Science for Humanitarian Emergencies and Resilience (SHEAR) scoping study: Annex 4 - Current initiatives and research priorities for the Caribbean

Abstract

This report was commissioned to provide evidence based recommendations on priorities for future research on weather related risk assessments and early warning systems and their integration into decision making in the Caribbean. Section 1 of the report provides background information on weather and climate related hazards experienced in the Caribbean while highlighting some of the challenges currently faced by disaster managers and other decision-makers. Information on the regional response to these events has also been provided. A gap analysis regarding weather and climate related interventions can be found in Section 2. The current state of risk assessments and early warning systems is compared to future plans in order to highlight existing shortfalls. Reference is made to a comprehensive assessment of the institutional and technical needs of the Caribbean region to support multi-hazard early warning systems and risk assessment commissioned by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Section 3 collates recently completed and ongoing projects, initiatives and programmes that directly or indirectly support weather and climate risk assessments and early warning systems in the Caribbean. Resource links have been provided should more information on the projects be required. There are four main frameworks which govern and guide disaster management and climate related interventions in the Caribbean. These regional frameworks are presented in Section 4. Further, recommendations for future risk assessment and early warning interventions have been provided. Section 6 lists the references cited within this report. This report has been produced by Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology with some input from HR Wallingford Ltd for Evidence on Demand with the assistance of the UK Department for International Development (DFID) contracted through the Climate, Environment, Infrastructure and Livelihoods Professional Evidence and Applied Knowledge Services (CEIL PEAKS) programme, jointly managed by HTSPE Limited and IMC Worldwide Limited