The impacts of climate change on Caribbean islands are cross-cutting and span across sectors and scales. Ensuring effective climate adaptation is in large part a matter of good governance. While bottom-up approaches are essential in readying a nation for climate change, in isolation they are insufficient. National governance frameworks should create an enabling environment for long-term (large) investments and facilitate transformative change.
Strengthening governance and institutions is a key climate adaptation strategy for Caribbean islands like Curaçao, Aruba, and St. Martin. It works by improving coordination between national and local governments, enforcing climate-related laws, and ensuring transparent, inclusive decision-making. Strong governance enables integration of climate risks into policies, supports long-term investments, and creates frameworks for community participation in resource management. This approach helps translate national priorities into local action, making adaptation more effective and equitable. By building institutional capacity and fostering collaboration, these islands can better manage climate risks such as flooding, droughts, and coastal erosion, while protecting vulnerable communities and ecosystems. Good governance is essential for resilience because it ensures accountability, fair resource distribution, and sustained support for adaptation measures.
Key aspects of good governance for climate adaptation:
- Integrate climate change into national policies
- Assess and build institutional capacity (especially through connecting institutions and stakeholders)
- Translate national policy into local action
Feasibility & Local Applicability
Strengthening governance and institutions is possible, but it requires strong coordination among government bodies, local actors, and other stakeholders. Limited capacity and funding can pose challenges, especially in the face of climate change. To respond effectively, institutions need to build their adaptive capacity; the ability to adjust their policies, frameworks, and decision-making processes as conditions and uncertainties evolve. Developing this flexibility helps governments and communities better manage changing environmental and social challenges over time.
Co-benefits
Good governance not only supports effective adaptation to climate change but also brings wider benefits for society. It can help reduce inequalities, strengthen collaboration, and improve the efficiency and transparency of institutions. Strong and well-functioning institutions are also better prepared to access and manage climate finance, ensuring that resources are used effectively to support sustainable development goals.
Equity & Vulnerability Considerations
Equity and inclusiveness are key elements of good governance and effective collaboration. Strengthening the role of local actors by building their skills and capacities helps them address complex challenges more effectively. Encouraging open and collaborative approaches to planning and decision-making ensures that all voices are heard and that future actions reflect the needs and priorities of the whole community.
Costs
Medium – High | Capacity building for institutions and governance related activities are often an important part of international climate adaptation programs. Costs are influenced by institutional complexity (more fragmented governance systems require higher coordination and capacity building efforts), data and technology needs, stakeholder engagement, training and skills development and political or legal reforms.
Case-studies & Examples
- CDKN Research on Climate Adaptation Governance (several materials + links to tools)
- UN Climate Change Blog: Inclusive Participation and Strong Institutions Key to Advancing Adaptation and Resilience
Literature
- De Bruijn, E., & Dieperink, C. (2022). A Framework for Assessing Climate Adaptation Governance on the Caribbean Island of Curaçao. Sustainability, 14(22), 15092.
- Pittman, J., Armitage, D., Alexander, S., Campbell, D., & Alleyne, M. (2015). Governance fit for climate change in a Caribbean coastal-marine context. Marine Policy, 51, 486-498.
- World Bank (2022). Open Government and Climate Change: Leveraging Transparency, Participation, and Accountability for Effective Climate Action. Climate Governance Papers;. © World Bank.