Considering the escalating climate change challenges in the Caribbean region, marked by an urgent need for robust data-driven climate policies, the project is designed to enhance capacities in SIDS by delivering training in fundamental data science skills, along with providing technical assistance in making effective use of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data (for tracking vessels) and related national data (in two beneficiary countries, namely Barbados and Belize) as well as the application of Artificial Intelligence for Environment & Sustainability (ARIES), which can be used for the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) (in two countries, namely Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago). Through integration of geospatial information and new data sources, this initiative seeks to empower four SIDS in the Caribbean with the necessary capabilities to accurately monitor maritime transport and trade, fisheries and ecosystem services (including tourism), analyze related CO2 emissions and foster the development of SEEA accounts. The project will also provide analytical diagnostic studies on sources and levels of CO2 and other GHG emissions, and feed the main findings into a cross-country roadmap listing most relevant policy options and recommendations for the decarbonisation of the maritime transport sector and fisheries value chains, and for the conservation, management, and restoring of the marine ecosystems (with support from UNEP). Throughout the project CARICOM and ECLAC will provide regional coordination and guidance on policy implementation.

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) are key drivers of economic growth and sustainable development in LDCs and SIDS. However, many of these countries face challenges in harnessing the power of STI to drive economic growth and sustainable development in part due to cost constraints, infrastructure deficiencies, geographical insularity, fragmentation and limited knowledge transfer. Addressing these gaps requires efforts at all levels to assist countries to, inter alia, i) Prioritize investments in resilience and research and development; ii) Promote regional cooperation and coordination and strengthen regional research institutions’ technical and institutional capacity through inter alia joint research initiatives, and knowledge sharing; and iii) Effectively mobilize national science and engineering capacity for mission-oriented research to solve specific national/regional problems. This project will support three Lusophone SIDS (Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe) to strengthen their capacity to develop, deploy, and expand their use of STI in the context of the SDGs and particularly for building ocean knowledge and coastal resilience. Recommendations from the project will be piloted on UNESCO designated sites and through relevant multistakeholder networks to amplify project impact at all levels. The Project’s objectives are to strengthen the capacity of government officials and other stakeholders in targeted Small Island Developing States to utilize science, technology and innovation effectively for advancing climate resilience and nature-based solutions in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals. The project will be jointly implemented by UNDESA, UNECA and UNESCO.