Grenada Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2017)
Greenhouse gas (GHG) climate change/global warming is one of the most pressing environmental concerns today. Furthermore, Small Island States such as Grenada and its dependencies (Carriacou and Petite Martinique) are highly vulnerable to climate change because of their small size and low elevation, which increases their sensitivity to climate change and limits their ability to adapt. In fact, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) claims that adaptive capacity of human systems is generally low in Small Island States as Grenada, and vulnerability high. Small Island States, like the tri-state of Grenada, are therefore likely to be among the countries most seriously affected by climate change and its impacts. One of the most important consequences of climate change, especially for small islands, is sea level rise and storm surge events, which in turn can severely impact upon coastal waters and coastal infrastructure, access roads and bridges and buildings, well into the future.
Non-Annex I Parties are mostly developing countries. Certain groups of developing countries, such as Grenada and its dependencies (Carriacou and Petite Martinique) are recognized by the UNFCCC (United Nations Convention on Climate Change) as being especially vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, including countries with low-lying coastal areas and those prone to desertification and drought. The Convention emphasizes activities that promise to answer the special needs and concerns of these vulnerable countries, such as investment, insurance and technology transfer.
Over the past few years Grenada has experienced several climate-related disasters that have destroyed entire socioeconomic sectors and set the country back in terms of national development. However, despite these setbacks Grenada continues to demonstrate its commitment to the reducing climate change and its impacts on the society.
With the assistance of bilateral and multilateral partners the tri-state of Grenada has made significant strides with respect to its work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilience to the impacts of climate change. Development of a national energy policy, a national climate change policy and action plan, integrating climate change into its national development plans and several ministerial corporate plans, climate proofing plans and piloting examples of climate change adaptation and mitigation actions at the national, local and community level are just a few of the actions that the tri-sate of Grenada has undertaken.
The recent entry into force of the Paris Agreement has reinforced Grenada’s commitment to addressing climate change. The Agreement places unprecedented importance on climate change impacts on the most vulnerable nations and highlights the actions needed, both nationally and globally, to help people adapt, and to promote greater resilience to climate change.
The tri-state of Grenada is currently developing national plans and policies, not only for climate change adaptation and mitigation, but integrating climate change considerations into its overall national development planning. These plans include the Nationally Determined Contributions, the National Adaptation Plan process, the Technology Needs Assessment process and the development of the first Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action for the country.
Area of interest: Grenada
Year: 2017
