Climate Change Policy

Closed 30 Jun 2023

Opened 1 May 2023

Contact

Ministry of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency

climate@gov.ky

Overview

The vision for our national policy is for a climate-resilient Cayman Islands that promotes and sustains vibrant communities, a thriving natural environment and a robust economy, where people can live their best lives now and for future generations.

Based on the findings of the Cayman Islands Climate Change Risk Assessment, our national policy aims to address the significant threats posed by climate change, protect our communities and natural environment, and promote opportunities for sustainable economic and social development. 

For more details on the Climate Change Policy and to download the consultation draft, please visit: https://www.gov.ky/sustainability/climatechangepolicy

Climate Change Policy Vision - A climate resilient Cayman Islands that promotes and sustains vibrant communities, a thriving natural environment and a robust economy where people can live their best lives now and for future generations.

Why do we need a Climate Change Policy?

Climate change is already posing serious threats to lives and livelihoods around the world, including the Cayman Islands. Like other small island nations, we are seeing the increasing adverse impacts of climate change on our natural and built environments which are predicted to worsen. These growing concerns have been expressed by members of our community across all three islands, many of whom have felt the consequences of these changes on a regular basis. That is why we need to come together to urgently reduce further warming of our planet which contributes to climate change and respond to the inevitable impacts of a changing climate. Our national policy that speaks to both of these needs will ensure a low or zero carbon climate-resilient future for all those who call the Cayman Islands home.

What are the goals of the Policy?

The Policy outlines three key goals which, if successfully achieved over the life of the Policy, will make the Vision a reality.

  • Goal 1: Reduce Cayman's vulnerability and enhance our resiliency to climate change (adaptation).
  • Goal 2: Promote sustainable low and zero carbon economic activity (mitigation).
  • Goal 3: Establish a governance framework for climate action that is future-focused, fair to all, accountable and transparent.

How your information will/might be used

Your feedback will help to improve and clarify the goals, objectives and strategies in the Policy. Initial feedback on the proposed strategic actions will help to guide their further development and implementation. 

View the Policy Strategies

 

 

Strategies Supporting Interwoven Equity

  • Develop emergency management and evacuation strategies that prioritise vulnerable populations.
  • Review disbursement criteria from the Disaster Fund and other needs-based support programmes and revise as necessary to ensure an adaptive national social protection system exists.
  • Assess the proximity of underserved and vulnerable communities to high quality green infrastructure; launch community greening projects where needed.
  • Support the expansion of renewable energy programmes, including rebates and direct resources, to under-resourced communities
  • Integrate the collection of data on economically and socially vulnerable groups into existing national socioeconomic surveys and formulate appropriate assistance programmes to alleviate further climate risk. 
  • Identify existing disparities in, and barriers to, health care access and develop resiliency plans to ensure continuity of key services in underserved communities, including improving digital access to information and targeted education and outreach programmes to address health and safety risks. 
  • Encourage more in-district workshops and networking opportunities to build individual and household capacities, and strengthen relationships amongst community members. Assess the proximity of underserved and vulnerable communities to high quality green infrastructure; launch community greening projects where needed.
  • Integrate cross-cutting climate change issues in the academic curriculum at all levels, and give teachers the flexibility to relate to the material at hand. 
  • Map community resources and services using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to geographically represent social, economic and quality of life indicators as a guide to the allocation of resources.
  • Require and incentivise all new affordable housing schemes to meet climate-resilient development criteria.

