The Bahamas is in the North Atlantic Ocean and comprises an archipelago of more than 700 islands, though no more than 30 are inhabited. The islands of the Bahamas have low relief and generally flat terrain, and contain significant wetlands and mangrove forests, with the majority of the population on or near the coast. In fact, 80% of the land lies less than 1-1.5m above sea level and, as such, is vulnerable to inundation caused by sea level rise and storm surges due to hurricanes. The Bahamas are home to five percent of the world’s coral as well as the world’s third longest barrier reef. The major economic contributor is the services industry, largely based in tourism, which accounts for 90% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The reliance of the country’s economy on tourism, an industry supported and reliant on the natural environment, marine resources and coastal infrastructure, makes the country highly vulnerable to climate change and associated natural hazards.  

The Bahamas Environment, Science & Technology Commission, also known as the BEST Commission, manages the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and reviews environmental impact assessments (EIA) and environmental management plans. The commission has developed a number of policies and regulations including a National Climate Change Policy. The Bahamas ratified the Paris Agreement on August 22, 2016 and the associated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) can be found here. The NDC commits the Bahamas to reducing GHG emissions by 30% compared to its Business-as-Usual scenario by 2030 conditional upon international support.