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National Climate Resilience Council

NCRC Aruba

Enhancing resilience to climate change is a priority and responsibility to ensure responsible development and safeguard national wellbeing.

NCRC Presentation
Report on Climate Adaptation in Deltas, Coasts and Islands

Purpose

As a small island open economy, Aruba is highly exposed and vulnerable to several external shocks, including but not limited to, financial-economic and geo-political shocks, as well as environmental and climate hazards. In terms of climate vulnerabilities and considering climate change acceleration, (coastal) residential communities and vital (primary) infrastructures, as well as nature and marine habitats are increasingly exposed to both natural disasters and acute climate shocks, in addition to the slow onset of climate and ocean changes and chronic stressors (i.e., climate slow burns).

A climate resilient small island state (CRSIS) is able to cope, adapt, transform, and learn in the face of current and future climate changes, thereby ensuring that all individuals, households, sectors, as well as nature and biodiverse ecologies have the capacity and the opportunity to thrive, and lead a dignified and fulfilled life. Climate resilience — the ability of a system, community or society exposed to natural hazards and climate risks to anticipate, resist, recover, as well as adapt to, and transition and transform from the effects and impacts of climate change in a timely and effective manner, including the preservation and restoration of its essential basic (socio-ecological) services, structures, and systems — is used in a purposefully all-encompassing manner and inclusive of climate adaptation (i.e., the process of adjusting systems in response to the actual and projected risks and impacts of a changing climate). Consequently, CRSIS exhibit a strong and fundamental predisposition towards a risk-based, resilience-driven, and action-oriented strategy to foster climate resilience and climate justice.

The purpose of the National Climate Resilience Council (NCRC) of Aruba is to contribute to the systemic strengthening of climate resilience for the inter- and intra-generational wellbeing of society and nature. In leading climate resilience and as the national climate authority of Aruba, the primary mandate of the NCRC is to:

I. Develop a national climate resilience framework and enabling climate legislation, as well as evidence-based climate policies and pathways for a just and inclusive climate-resilient transition towards safeguarding national wellbeing.

II. Coordinate the execution of climate risks and resilience assessments, in addition to advancing climate analytics and a national climate resilience research program.

III. Foster the development of institutional capabilities and governance for strengthening climate adaptation capacity and climate resiliency.

IV. Identify climate finance needs and opportunities, as well as mobilize access to climate investments and financing to advance climate resilience at scale.

V. Promote climate literacy and mainstream climate education to nurture inter- and intra-generational climate resiliency and equity, as well as facilitating meaningful engagement, especially amongst climate vulnerable and marginalized communities.

Principles

In governing climate resilience, the primary mandate of the NCRC is to function as an institutional foundation for short- to medium-term climate resilience policies and programs. The national climate resilience framework articulates a common set of guiding principles that enable the NCRC in leading climate resilience in a responsible and inclusive manner. Thereto, the following foundational principles guide climate governance, policy development, and decision making to strengthen climate resilience at all levels:

Resilience-driven

Develop, share, and apply knowledge of current and future drivers and stressors of climate change influencing ecosystem services, structures, and stakeholders in order to prioritize, implement, and adapt responsible climate solutions that sustain and strengthen ecological and societal well-being. Resilience-driven policy (RDP) is a systemic approach to enhance the synergy and resiliency of natural ecologies, communities, and governance systems.

Whole-of-Nation

The wellbeing of CRSIS is tightly coupled to, and largely determined by the collective resilience of social, ecological, and economic systems, including institutions and governance. Small island communities and natural systems are highly interconnected, and the risks and impacts from climate change are transboundary. A holistic approach strives to leverage synergies, as well as to avoid maladaptive (i.e., unbalanced, conflicting, or counterproductive) decision making. A ‘Whole-of-Nation’ underscores the importance of structurally embedding climate resilience in national governance and across policy processes.

Inclusive

Work across all sectors to identify and pursue shared goals, thereby resolving structural barriers to impactful engagement. Create just and inclusive pathways for all community members to be meaningfully involved in decision-making. Co-design climate service solutions and build the requisite climate agency to expand and execute climate resilient pathways. This includes enhancing institutional and community capacities to devise and develop climate-ready and scalable solutions for the long term.

Equitable

Consider the rights of nature and the perspectives of all community members, including those that are most vulnerable. Climate resilience is contextualized by the rights of nature, including terrestrial and ocean, and tailored to the specific needs of local communities. Pursue solutions that address, and do not exacerbate, disparities between and within communities. Ensure that strategies respond to both intergenerational aspirations, as well as intragenerational needs.

Anticipatory

Leading climate resilience compels us to govern from the future, including the recognition that climate change involves significant volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). Implement solutions that anticipate and address climate threats and impacts before damages occur. Prioritize activities and investments through risk-based approaches, including approaches that account for complex risks, like cascading impacts and concurrent events, as well as approaches that account for differences in vulnerability and response capabilities within and across communities.

Platform

A climate resilient small island state (CRSIS) ensures that all individuals, households, and (public and private) sectors, as well as (civic and non-governmental) communities have the right and capacity to thrive, as well as pursue fulfilled livelihoods and dignified lives. This includes, but is not limited to, flourishing natural ecosystems, equitable health care, nutritious, secure, and sufficient food supply, access to safe and affordable housing, in addition to clean and appropriate water supply, robust education and workforce opportunities, secure and clean sources of energy, and climate-robust vital infrastructures. Building forth on the aforementioned mandate and guiding principles of the NCRC, the governance of the NCRC is organized as a Climate Quintet (CQ) platform involving and engaging five (5) key stakeholder clusters:

I. Public sector and state-owned enterprises

II. Private sector and industry associations

III. Civic organizations and non-governmental foundations

IV. Scientific and academic institutions

V. Regional and international agencies

Target

Consistent with resilience-driven governance, the CQ is organized in five (5) complimentary climate policy clusters and working streams, thereby enabling a risk-based, resilience-driven, and action-oriented strategy to enable climate resilience. The interconnected clusters and streams are (see Figure 1):

a. Climate resilience steering committee and oversight:

b. Climate risk and impact cluster:

c. Climate resilience and adaptation cluster:

d. Climate finance and investment cluster:

e. Climate analytics and data warehouse cluster:

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