The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) is a regional organisation whose work focuses on Caribbean small island developing states and enhancing the region’s climate change framework and operations.
Raising awareness about climate change, building capacity to analyse climate change impacts across various sectors, and identifying adaptation and mitigation opportunities are some of the key activities that CCCCC engages in with its member states. Other activities include developing and implementing mitigation and adaptation projects in the region as well as giving policy advice and support during events like international climate change negotiations.

In order to deliver effective solutions and initiatives, CCCCC has developed strong ties with institutions around the area and globally. It will oversee climate change projects and programmes worth nearly $50 million over the next five years, including early warning systems, water and energy security, agriculture and food security, resilient health-care facilities, climate-resilient buildings, and ecosystem-based adaptation, all of which it has prior experience with.

CCCCC applied to the GCF for approval to implement and scale up both mitigation and adaptation projects across the region in order to modify the region’s growth patterns.

The primary focus of CCCCC’s activities is climate change adaptation. The Centre played a key role in CARICOM’s adoption of a regional climate change policy in 2009. From 2011 through 2021, the strategy will be implemented by a variety of actors representing various institutions. CCCCC provides tools and procedures to its member nations to the extent practicable, ensuring that the best available science is used.

Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of CARICOM, has called for fairness in international support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), emphasising that they have been battered by climate impacts that are not their fault. At the time, the CARICOM Secretary-General was presenting at a High-Level Panel Discussion on Climate Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Nature-Based Solution.

On Tuesday, May 25, as President of the Twenty-Sixth Conference of Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), the United Kingdom (UK) held a virtual Forum in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

The organisers hoped that the conversation would build on the momentum created by the CARICOM Moment of Ambition, which will take place in December 2020. While emphasising some of the difficulties the Region faces, the Forum emphasised solutions that utilise SIDS leadership in conservation and climate action.

The event on Tuesday also served to highlight CARICOM’s commemoration of World Biodiversity Day and help preparations for COP26 as part of the UK’s COP26 Presidency’s Nature-Based Solutions campaign.

Ambassador LaRocque stated in his speech that SIDs face challenges in obtaining funding to recover from the effects of climate change and build resilience to them. He stated that while the Region recovers from several disasters, it must do so in harmony with nature, as the environment is crucial to resilience.

He emphasised the significance of the Region’s forests, saying they protect freshwater resources for cities and people and play a significant role in global climate mitigation due to their carbon-absorption capability. In this context, he pointed out that woods cover more than 80% of land area in Guyana and Suriname, while over 60% of land in Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines is still wooded.

He noted that the Region has recognised the immense potential of nature-based solutions to counteract the ravages of climate change and multiply the advantages received from maintaining and restoring nature, highlighting the crucial relevance of forests to the Region’s indigenous people.

The Secretary-General welcomed the Region’s celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22 under the theme “We are part of the solution,” and praised the UK for prioritising Nature-Based Solutions during its COP26 presidency.At the Forum, the Rt. Hon. Lord Goldsmith, UK Minister for the Environment, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, also took the stage. He stated that Nature is fundamental to the UK’s COP26 Presidency’s ambitions, and he commends the leadership the Caribbean has demonstrated, because the UK cannot confront climate change and keep the 1.5 degree goal alive without protecting and restoring global biodiversity.

He stated that the UK would ensure that COP26 delivers for everyone, especially those most vulnerable to climate change, and that he looks forward to working with all Small Island Developing States and Caribbean nations to raise global ambition in mitigation, adaptation, and finance during its presidency of the conference.

Photo Credit : https://twitter.com/CARICOMClimate/photo