Climate risk Caribbean prosperity

The Caribbean faced $33bn in natural disaster damages between 2000 and 2009, representing 61% of its 2014 regional GDP. Climate change threatens key sectors: 94% of tourist accommodation in Belize is vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding, while 90% of agricultural land is rain-fed. Projections indicate divergent crop impacts, with Jamaica's sweet potato yields potentially increasing by 33% by mid-century, while Belize's corn yields may decrease by 25% by 2030. Financial losses are widespread, with 25% of surveyed households using education savings for reconstruction.

• Natural disasters and extreme weather events caused $33bn in damages to the Caribbean from 2000 to 2009, which is equivalent to 61% of the region's 2014 Gross Domestic Product.
• The tourism and agriculture sectors are highly exposed to climate risks. In Belize, 94% of tourist accommodation is vulnerable to flooding and sea level rise. In the agriculture sector, 90% of land is rain-fed and susceptible to rainfall changes, and 16% of the Caribbean population is employed in this sector.
• Climate change will have varied effects on crop yields by mid-century and 2030: sweet potato yields in Jamaica could increase by 33%, whereas corn yields in Belize may shrink by approximately 25%.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2017). Climate risk Caribbean prosperity. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Awareness_tourism_agri_high_res_print_updated280417.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Climate risk Caribbean prosperity. 2017. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Awareness_tourism_agri_high_res_print_updated280417.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Climate risk Caribbean prosperity |date=February 2017 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Awareness_tourism_agri_high_res_print_updated280417.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2017climate, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Climate risk Caribbean prosperity}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2017}, month = feb, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Awareness_tourism_agri_high_res_print_updated280417.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }