Small Island Developing StatesSmall Island Developing States (SIDS) in the CaribbeanCaribbean contribute minimally to the global emissions of greenhouse gases that are driving climate changeClimate Change. However, CaribbeanCaribbean SIDS are disproportionately affected by climate changeClimate Change, as well as impacts from other natural hazards such as volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. Historically, programs and investments in the CaribbeanCaribbean that respond to natural disasters have focused on reactive solutions that are limited in scope and under-resourced. This article reviews the opportunities to build resilience for CaribbeanCaribbean SIDS to not only “bounce back” from disruptions but also “bounce forward” to make long-lasting improvements to infrastructure and the economy, as well as the wellbeing of island citizens. This chapter critically examines current gaps and barriers to building resilience in Caribbean SIDS, including the need to develop a “resilience culture” among institutions and reduce reliance on external donors for funding. This chapter can assist policymakers in CaribbeanCaribbean SIDS to transition to programs for building resilience that deliver long-term benefits for the economy, social welfare, and environmental stewardship.

Although the Caribbean's Small Island Developing States (SIDS) minimally contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions, they face disproportionate climate risks and are particularly susceptible to systemic economic threats posed by climate change and subsequent increases in climate variability. Historically, strategic programs and investments have sought to develop more robust and adaptive engineered systems to absorb climate threats. However, such initiatives are limited and under-resourced in the SIDS’ context. This article reviews existing climate strategies in the Caribbean and then critically examines current gaps and barriers relating to climate impact knowledge, needs, and implementation. This examination can assist Caribbean SIDS leadership to identify opportunities to transition from a vulnerability-reducing mindset to one of resilience and transformative adaptation to improve long-term economic outlooks, social welfare, and environmental stewardship despite recurring and escalating climate risks.

To date, the contribution of sea-based sources to the global marine litter and plastic pollution problem remains poorly understood. Cruise ships produce large amounts of wastewater and concentrate their activities in fragile and ecologically valuable areas. This paper explores for the first time the sources of microplastics in cruise ship wastewater, as well as their pathways from source to sea. It thereto uses a novel approach for the identification of sources and pathways, based on scientific literature on microplastic sources and pathways, literature on cruise operations and wastewater management as well as a questionnaire among cruise lines. The study highlights personal care and cosmetic products, cleaning and maintenance products and synthetic microfibers released from textiles in laundry as relevant source categories. Untreated grey water and the overboard discharge of biosludge, resulting from the treatment of sewage and grey water, were identified as key pathways. Cruise lines can reduce microplastic emissions by adapting their purchasing policies for personal care, cosmetic, cleaning and maintenance products and professional textiles. In addition, the holistic management of all wastewater streams and resulting waste products is essential to prevent leakages of microplastics from cruise ships to vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems. Furthermore, the approach can be used to guide company-level assessments and can be modified to address microplastic leakages in other maritime sectors.

Ecosystem-based management (EBM), which can be considered an integrated watershed and coastal area management (IWCAM) approach, is an innovative way to address the additional challenges faced by human activities in the context of small islands. These activities threaten the ability of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Caribbean to provide benefits such as seafood, safe and clean beaches, and shoreline protection from storm surges and flooding. Small islands are considered "one big watershed", since most activities on land can create negative impacts on the marine environment. Human activities on land, along the coasts, and in the ocean are unintentionally but seriously affecting marine ecosystems by altering marine food webs, changing the climate, damaging habitat, eroding coastlines, introducing invasive species, and polluting coastal waters. Concern over this situation led to the development of the Cartagena Convention and its Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol). The LBS Protocol may force countries to bear in mind the interconnectedness of marine ecosystems from the context of small islands in planning for interventions addressed by the Protocol. The marine EBM response to land-based activities must seek to link approaches such as integrated land-use planning with IWCAM in the Caribbean. One of the key challenges will be the coordination of national efforts and regional mechanisms. The specific implications of land-based activities and their impacts are discussed.