In September of 2018, Grenada‘s Minister of Climate Resilience, Senator Simon Stiell, announced that the nation hopes to get $300 million in grants and soft loans from the Green Climate Fund and other benefactors to make Grenada a “global exemplar” of climate resilience.
This puts Grenada in friendly competition with fellow Caribbean nation Dominica, which announced similar intentions here.
Nine areas of Grenada would be the focus of this initiative, the first being the Carenage, due to its “high tourism value” and “significant economic value as the centre of our capital.”
Sen. Stiell said the plan is to look at how “we can build greater resilience into the very vulnerable areas around the Carenage and enhancing economic opportunities for existing and potentially new businesses there.”
Identified as a special focus for funding is the southern corridor between the town of St. George and the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA). Sen. Stiell said there are areas within that zone that “are highly vulnerable to Climate Change.”
This area includes St. George’s University, which Stiell says is “a significant economic contributor” to the island and responsible for 20-25% of the island’s economy lifeblood. “So, we’re working with St. George’s University, together with NYU [New York University] as to how we can build greater resilience into that economic engine of ours.”
Other areas intended to benefit from the Green Climate Fund include the sewage treatment on the south end of the island, the urban planning in the town of St. George and South St. George.
Senator Stiell concluded, “We’ll be able to demonstrate once again, Grenada’s leadership in this area and again in terms of taking advantage of the resources that are available. There is a great vision behind it and we know if we succeed, even if we achieve a fraction of the ambition that we have, we’ll transform the town of St. George.”
Back in March of 2018, the Green Climate Fund launched a 6-year program to make Grenada’s water supply for climate-resilient. Grenada relies heavily upon surface water and rainwater catchment for its water supply.
Climate change is aggravating water scarcity problems with increasing average temperatures, more erratic rainfall, more frequent heavy rainfall events, and saltwater intrusion in groundwater due to sea level rise. G-CREWS will support the water sector by reducing water demand and increasing water availability.
A Water Resource Management Unit (WRMU) will be established, and a water tariff will create climate-responsive price signals for users, whilst providing resources to upgrade infrastructure. A challenge fund will promote water efficiency in the agriculture and tourism sectors.
Infrastructure investments will include building water storage capacities, drilling new wells, and creating new rainwater harvesting systems. Disaster resilience will be improved including through remote monitoring, whilst renewable energy solutions will be introduced for water pumping and treatment.
Photo of Grenada via Adobe Stock.