A risk management approach to decision making in the Caribbean

This briefing describes a risk management approach to decision-making in the Caribbean, as outlined in the Implementation Plan (IP) for the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change. The document emphasizes the need for a transformational change in policy setting to build low-carbon, climate-resilient economies by integrating risk management into national planning and sustainable development goals.

• The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) developed an Implementation Plan (IP), approved by CARICOM Heads of Government in March 2012, to deliver the goals of the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change. The IP aims to guide the prioritisation of actions through risk management approaches to decision making, acknowledging that a "transformational change in mind set, institutional arrangements, operating systems, collaborative approaches and integrated planning mechanisms" is necessary.
• The document identifies several systemic failures in current Caribbean climate decision-making processes. These include the use of inconsistent methodologies and data sets that prevent the reuse of information across projects, a lack of institutionalised expertise (which often resides with external consultants), and widespread differences in the terminology used to describe risk, vulnerability, and impact.
• The 'three ones' principle is proposed as a model for mobilising limited resources and coordinating climate action. This approach consists of: one coordinating mechanism (regional and national), one plan with shared goals and objectives, and one monitoring and evaluation framework to measure progress and transparency.
• The CCCCC intends to trial a new risk management approach through pilot projects in up to five countries. These pilots will focus on developing national coordinating mechanisms, specifically working with Ministries of Planning and Finance to embed the process within national planning. Initial entry points for these pilots include national strategic and budgetary planning, disaster risk reduction, and coastal zone management.
• The IP recommends the development of a standard 'stress-test' process. This would allow decision makers, such as those in Ministries of Finance, to evaluate whether a proposed programme or project can deliver its objectives throughout its life while accounting for a changing climate. The results of these stress-tests are intended to be disclosed to the public and other stakeholders.
• The document asserts that climate resilience cannot be achieved in isolation from broader development issues. It states that addressing climate change without simultaneously addressing existing sustainable development and growth challenges will not deliver resilience, and therefore low-carbon resilience must be an integral feature of all policy setting.

APA

Firth, J. (2012). A risk management approach to decision making in the Caribbean. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/5Cs-CDKN-Risk-Management-Brief_june20121.pdf

Chicago

Firth, John. A risk management approach to decision making in the Caribbean. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2012. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/5Cs-CDKN-Risk-Management-Brief_june20121.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{firth2012risk, author = {Firth, John}, title = {{A risk management approach to decision making in the Caribbean}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, month = jun, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/5Cs-CDKN-Risk-Management-Brief_june20121.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }