A Climate-Responsive Agenda for a More Secure Future
SDF 11 will place environmental resilience at the forefront of its agenda, with a minimum of 35% of total resources dedicated to climate finance. This ambitious commitment reflects the urgency of the crisis and the Caribbean Development Bank’s role as a key development partner in building climate-responsive economies across the Region.
Through SDF 11, the Bank will support Borrowing Member Countries to:
- Scale up climate adaptation and mitigation investments in agriculture, water management, infrastructure, and coastal resilience, aligned with national development strategies and Nationally Determined Contributions.
- Strengthen disaster preparedness and response, through direct country support and regional coordination via partners.Invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, limit exposure to market volatility, cut emissions, improve energy security, and lower costs for vulnerable households and businesses.
- Preserve biodiversity and natural capital, recognising their role in supporting livelihoods, mitigating climate risk, and sustaining eco-dependent sectors like tourism and fisheries.
- Mainstream climate action and disaster risk management into national and sectoral planning frameworks.
- Unlock greater access to international climate finance by building in-country capacity and funding a Project Preparation Fund to help countries design high-quality, bankable climate projects.
Confronting the Caribbean’s Deepening Environmental Risks
The Region’s development prospects are inextricably linked to the state of its environment. Caribbean countries are among the most exposed globally to the intensifying effects of climate change, yet they are among the least equipped to absorb the shocks. Recurrent disasters erode physical infrastructure, deplete fiscal buffers, and force countries to redirect limited resources away from education, health, and growth-oriented investment. In the poorest communities, the fallout is even more severe with the loss of shelter, income, and basic services deepening poverty and hampering progress.
Considering this reality, SDF 11 is taking a comprehensive, integrated approach, supporting both systemic climate resilience and practical, near-term interventions. It will address the underlying vulnerabilities of Caribbean economies while enabling countries to pursue more sustainable and inclusive development paths. By protecting ecosystems, de-risking investments, and helping governments plan and respond more effectively, SDF 11 will deliver concrete solutions for long-term environmental security and economic stability.