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The report evaluates the sustainability of St. Lucia's tourism sector under trade liberalization. While tourism is a primary driver of GDP and employment, the sector suffers from high foreign exchange leakage due to foreign ownership and package tours. Environmental concerns include rising energy consumption and wastewater mismanagement, while GATS obligations are identified as potential barriers to domestic regulatory autonomy.

The 19th SAC meeting focused on approving 22 proposals for the second round of the Small Grants Program (SGP-II) and designing the second round of Core Research Networks (CRN-II). The committee recommended a budget split of 80% for CRNs and 20% for smaller grants and training. Additionally, the SAC discussed the need for a full-time Program Coordinator and the implementation of Summer Institutes to address climate vulnerability and land-use change in the Americas.

The 19th SAC meeting focused on evaluating the second round of the Small Grant Program (SGP-II), recommending 22 proposals for funding from a pool of 86. The committee discussed the closure of the first round of Collaborative Research Networks (CRNs) and established guidelines for a second round of CRNs to be launched in 2004, including a budget of up to US$200K per project and a requirement for participation from at least four IAI member countries. Additionally, the SAC reviewed the implementation of three Summer Institutes focused on land use in the Amazon, climate vulnerability in Central America and the Caribbean, and global climate change causes and mitigation.

The EIB is a central financial institution for EU relations with developing countries, particularly those in the ACP region. While it operates under the Cotonou Agreement, the document argues that the EIB prioritizes economic and technical evaluations over sustainable development and poverty eradication. The report highlights significant gaps in public information and project evaluation, noting that many venture capital operations lack public scrutiny. It recommends that the EIB adopt international standards like the Millennium Development Goals, implement mandatory public consultations, and establish an independent inspection mechanism for affected communities.

The IAI Executive Council resolutions from June 1999 detail financial commitments for scientific capacity and climate variability research, the establishment of working groups for fund raising and training, and administrative updates to the IAI Directorate's structure and governance policies.

The document analyzes a spectrum of decision-making models in international law, ranging from strict consensus to majority voting, to identify effective procedures for managing highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific.

The document reviews the IAI's progress since 1995, noting an increase in member countries and the implementation of collaborative research programs. It identifies a critical dependency on US government funding via NSF grants and outlines a strategy to diversify financial sources, increase participation from new member countries, and enhance regional capacity building through targeted scientific projects and training.

The IAI Program Plan for 1998-1999 establishes goals to advance scientific programs, build regional capacity, and enhance the participation of scientists and countries in the Americas. The plan includes a budget of funded activities, such as graduate and postdoctoral training in Brazil and Mexico, and the development of climate forecasts. Future initiatives include CO2 monitoring in the Amazon Basin and the Pan-American Climate Information System (PACIS) for disaster preparedness.

This policy brief describes the Global Islands’ Vulnerability Research Adaptation Policy and Development (GIVRAPD) Project, an interdisciplinary research initiative focused on understanding the socioeconomic, governance, and environmental factors that influence the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of small and medium-sized coastal communities in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

This policy brief from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network argues that climate change adaptation in the Caribbean is fundamentally a governance challenge requiring a multi-level approach. It advocates for the creation of networks and hybrid partnerships between state and non-state actors to bridge jurisdictional scales and sectors, using case studies from St. Lucia and Jamaica to illustrate how community-based organizations and public-private partnerships can enhance adaptive capacity.

The Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation TooL (CCORAL) is a web-based system developed by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre to help government officials and other organisations embed climate resilience into their decision-making. Part of the Caribbean Risk Management Project, the tool supports the goals of the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change and the associated Implementation Plan. It aims to promote 'no-regret' actions and flexible solutions to protect sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals from climate change impacts. The tool's development involved consultations in Belize, Suriname, Barbados, and Jamaica, with a primary focus on anchoring the system within ministries of finance and planning.

The document outlines the high cost of natural disasters in the Caribbean, noting $33bn in damages from 2000-2009. It identifies sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and changing rainfall patterns as primary threats to the tourism and agriculture sectors, while suggesting micro-insurance, irrigation, and spatial planning as adaptation strategies.

The CARiDRO tool enables the assessment of meteorological and hydrological droughts at regional and grid-point levels. It utilizes the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardized Precipitation-Evaporation Index (SPEI), the latter of which incorporates water balance to evaluate the impact of warming. The system processes data from seven PRECIS regional climate model experiments (1961-2070) and two observed datasets (1901-2009). While designed to support policy and planning in agriculture and water resources, the tool currently requires users with a technical background in climatology.

The study uses the CARiDRO tool and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) to analyze the 2009-2010 drought in the Eastern Caribbean and project future risks. It finds that the 2009-2010 event was a 1 in 40 years occurrence, but future droughts are projected to be more frequent, with an average recurrence of 1 in 5 years. The report suggests that the area affected by drought will increase after the middle of the 21st century, necessitating improved planning in water management and agriculture.

The study finds that drought events in Las Tunas province, similar to the severe 2003-2005 event, are projected to become more frequent and intense through 2050, driven by reduced precipitation and increased evaporation from rising temperatures.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) provides research, technical assistance, and knowledge dissemination to help developing countries integrate low-carbon and resilient growth into their national policies. Funded by the UK's DFID and the Netherlands' DGIS, CDKN focuses on four strategic themes: climate-compatible development plans, improving access to climate finance, disaster risk management, and supporting negotiators from the least developed and most vulnerable countries. The organization operates in over 40 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean, aiming to improve the quality of life for those most affected by climate change through a demand-driven approach.

The document advocates for the integration of local communities in climate adaptation, highlighting tools like Community Based Vulnerability Assessments (CBVA) and the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework to identify hazards and assess resilience. It emphasizes that local networks are most effective when they maintain strong links with national and regional organizations to influence policy and share information.

The document outlines several climate data tools for the Caribbean, including the CARIWIG portal for historical data and projections, the CARIDRO drought tool, and the Tropical Storm Model (TSM). It highlights specific research applications in Belize, Jamaica, and Cuba, and introduces the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation tool (CCORAL) to help decision-makers integrate climate change into policy despite inherent projection uncertainties.

The document outlines the CARIWIG online data portal, which provides historical climate data and future projections at a 25km resolution for the Caribbean. It highlights four specific tools: a Weather Generator used in Belize to link rising minimum temperatures to dengue fever risks; a Tropical Storm Model used in Jamaica to predict river discharge timing during category 5 hurricanes; the CARIDRO drought tool used in Cuba to project 12-18 moderate to extreme droughts in Las Tunas province by 2050; and the CCORAL tool for integrating climate change into policy. The research emphasizes implementing adaptation actions that perform well across a wide range of uncertain future conditions.

The report examines flood risk in Jamaica, noting that while tropical cyclones cause the largest losses, flooding is not strictly related to storm intensity but often to preceding rainfall. It highlights that public infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges, suffers the most damage. Despite repeated recommendations for hazard mapping and watershed management, the report finds a persistent lack of enforcement regarding 'no build zones' and a critical shortage of digital spatial data for planners.