Caribbean MRV Hub

The Caribbean’s agriculture sector is diverse and plays a significant role in the region’s economy and food security. However, the region is facing significant challenges to maintain productive and healthy agricultural industries due to the growing threats from climate change, from which they are particularly at risk. Their narrow resource base, reliance on the natural environment, limited industrial activity, physical remoteness, and limited economies of scale make their climate challenges unique, and have to date necessitated a focus almost entirely on adaptation as the preferred climate change action.

While Caribbean policy makers understand the issues and importance of mitigation in tackling climate change, they lack the institutional arrangements, expertise, emissions data and research evidence needed for the development of policy, action plans, and access to international climate financing mechanisms.

The Caribbean Cooperative MRV Hub is a regional institution established to support the implementation of national climate change data systems in 12 English-speaking Caribbean countries. They understand that the measure, report, and verify (MRV) of country greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is essential for both the implementation of climate change measures and participation in the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. They have a keen understanding of regional needs and priorities, a skilled team to carry out a technical work programme to meet those needs, and strong relationships with key decision makers in member countries.

The recent addition of the Agriculture Work Crew, which this project will support, provides an opportunity for New Zealand technical specialists, and other GRA member countries, to work with the Caribbean in building the capacity of the Agriculture Work Crew and assist the MRV Hub in achieving its regional aims.

1. Support the Agriculture Work Crew Community of Practice, consisting of participating staff and other stakeholders from the relevant agriculture ministries of interested MRV Hub member countries.

2. Train local country personnel in the processes and policies associated with GHG inventory management.

3. Develop the in-country expertise to compile their own country-specific agricultural GHG inventory.

4. Produce transparent, robust national agriculture inventory accounts for local as well as national policy development and international climate negotiations.