U.S. Caribbean [US Climate Reslience Toolkit]

Increased air and ocean temperatures are leading to extreme hurricanes and increasingly powerful storms. These impacts, paired with rising sea levels, are already harming human health, ecosystems, water and food supplies, and critical infrastructure in this region, with underserved communities suffering disproportionate impacts. High percentages of critical infrastructure in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are at risk of flooding due to sea level rise and heavier rainfall, increasing risks of disruption in critical services like healthcare. At the same time, many community-based organizations, such as those in Puerto Rico, have undertaken actions to advance adaptation, social transformation, and sustainable development. Effective adaptation to support resilience in the region could be enhanced by decentralization of energy and water systems, improved governance and funding, and stronger partnerships across the Caribbean region and the U.S. mainland.