Special Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change (SPACC) in Saint-Lucia

Saint Lucia

Dates : 2007-2011

Project leader : Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCC)

Classification

Risks

Solutions

Actors

Costs

Summary

Saint Lucia is one of the three Caribbean countries, along with Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, which participated in the GEF-World Bank-funded Special Programme on Adaptation to Climate Change (SPACC): Implementation of Adaptation Measures in Coastal Zone Project. The Strengthened Critical Coastal Infrastructure sub-component of the Project demonstrated that the design and implementation of appropriate interventions can reinforce critical infrastructure against the effects and intensity of hurricanes. The International Code Council (ICC) was contracted to define the probability of intensified hurricane distribution in Saint Lucia and undertook the technical translation of updated hurricane information into engineering guidelines. Eventually, the firm has presented the results of this work to architects, builders, planners and engineers of Saint Lucia and provided corresponding training.

Actions

The Special Programme for Adaptation to Climate Change: Implementation of Adaptation Measures in Coastal Zones (SPACC) supports efforts by Dominica, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to implement specific (integrated) pilot adaptation measures addressing the impacts of climate change on the natural resources of the region, focused on biodiversity and land degradation along coastal and near-coastal areas. This objective was completed through (1) detailed design of pilot adaptation measures to reduce expected negative impacts of climate change on marine and terrestrial biodiversity and land degradation; and (2) the implementation of pilot adaptation investments.

The Strengthened Critical Coastal Infrastructure sub-component of the Project demonstrated that the design and implementation of appropriate interventions can reinforce critical infrastructure against the effects and intensity of hurricanes. The International Code Council (ICC) was contracted to define the probability of intensified hurricane distribution in Saint Lucia and undertook the technical translation of updated hurricane information into engineering guidelines. Eventually, the firm presented the results of this work to architects, builders, planners and engineers of Saint Lucia and provided corresponding training.

Outcomes

Calibration exercises should be undertaken to determine the impact of introducing climate change and wind-speed effects in the design of various types of buildings and structures – such as hospitals, industrial facilities and houses.

Training should be conducted for design and checking authority engineers in the use of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as amended by the new Caribbean Basin wind hazard maps and taking into account climate change factors. ASCE Standards provide technical guidelines for promoting safety, reliability, productivity and efficiency across all areas of civil engineering.

All new Government facilities required for post-hurricane response should have their designs and construction quality assurance systems subjected to independent review by knowledgeable, experienced, Registered Professional Engineers, with certified expertise in wind analysis for structures.

All existing Government facilities required for post-hurricane response should be subjected to vulnerability analyses to establish the need, or otherwise, for retrofitting to accommodate the new wind-resistant standards.

Partners

Technical partners: Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCC)

Financial partners: World Bank, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Resources