Strategies Supporting a Robust Economy

  • Partner with the banking, insurance and real estate sectors to conduct climate risk analyses to assess their vulnerabilities and identify appropriate responses to, and opportunities arising from, climate change.
  • Require new infrastructure and large development projects to undertake climate risk assessments at the start of the planning process and incorporate climate resiliency measures.
  • Develop and adopt climate-adaptive Management Plans for those protected areas that attract regular visitors such as Stingray City/Sandbar.
  • Investigate the commercial uses and viable markets for Sargassum.
  • Appoint a Sargassum Taskforce drawing from all relevant agencies to develop and implement a National Sargassum Response Strategy and Monitoring Plan for large events.
  • Revise agriculture subsidies to support Ecosystem-based Adaptive agriculture, especially regenerative practices to improve soils ecosystems, crop yields and nutrient densities.
  • Develop a national policy to reduce food waste going to landfill.
  • Continue to implement and refine the Agriculture Business Information System to reduce vulnerabilities in this highly climate-sensitive sector.
  • Develop a national growth strategy to maintain a high quality of life for an optimum population, recognising the capacity of natural systems to sustain ecosystem services, including for climate adaptation.
  • Identify existing sectors in terminal decline due to long-term climatic changes and foster new opportunities in sectors that prioritise innovative and sustainable economic diversification, and provide access to financial and technical resources for small and medium size enterprises.
  • Integrate sustainability and climate resiliency into economic policies, regulations, planning, and national accounting, within and across all levels of government and all sectors.
  • Require businesses, including transnational companies and financial institutions domiciled and registered in the Cayman Islands, to regularly monitor and transparently disclose their climate risks, dependencies and impacts, including on biodiversity.
  • Apply Environmental Impact Assessments, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Multi-criteria analysis and other relevant decision tools to future tourism accommodation and product development proposals to ensure that they do not result in a net decline in natural assets.
  • Align national tourism marketing strategies with climate resilient, sustainable and environmental protection policies and strategies.
  • Incentivise the electrification of the ground transportation system, including the rental car pool.
  • Establish a carbon offsetting scheme for air and maritime travel and shipping to the Cayman Islands, ensuring that proceeds finance accelerated decarbonisation and resiliency throughout the economy.
  • Incentivise rainwater catchment and grey water re-use in agriculture production systems, and at household and commercial levels.
  • Diversify production towards more climate-resilient and resource-efficient crops and livestock to enhance food security, and reduce biodiversity impacts and economic losses.
  • Research and trial locally-appropriate crops, and soil and manure management techniques to reduce GHG emissions from these activities.
  • Review the Cayman Islands Government’s catastrophe insurance with the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF-SPC) to determine value for money and adequate liquidity for predicted events; and if appropriate expand coverage to include additional products (e.g., Excessive Rainfall, Drought, Agriculture).

Strategies Supporting a Liveable Built Environment

  • Complete the Coastal Setback Reference Line reassessment on all three islands and revise coastal construction setbacks in the Development and Planning Regulations to account for wave and storm surge flooding and sea level rise.
  • Complete necessary multi-hazard risk mapping to identify high-risk areas, and reform the National Development Plan and Development & Planning Act and regulations to include appropriate development controls or design standards for these areas.
  • Revise the Development and Planning Regulations and building code to include resilience-based design standards that reduce flood, wind and heat hazards.
  • Create an open-source, GIS-based interactive tool for users to assess their locational risk from hurricanes, floods, tsunamis and earthquakes.
  • Require and integrate hazard vulnerability and climate risk assessments into national development planning processes and utilise environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to further assist with decision making when required.
  • Conduct a housing needs assessment and ensure future building stock is appropriately sited outside of existing high-risk areas and future climate hazards.
  • Increase the allocation of financial and human resources to monitor and enforce the regulation of landuse activities in light of climate adaptation and mitigation objectives.
  • Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), conduct a spatial analysis of the flood capacity of intact and semi-urban wetlands, and revise the national development plan to recognise and preserve this green infrastructure network.
  • Increase investment in regional and site-specific storm water management programmes and flood control methods, including soil and substrate surveys to gain a better understanding of drainage and water conveyance mechanisms.
  • Incentivise private sector investment in neighbourhood development based on sustainable design standards and concepts (e.g., LEED for Neighbourhood Development, smart growth, cluster development, etc.).
  • Require all new commercial buildings and residential structures, including public and privately constructed affordable housing, be designed for installation of renewable energy systems (e.g., ‘solar-ready’).
  • Incentivise retrofits of energy-efficient building technologies, strategies and best practices per revised energy efficiency standards and building code.
  • Develop and further incentivise policies to phase out import and sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in all categories by 2045 in favour of comparable electric vehicles (EVs).
  • Invest in local coastal engineering modeling and analysis capacity in the public sectors.
  • Identify suitable refrigerant alternatives (low-GWP, no ODP, e.g., HFO blends) and regulate accordingly, phasing legislative change and incentivising industry best practices if necessary.

