Perspectives on climate information use in the Caribbean

This paper offers an empirical contribution on Caribbean perspectives of climate information use considering current barriers and enablers in the region. It employs thematic analysis of 26 semi-structured interviews with region-focused sectoral experts (including end-users and decision-makers) drawn from climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and resilience focused initiatives and institutions.

The results reaffirm presence of known barriers, such as the crucial role of finance, but notably they identify a range of interlinked enabling and catalyzing conditions necessary for the effective use of climate information. These conditions include the need for island- and sector- contextualized climate information, the role of international donors, the importance of adequate human resource capacity and presence of loud voices/climate champions, as well as the need for effective political and legislative mandates and for greater co-production.