Travel and tourism—the primary industry and employer in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis and its surrounding area—is at high risk from climate change, according to a new assessment from the Stimson Center. Working with the St. Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Environment and Climate Action, TaiwanICDF and the Taiwan Ocean Affairs Council and experts throughout the community, the Stimson Center conducted an in-depth study to identify and address the most pressing climate dangersfaced by the city and island nation, and it outlines specific steps and opportunities that can be taken to mitigate these risks.
Working in partnership, the four organizations collected data on the extent of climate and ocean risks in Basseterre and its surrounding area, including increased heat events, loss of mangroves, poor fisheries management, and more intense hurricanes. To prioritize local action, almost 70 local experts were surveyed to utilize their knowledge to help generate recommendations to strengthen climate resilience given Basseterre’s social, economic, and ecological characteristics. These recommendations, together with key findings from the report, were released at COP27 at the St. Kitts and Nevis Pavilion.
