Barbados has been a signatory to the world’s key climate change convention for two decades - signing up is just the start. Each country that commits to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) must prepare detailed reports on how they are putting the agreement into practice.
These reports, or National Communications, describe the range of socio-economic factors that influence a country’s vulnerability and capacity to adapt to climate change, from education and technology to financial resources and public awareness. In addition, the report provides an inventory of greenhouse gas emission sources and describes the efforts under way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a highly demanding technical assessment and requires the skills and experience of expert researchers.
In 2011, Barbados’ Ministry of Environment and Drainage enlisted consultancy Environment Gain Ltd (Engain) from the UK – who then partnered with CARIBSAVE – to prepare the country’s Second National Communication report on progress made towards the convention’s goals.
The report draws on a wide range of public and private sources for data and information to ensure that the final document has the thoroughness the topic deserves. CARIBSAVE is responsible for reporting on how Barbados can adapt to the impacts of climate change and cut emissions to minimise environmental shifts.
Because of their international profile, these documents are some of the most important tools communities have to bring national climate change concerns to the attention of international policymakers and help identify where a country needs assistance. The documents are also the main reference point for national-level stakeholders interested in climate change.
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For further information contact: admin@caribsave.org
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Barbados ratified the UNFCCC on 23 March 1994 and the Kyoto Protocol on 7 August 2000. Parties to the UNFCCC must submit national reports on their implementation of the Convention to the Conference of the Parties. Barbados submitted its First National Communication (FNC) Report in November 2001 with the aid of technical and financial support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The report included information on national circumstances, vulnerability assessment, financial resources and transfer of technology, and education, training and public awareness. This project will result in the submission of the Second National Communication in 2013.
The Ministry of Environment and Drainage (MED) of the Government of Barbados secured the services of Environmental Gain Ltd (Engain) to produce a Second National Communication (SNC) that will provide a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for Barbados and information on the mitigation of, and adaptation to, expected climate change impacts in the country. Engain have partnered with Aether of the UK and The CARIBSAVE Partnership to complete this important report.
The project consists of six (6) main components:
- National Circumstances
- GHG Inventory
- Programmes on Adaptation
- Mitigation Measures
- Other Gaps
- Constraints/Gaps
Compilation of the report requires the collation of data and information from a large number of organisations, both public and private, to ensure the SNC provides the best possible information. In addition, reporting on and assessing climate change mitigation options and adaptation strategies will require the active involvement of a wide number of people and organisations, and this activity should continue after the compilation of the SNC.
The National Communications are one of the most important tools for bringing climate change concerns to the attention of policy makers at the national level through highlighting and disseminating climate change concerns. Climate change is a complex issue, which has inevitable consequences for all spheres of the environment and subsequently the economy.
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