The Caribbean region, increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards such as hurricanes, flooding, and the intensifying effects of climate change, is set to benefit from a groundbreaking initiative led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Launched on September 16, 2025, the project, themed ‘RESILIENT CARIBBEAN: Prepared, Protected, and United,’ seeks to enhance disaster preparedness and response capabilities across 13 Caribbean nations. These include Dominica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The initiative, spanning from April 2025 to March 2027, builds on lessons from recent emergencies, including the response to Hurricane Beryl in 2024. It aligns with the priorities of CARICOM’s Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the European Union, leveraging a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding on integrated disaster risk management between the EU and Latin America and Caribbean regions. Key objectives include integrating displacement and mobility considerations into disaster management mechanisms, improving evidence-based planning for risk reduction, enhancing coordination in emergency shelter and non-food item sectors, and ensuring vulnerable populations receive critical humanitarian aid. The project aims to foster resilience, reduce vulnerabilities, and empower governments and communities to better manage displacement and climate-related threats. The launch event provided a platform for engaging with stakeholders, gathering feedback, and promoting public awareness of the initiative’s goals.
标签： Dominica
多米尼克
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UWI researchers contribute to the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report offering fresh Caribbean perspectives
Six distinguished researchers from The University of the West Indies (UWI) have been selected as contributing authors for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report (AR7) cycle. This marks a significant milestone for the Caribbean region, as these scholars join the ranks of seasoned experts like Professor Michelle Mycoo, who previously served as a Coordinating Lead Author in the sixth assessment cycle. The new contributors will play pivotal roles across all four major AR7 reports, including a Special Report on Climate Change and Cities, as well as Working Group reports on climate science, adaptation, and mitigation. Professor Mycoo’s expanded responsibilities include serving as a Review Editor for Working Group II and as a Lead Author for the Cities report, further cementing her influence in shaping regional and global climate discourse. The inclusion of these fresh voices ensures that the perspectives of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), particularly from the Caribbean, are prominently represented in the global climate science arena. The IPCC’s commitment to diversity is evident, with 51% of its 664 appointed experts hailing from developing nations and economies in transition, and 46% being women. This represents a significant increase from the AR6 cycle, which featured 44% representation from similar regions and 33% female authors. Among the new Caribbean contributors are Dr. Jhordanne Jones, Dr. Preeya Mohan, Dr. Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Dr. Rose-Ann Smith, Dr. Natalie Dietrich-Jones, and Dr. Randy Ramadhar Singh, each bringing unique expertise to their respective Working Groups. UWI Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles lauded the university’s role in fostering regional climate experts, emphasizing the importance of their insights in shaping adaptation strategies for small island nations. He also commended Professor Mycoo for her dual contributions, highlighting her leadership in advancing regional climate efforts. The IPCC, the UN’s official body for evaluating climate science, received an impressive 3,771 nominations globally for the AR7 cycle, underscoring the prestige of this appointment. UWI’s strong representation in this prestigious group reflects its unwavering commitment to advancing globally relevant climate research and policy development.