Tackling water challenges for a resilient Caribbean together
As climate change accelerates, the Caribbean is facing an urgent need for water security and innovative climate solutions. Caribbean countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the region, already on the frontlines of environmental impacts, are also leading efforts to build resilience and address water challenges. In response, the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP), alongside the Embassies and Consulates of the Kingdom of the Netherlands across the region, is hosting a series of online workshops aimed at fostering collaboration between Dutch and Caribbean water experts to tackle pressing issues such as climate adaptation, water quality, and coastal resilience.
The Caribbean faces significant water challenges, along with urgent adaptation and resilience needs. Many Caribbean nations and SIDS have already made valuable voluntary commitments towards a climate-resilient future, such as those made at the UN Water Conference.
In its report, Small Island Developing States in Numbers: Biodiversity in Oceans, the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRRLLS) recognises the Caribbean SIDS region as a vital biodiversity hotspot, home to some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. International cooperation and knowledge exchange are crucial for developing effective solutions to the water challenges faced by SIDS.
The Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) serves as the gateway to the Netherlands for anyone seeking expertise in water management issues. With rich Dutch expertise in this field, NWP, along with the Embassies and Consulates of the Kingdom of the Netherlands covering Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Grenada, Cayman Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, Suriname, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guyana, Haiti, Belize, and Jamaica, will host a series of interactive online workshops tailored to the specific water needs of SIDS. Additionally, this activity also involves the islands of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
The objective of these workshops is to facilitate connections and foster collaboration between Dutch and Caribbean water experts. To address challenges related to climate change, water quality, quantity, and resilience, the workshops will explore tools and solutions on topics such as climate adaptation, mitigation, integrated coastal zone development, and funding for resilience in the Caribbean.
The language of these workshops will be English.
The Dutch Government actively collaborates with the International Panel for Deltas & Coastal Areas (IPDC).
The International Panel for Deltas & Coastal Areas (IPDC) is a prominent network comprising countries and financial institutions dedicated to addressing the challenges of climate adaptation in delta regions. As a Dutch Government-led initiative, facilitated by Deltares and Climate Adaptation Services, the IPDC aims to pioneer innovative approaches to information exchange, collaborative learning, and the development of effective solutions and action plans.
NWP will be making links with these initiatives through its online workshop series.
