This document discusses the Partnership for Canada-Caribbean Community Climate Change Adaptation (ParCA) research framework. ParCA focuses on small to medium coastal communities that are at high risk from climate change due to dependencies on vulnerable sectors like fisheries and tourism, and have limited adaptive capacities. The research framework examines current and future exposures and sensitivities to climate change as well as adaptive strategies and capacities. It also considers changes to natural and social systems and conducts community adaptation visioning and evaluation. The goal is knowledge integration and increasing understanding of issues at multiple scales. ParCA has exceeded its goal of training 29 highly qualified personnel and has engaged over 30 additional students through related courses. It has also established a community of practice platform

1. 28 May 2014  IRIACC Mid-Term Meeting
Partnership for Canada-
Caribbean Community Climate
Change Adaptation

2. ParCA Research FrameworkCurrent
Exposures and
Sensitivities
Current
Adaptive
Strategies
Future
Exposures and
Sensitivities
Future
Adaptive
Capacity
Expected Changes in
Natural + Social Systems
• Socio-economic, climate,
SLR scenarios
• Coastal change modelling
Governance
Assessment
(multi-level
networks,
transformations)
Community Adaptation Visioning and Evaluation
Against Maladaptation Criteria
Knowledge Integration and Scale-Up
Community-BasedVulnerabilityAssessment

3. Focus on Small-Medium Sized
Coastal Communities
 ParCA was established to contribute to the research
and practice needs of small/medium-sized coastal communities that are at higher
risk to climate change because of dependency on highly vulnerable economic
sectors (fisheries, tourism) and have lesser adaptive capacity (limited technical-
planning capacity and tax base, and are often undergoing socio-economic
restructuring pressures).
• i.e., the communities some have suggested will be ‘triaged’ as sea level rise
adaptation costs escalate in the decades ahead
 A 2012 survey of Canadian municipalities confirmed this need, with less than 10% of
communities with less than 10,000 people in the process of adaptation planning.
• Adaptation gap more pronounced in thousands of smaller communities worldwide

4.  In the last two years, three of ParCA’s study areas have also
experienced damage from extreme events (Jamaica, Nova
Scotia, PEI flooding and storm surge damages), strengthening
the near-term relevance of the research program.
With negative impacts on (among
others)...
• Tourism
• Recreational
sailing & diving
• Key marine
ecosystems (e.g.
coral reefs)
• Inshore fisheries
• Coastal
infrastructure
• Human health &

5. Training HQP
and Networks
ParCA set out to recruit/train 29 highly qualified
personnel (HQP) and through success in external
scholarship competitions, this number has been
exceeded (currently at 32).
Furthermore, ParCA has engaged over 30
additional students in ParCA research program
through courses at UW and UWI.

6. ParCA / GIVRAPD have established a
Community of Practice platform to
connect practitioners and researchers
in Small Island States (C-CHANGE,
CCCCC, GIVRAPD, SEA-ARK, C-FISH)

7. Insight Development Grant
Evolving Network