Report released on State of Climate Adaptation including the Dutch Caribbean Islands
- Published in Soualiga Newsday Top Stories
SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The University of St. Martin (USM) is pleased to announce the release of the report of the International Panel on Deltas Coasts and Islands (IPDC) on the state of climate adaptation in deltas, coastal areas, and islands, with contributions from all islands within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The report, compiled with active contributions from the countries Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten, as well as the three special municipalities Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, provides an in-depth analysis of the climate challenges faced by these islands, along with strategies and plans related to climate adaptation.
The St. Martin contribution one can find in chapter 4.14 on pages 80 - 83 of the report: https://ipdc-climate-action.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IPDC-Report_2024_7-3.pdf .
This St. Martin chapter was written by the St Martin delegation to the 2024 Conference of the International Panel on Delta’s Coastal Areas and Islands which consisted of USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Baez, USM research coordinator Raymond Jessurun and VROMI policy advisors Raitza Narain and Ildiko Gilders.
This milestone signifies a significant step forward in collaboration to collectively address the challenges of climate change and sustainable development. “The IPCD collaboration is important for Sint Maarten to find solutions to achieve the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction by 2030 in addition to the 2030 objectives of the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.” - Antonio Carmona Baez, USM President
USM is proud to have been included in the International Panel on Delta’s and Coastal Areas and Islands (IPDC) a unique collaboration of governments, financial institutions, scientific experts, and practitioners from around the world. The mission of the IPDC is to prioritize water in climate adaptation efforts and bridge the gap between the needs and implementation of adaptation in deltas, coastal areas, and islands.
To achieve this goal, the IPDC employs a demand-driven approach to overcome implementation barriers and strengthen governance, knowledge development, capacity, and access to financing. Not only did the islands in the Kingdom collaborate by sharing knowledge and experience, also the Netherlands is more committed to realizing the aforementioned objectives as the Kingdom of the Netherlands has adopted all these multi-lateral agreements not only for the European Netherlands but for all territories in the Kingdom when duly considering the duty of care to human rights obligations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The report highlights the unique challenges faced by each island (Chapter 4.9 till Chapter 4.14 from page 67 to 83 in the report) and identifies specific strategies and plans being implemented to adapt to the changing environment. From improving water supply and promoting sustainable energy to strengthening coastal defenses and preserving biodiversity, the report provides a comprehensive overview of efforts to build resilient societies.
The IPDC report emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and the role of local communities in addressing the impacts of climate change. Through collaboration at all levels, from local governments to international organizations, we can implement effective measures to make our islands more resilient and secure the future of our communities.
The IPDC report is now available to the public and can be accessed on the website of the IPDC, https://ipdc-climate-action.org To track its progress in accelerating adaptation implementation, the IPDC publishes a progress report every two years.