Strategies Supporting Healthy & Resilient Communities

  • Develop comprehensive legislation and regulations for the control and prevention of air, water and land pollution, including measurable standards that can guide development and public health.
  • Use native trees to manage heat loads, create shade for heat relief and absorb carbon, including the expansion of an urban regreening project.
  • Promote and incentivise building retrofit and weatherisation programmes to mitigate heat-related impacts and reduce cooling costs.
  • Ensure the national flood emergency framework and area flood prevention plans incorporate the needs of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) and appropriate actions by health care resilience partners.
  • Evaluate the need and feasibility of relocating households and neighbourhoods based on vulnerability assessments of communities (particularly flooding).
  • CIG to investigate the benefits of joining the Resilient Cities Network and Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator.
  • Identify the groups that are most vulnerable to heat-related risks, and develop programmes to reduce vulnerability.
  • Disseminate guidance on the risk of overheating and implement heat wave plans to safeguard communities, including the most vulnerable, and advice on avoiding over-exposure to UV, and all other hazards.
  • Reduce injury risk and exposure to toxins and pollutants through incentivising resilient design of households and communities, such as climate-resilient in-home sheltering.
  • Retrofit existing shelters and ensure that new shelters are designed for multi-use purposes and for passive survivability to withstand Category 5 hurricanes and facilitate post-disaster recovery.
  • Regularly stress test and refine evacuation and emergency response plans to minimise injury and loss of life during disasters.
  • Collaborate with the private sector to develop programmes and fiscal tools that provide technical knowhow and financial resources to residents in need of enhanced resiliency measures for home and property.
  • Develop and adopt a plan to address short and long-term migrant influx as a result of regional climate issues.
  • Continue to implement the Caribbean Action Plan for Health and Climate Change with locally-appropriate solutions.
  • CIG to establish a national database and reporting system for climate-related morbidities and mortalities.
  • Develop a Resilience Roadmap for each island, leveraging partnerships with CERTs, District Councils, etc., and employ a Resilience Officer for each island.

Strategies Supporting Resilient Infrastructure Networks

  • Reactivate the Storm Water Management Committee, ensuring membership includes NRA, HHMCI, CINWS, other Government departments and utility providers, to map and resolve flooding ‘hot spots’ and incidents emerging in new areas.
  • Analyse the use of anaerobic and aerobic septic systems in the Cayman Islands to determine the more appropriate and effective technology given anticipated increases in water table over time.
  • Incentivise the diversification of, and investment in, energy systems to include innovative renewable alternatives, such as solar-powered desalination technology, decentralised microgrids, etc. underpinned by a regulatory framework with oversight from OfReg to encourage innovation.
  • Increase efficiencies and resiliency through innovative digital and non-digital solutions in energy, buildings, services and transportation (e.g., telecommuting, staggered work and school times) and cost-share with private sector where possible
  • Regularly undertake risk mapping to identify critical infrastructure at risk of flooding from storm surge, waves and heavy rainfall.
  • Develop and implement comprehensive regulations for proper storm water management to include Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).
  • Undertake a feasibility analysis for the expansion of centralised sewerage system(s) for the Islands, considering whether decentralised operations are appropriate for resiliency.
  • Design, cost and phase implementation of a national level sewerage system with appropriately located and efficient pumping/lift stations and treatment facilities, including tertiary treatment and managed wetlands.
  • Ensure telecommunications and utility providers produce annual infrastructure resiliency reports that set out targets to build added resilience and strategies for product diversification, all underpinned by a robust regulatory framework with oversight from OfReg and HMCI.
  • Provide adequate insurance for critical infrastructure.
  • Investigate insurance pool schemes for portions of infrastructure not currently insurable (e.g., distribution systems or replacement financing).
  • Integrate community-based (CERT) resiliency plans and national evacuation strategies with a sustainable public transportation system, including fortified EV charging infrastructure.
  • Climate-proof existing and planned fuel and port terminals, critical utilities, telecommunications systems and alternative energy infrastructure for the Islands by creating redundancies such as requiring emergency/back-up power generation and distribution to ensure continuity of services.
  • Require owners of critical infrastructure and services regularly stress test and update Disaster Management and Emergency Response plans.

