The Commonwealth Local Government Forum has delivered a series of workshops in St.Lucia from 17 to 19 May and in Trinidad and Tobago from 27 to 29 May. The workshops on Climate Resilient Urban Development brought together both political and technical representatives from across local government along with representatives of key ministries and departments with responsibility for urban development and climate adaptation, key academics and targeted CSOs.

The two and a half day workshops discussed the evolving role of local government in maintaining infrastructure, delivering services, and protecting the vulnerable from increasingly unpredictable and severe weather and climate change impacts.

Country specific impacts

The workshops presented the country specific climate impacts being faced in both St Lucia, where hurricanes and flooding are key issues; and Trinidad and Tobago, where flooding is the main issue being faced by local communities. Sessions discussed the roles and responsibilities of local government in addressing emergency responses, inter-governmental coordination, community outreach, financing and capacity building.

Accessing finance

Participants stressed the challenges around accessing finance for climate action at both the country and local government level. International financial envelopes are large and difficult to access, and need significant management capacity. They are out of reach for the majority of local government. Working through national ministries and departments will be essential to access these key adaptation funds.

Participants welcomed the increased knowledge and awareness of the specific climate change impacts and challenges in urban communities, and the ability to exchange across sectors and levels of government to allow for coordinated action.

Multi-year project

The workshops are part of a wider multi-year project CLGF is delivering in partnership with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC) entitled “Multi-Country Climate Resilient Development Initiative”. Funded through the Green Climate Fund’s Regional Readiness & Preparatory Support line the project is working in four countries (Saint Lucia, Dominica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago) and has been developed in partnership with their respective governments.

CLGF will be delivering a further national workshop in Suriname later in the year, as well as a regional meeting for the Caribbean bringing together its wider network of members across the Caribbean.