Developing a civil society agenda for climate change in Saint Lucia

Country: Saint Lucia

Year: 2011

Funded by: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Port of Spain

Amount: 36,250 USD

Background

Civil society in Saint Lucia developed an action agenda to address climate change in 2011.

Saint Lucia’s geographic location, topographic profile and specific social and economic factors make it vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.

Historically, hurricanes and floods have had the most disastrous impacts. In the last half century, seven storms and hurricanes have resulted in the loss of life and property. These events cause the diversion of limited resources from other development priorities towards relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

Human activities have also enhanced the risk from natural events. Deforestation, inappropriate land use, poorly planned physical development, and certain agricultural practices increase the risk of landslides and flooding that cause substantial damage to property, crops and coastal resources.

Saint Lucia depends on surface sources to meet its water requirements. Severe, prolonged drought events have reduced the attractiveness of the islands natural scenery and caused potable water rationing which have diminished the appeal of the tourism product. Droughts have also adversely affected agricultural development.

The government of Saint Lucia has prepared a National Climate Change Policy and Adaptation Plan providing broad guidance on processes, plans and strategies to address the impacts of climate change and guide adaptation. A “civil society agenda for climate change” will identify specific roles and responsibilities for civil society and describe processes, plans and strategies to include civil society in the decision making and implementation of responses to the impacts of climate change.  (See project concept.)

Project goal

The goal of the project is to build the capacity for civil society to participate in decision-making and action to address the negative impacts of climate change on natural resources and associated livelihoods.

Project objectives

  • to enhance the understanding of civil society about climate change, the impacts on natural resources and associated livelihoods, and potential actions to address this.
  • to enhance the awareness and understanding of civil society about what the Government of Saint Lucia officially plans to do to address the impacts of climate change on natural resources and associated livelihoods.
  • on natural resources and associated livelihoods.

Project activities

  • Four-day workshop to enhance the understanding of civil society about climate change, the impacts on natural resources and associated livelihoods and to support civil society in developing a plan of action on what they will do to address the impacts of climate change
  • Development of a civil society agenda for action on climate change a 6 page document describing what is at stake, identifying the need for a civil society agenda on climate change, detailing priorities, indicating key interests and proposing roles that civil society could assume to drive the implementation of the plan
  • Hosting of a Facebook discussion to contribute to sharing of lessons learned and experiences among workshop participants and the wider Caribbean on the process of developing the citizen’s agenda .
  • Posting of YouTube videos to document and share experiences and lessons learned about developing a plan of action to address the impacts of climate change on natural resources and associated livelihoods.
  • Issuing of Media releases  to the general public in Saint Lucia and for CANARI’s website to advise the general public about the development of the civil society’s agenda on climate change.
  • Posting of a project webpage on CANARI’s website to contribute to sharing of lessons learned and experiences among civil society organizations in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean.

Related news releases

Publications/documents

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