Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are heavily dependent on coastal transport infrastructure—including ports, airports, and their access roads—for economic activity. That same coastal transport infrastructure is often highly vulnerable to impacts of climate variability and change, including hurricanes, sea level rise, increased temperatures, and changing precipitation patterns.
This report details: (1) The importance of understanding and addressing coastal transport infrastructure climate change vulnerabilities in SIDS; (2) Key findings and lessons learnt from a set of two case studies—one in Jamaica and one in Saint Lucia; and (3) A climate risk and vulnerability assessment framework for Caribbean coastal transport infrastructure. This transferable framework is intended to help SIDS overcome these challenges by providing a methodology adopting a practical approach that uses available data to inform decision-making at a facility, local, and national level. The primary audience is port and airport managers in Caribbean SIDS, though it will also be relevant to local and national government agencies.
This report was produced as part of UNCTAD work on climate change and maritime transport, including a technical assistance project on “Climate change impacts on coastal transport infrastructure in the Caribbean: enhancing the adaptive capacity of SIDS” (SIDSport-ClimateAdapt.unctad.org). Under the project, country case studies were also carried out for Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Further work includes the report Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Coastal Transport Infrastructure: A Compilation of Policies and Practices.