Barbados is a small island developing state in the eastern most part of the Caribbean Archipelago. The island’s terrain is largely comprised of relatively flat land comprised of limestone rock. Barbados’ coastline is approximately 97 km in length with the majority of the island’s extensive coral life located in marine protected areas on the western coast. The population of Barbados is approximately 286,100 (World Bank, 2014) with 25% of the population living in coastal areas. Throughout history, Barbados was one of the main cultivators of sugarcane but has since shifted its economic fortunes towards tourism and financial services. As an island state, Barbados is highly vulnerable to hurricanes and other natural hazards, and is particularly susceptible to the potential impacts of climate change, including coastal inundation and sea level rise, an increase in tidal and storm surge levels, coastal erosion, rising temperatures, changes in rainfall patterns, drought and more frequent and intense tropical cyclones.

The Ministry of Environment and Drainage is the focal point of all climate action for Barbados and seeks to address issues relevant to climate change mitigation and adaptation through inter-sector coordination. Notably, Barbados was the first Caribbean country to create a special body charged with coastal zone management, the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU).  The country submitted its First National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is in the process of working on its Second National Communication. Barbados created a National Climate Change Policy in 2012 and ratified the Paris Agreement on April 22, 2016. Barbados’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) can be found here.

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