Strategies Supporting Harmony With Nature

  • Adopt and implement Conservation Plans for protected species impacted by climate change, in particular the Sea Turtle Conservation Plan and the Colonial Nesting Seabird Conservation Plan.
  • Introduce a formal mitigation policy including a focus on Biodiversity No Net Loss Policy, wildlife corridors and connectivity of habitats, for large developments and infrastructure projects, including renewable energy facilities.
  • Incentivise enhanced coastal set-backs and nature-positive adaptation measures for coastal developments.
  • Continue to support the Department of Environment's efforts in relation to coral reef restoration techniques and measures, including expanding the coral nursery programme governed by the Coral Nursery policy.
  • Establish local values for carbon sequestration and storage for carbon resources and investigate the feasibility of establishing national verified carbon credit schemes.
  • Review legislation relevant to the management of natural resources and protected species and assess the need for increased punitive measures for unauthorised loss and damage.
  • Utilise nature-based solutions in CIG projects where feasible.
  • Integrate content on the value of natural systems for climate resiliency into public education campaigns.
  • Update the Development and Planning Regulations to establish effective control over sand and ballast.
  • Update the Coastal Works Policy to include recommendations from the Beach Erosion Committee and other agencies evaluating comprehensive coastal zone management.
  • Finance continued applied research by CIG entities into temperature resistant corals and off-site conservation.
  • Reinstate the Marine Water Quality monitoring programme in key areas.
  • Establish fixed plot/long-term monitoring for terrestrial sites, to include indicators of climate change.
  • Develop and implement a plan to protect the Central Mangrove Wetland.
  • Continue to support the Department of Environment's efforts, in collaboration with others, to research and document deep sea habitats and resources, including pelagic stocks.
  • Continue with the Seed Banking project in association with Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and support the Cayman Islands National Insect Collection.
  • Continue to expand the terrestrial Protected Areas system in line with the United Kingdom's 30% by 2030 commitment, ensuring that all habitat types and ecosystem services are adequately represented.
  • Expand, establish, fund, and support protected areas, green and open spaces to facilitate various ecosystem services, e.g., carbon sequestration, manage storm water, and reduce urban heat islands.

Strategies Supporting Integration and Coordination

  • Establish through legislation a Climate & Energy Council and any subsidiary committees or units to ensure alignment of existing and new cross-ministerial policies and plans with this Climate Change Policy, and to develop legislation to strengthen the framework for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
  • Establish Advisory District Councils with representative age groups and leaders from vulnerable communities, and ensure they engage with the Climate & Energy Council.
  • Identify and assess mechanisms to cost-share beach re-nourishment projects with all beach front property owners.
  • Establish a national climate resiliency framework and scorecard to be used by all government ministries to assess existing and new public policies and plans against adaptation and mitigation targets and indicators.
  • Embed the climate resilience and mitigation measures in this Policy into relevant national policies, including the Road, Transportation, Infrastructure and Development Plans.
  • Establish a Climate Resiliency Fund through legislation to fund the implementation of this Policy and the operations of the Climate & Energy Council.
  • Engage private stakeholders and firms in identifying their responsibilities and liabilities with respect to managing, responding to, and recovering from their respective climate risks.
  • Ministries and Statutory Authorities and Government Companies (SAGCs), and large private corporations to formulate climate action plans and budgetary spending with the goal of significantly reducing GHG emissions and implementing adaptation measures before 2030.
  • Establish public education programmes that assist individuals and sectors in understanding their vulnerabilities to climate change and how they can use adaptation methods to lower their risks to climate hazards.
  • Institute a screening process (using a national climate resiliency scorecard) for expenditures to address climate and disaster risks, in order to align them with adaptation and mitigation targets.
  • Regularly update a comprehensive national risk register and ensure ministries and departments use a climate risk-based approach when developing new or revising existing policies.
  • Enhance internal CIG capacity to undertake coordinated and effective adaptation and mitigation initiatives through training and knowledge transfer opportunities.
  • Integrate mandatory educational/training opportunities in climate resiliency and sustainability into HR processes for government personnel.
  • Launch and maintain the National Climate Change Hub with open access to the resiliency scorecard, dashboards and other country-specific information and databases.
  • Ensure the objectives of future Climate Change and National Energy policies remain aligned, in particular the interim and long-term GHG abatement targets and climate mitigation strategies.
  • Develop an Aviation policy framework to reduce GHGs in this sector and capitalise on global, regional and local carbon offsetting opportunities.
  • Conduct regular reviews of this Policy and report on progress against targets, including those in accordance with commitments under international climate treaties, and revise policy measures or thresholds accordingly.
  • Ensure blue-green projects located in the Cayman Islands are finance-ready to benefit from the Commonwealth Climate Growth Fund (Cayman) LP once operational.
  • Establish public education programmes and revise school curricula to increase climate literacy, understanding of the Cayman Islands’ climate treaties commitments, and individual action needed to help achieve the goals of this Policy.
  • Expand meteorological data collection and build capacity to run real-time and forecasting models, to more accurately understand and project extreme weather and climate impacts.
  • Evaluate the impact of population growth (current and projected) on key public services and infrastructure systems (e.g., water, food, energy) that are also vulnerable to climate impacts.
  • Continue to pursue avenues to access global climate finance for adaptation and mitigation programmes and projects.

 

Events

Audiences

  • Consultation

Interests

  • Policy
  • Climate Resiliency
  • Climate Change