The threats posed by a changing climate to the development prospects of the 15 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states are severe. Adaptation to ensure resilience to a more hostile regional climate and rising sea levels will require a complementary series of policy actions supported by a sizeable and sustained investment of resources.

To meet the challenge, the CARICOM countries have worked together to form an implementation plan to deliver the strategic elements and goals of a regional framework which was developed from an urgent political commitment to manage the effects of climate change on development. This brief, Delivering transformational change: A plan to achieve development resilient to climate change in the Caribbean, outlines the process through which the implementation plan was developed and shares key lessons.

The key messages are:

• The CARICOM Regional Framework establishes a strategic approach to address climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Framework consists of strategic elements and goals to provide a roadmap for action.
• The Implementation Plan lays the ground-work to mainstream climate change into the national development and planning processes in CARICOM member states.
• The Plan was prepared following an extensive programme of consultation with over 200 stakeholders including politicians, government officials, regional agencies, NGOs, private sector and donor agencies.