by CARICOM) of the business plan and establishment of the basis of financial self-sustainability for the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC);
  • Development of a guide to assist environmental impact assessment (EIA) practitioners in CARICOM countries to integrate climate change in the EIA process;
  • A draft regional public education and outreach (PEO) strategy;
  • Development and handover to MACC (see below) of the organization’s website;
  • Successful launch of a Master’s Programme in climate change (the first set of graduates, in 2003, included eight students);
  • Statistically downscaled climate scenarios development for Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados;
  • Staff training and development at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in climate trend analysis in order to strengthen climate change capacity;
  • Dialogue established with the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Programme (PICCAP) for collaboration on issues related to climate change; and
  • Implementation of pilot projects on adaptation studies in the water health and agricultural sectors.
  • During ACCC’s tenure, negotiations took place for a third project. The Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change (MACC) project

Selected project reports and products

GCSI Global Change Strategies International and deRomilly and deRomilly Ltd. (2005): Adapting to Climate Change in the Caribbean (ACCC), Final Report

CARICOM. ACCC Project (2004): Guide to the integration of Climate Change Adaptation into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Trotz, U. et al., Eds., Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Barbados

CARICOM. ACC Project (2003): Caribbean Risk Management Guidelines for Climate Change Adaptation Decision Making. Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Barbados

Brklacich, M. (2003): Adaptation to Climate Change in the Caribbean (ACCC) Project 8: Climatic Change Impacts on Agriculture And Food Security in the Caribbean: A Food Importation Perspective. Final Report. Adapting to Climate Change in the Caribbean RPIU, Barbados

Moore, R. (2003): Impact and Response Scenarios for Coastal Flooding in Barbados and Guyana for the Enhancement of National Disaster Organizations Flood Hazard Preparedness Planning of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency

Oderson, D. F. P. (2003): A Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Procedures in CARICOM States Participating in the Adapting to Climate Change in the Caribbean Project (ACCC) Project

Additional documents under the ACCC project are available upon request. Click here to view the complete list