Saint Lucia: National workshop on generating climate change and disasters indicators for policy decision-making

The Caribbean region is acutely threatened by climate change, particularly the Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Saint Lucia is no exception. It is situated in the tropical cyclone belts and is directly exposed to the forces of the oceans. And as a small geographical area, disasters might affect vast proportions of the country.

Availability of quality statistics and indicators are crucial to effectively respond to the effects of climate change and build resilience. In this regard, Saint Lucia has put in place a National Environmental Information System (NEIS), and it has a dedicated section on environment statistics on the Central Statistical Office website. However, like other Caribbean SIDS, Saint Lucia faces statistical and institutional challenges. There is a need to enhance the production and use of environment, climate change and disasters indicators to draw attention to national priorities and better engage in adaptation to climate change processes.

Against this backdrop, the ECLAC´s Statistics Division, Subregional Office for the Caribbean, in collaboration with the Sustainable Development and Human Settlements Division, are joining forces to enhance the production and use of key indicators and metrics to monitor and adapt to the effects of climate change and strengthen Environmental Information Systems (EIS). These efforts, supported by the Development Account of the United Nations, aim to boost the environmental pillar of the 2030 Agenda and improve policy coherence in the implementation of the Escazú Agreement, the Revised St. George´s Declaration (SGD 2040), the SAMOA Pathway, the Paris Agreement, and the Sendai Framework.

Objectives

1. Train the participants to build selected environment, climate change and disaster indicators and its metadata.
2. Identify data and capacity gaps to improve the Environmental Information System (EIS) and build a regional resilience platform.
3. Have a better understanding of how geospatial data can enhance the use of environment, climate change and disaster indicators for effective decision making.

Expected outcomes

1. At least three prioritized climate change or disasters indicator and its metadata is available at theend of the workshop.
2. A list of relevant and prioritized climate change and disasters indicators for Saint Lucia that are alsolinked to the Paris Agreement and the Global Set on Climate Change Indicators and Statistics of theUNSD.
3. Follow up steps to build further selected climate change and disasters indicators is agreed with theCSO and key stakeholders.