Stakeholders review and input into National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for St. Kitts and Nevis

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) co-facilitated the national consultation with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources, Cooperatives, Environment and Human Settlements in St. Kitts and Nevis.  The aim of the consultation was to enable stakeholders to review and refine the priorities and strategies for adaptation and the framework for implementation of the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, including the institutional arrangements for coordinated cross-sectoral action, the key implementing organisations and financing. 

The consultation included a series of focused meetings with key sectors and a national workshop that brought together stakeholders from government, private sector and civil society organisations representing various sectors and interests.

Ms. Cheryl Jeffers, Conservation Officer, Department of the Environment noted in her opening remarks at the national workshop:

“Adaptation is everyone’s business.  The input and support of key sectoral agencies, including agriculture, fisheries, health, water and tourism, and civil society groups in St. Kitts and in Nevis is critical and there needs to be a collaborative approach to effectively address climate change and related impacts.” 

She also highlighted the importance of investing in adaptation and the critical need for support from the Green Climate Fund and other climate finance mechanisms.  

The wider public and other interested parties are also invited to review and input into the draft Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for St. Kitts and Nevis.  The draft strategy is available online at: http://www.canari.org/enhancing-environmental-management-legal-and-policy-frameworks.  All comments should be submitted by July 31 2018.

This initiative is being implemented under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Global Climate Change Alliance Project, iLAND Resilience – Promoting a Climate for Change, funded by the European Union (EU).  The overall aim of the iLAND Resilience project is to support the implementation of the OECS St. George’s Declaration of Principles for Environmental Sustainability, namely the protection and sustained productivity of the OECS countries’ natural resources.  CANARI is providing technical assistance to the Department of Environment under this initiative to create an enabling policy framework to build the resilience of livelihoods, the economy and natural ecosystems in St. Kitts and Nevis.