Background

The Caribbean faces growing development challenges. Economic uncertainty, social pressures, and environmental threats are becoming more intense and more frequent. As Small Island Developing States, Caribbean countries are on the front lines of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

These challenges are made worse by long‑standing constraints such as geographic isolation, small local markets, limited public finances, and high exposure to climate shocks. Stronger storms and ongoing environmental damage are putting key industries at risk and increasing food and energy insecurity. The hardest impacts are felt by those who are already most vulnerable, including women, young people, people living in poverty, and Indigenous communities.

In response to these challenges, Euroclima - the European Union’s flagship cooperation programme with Latin America and the Caribbean under the Global Gateway strategy - supports bold, fair, and lasting action on climate and environmental issues. The programme works to strengthen climate resilience, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable development across the region.

Euroclima brings the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean together around shared priorities. It helps create the right conditions to attract and guide investment into areas that matter most for long‑term sustainability and inclusive growth. These include renewable and clean energy, sustainable water management, protection of ecosystems, circular economy solutions, and stronger access to climate‑aligned and sustainable finance.

Euroclima operates under a Team Europe approach and is implemented collaboratively by eight European and United Nations agencies: AECID, AFD/Expertise France, ECLAC, FIIAPP, GIZ, UNDP, UNEP, and the European Commission. Through this coordination, the programme will mobilize climate and green finance and strengthen institutional capacity across LAC to advance the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNDP is one of several Implementing Agencies partnering with the EU and national governments in the Caribbean region to identify areas for technical assistance and execute enabling actions. The UNDP Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean leads UNDP’s engagement in Euroclima Caribbean, in close collaboration with other (multi-) country offices where the organization has a role.

UNDP’s engagement with Euroclima Caribbean runs from January 2023 to December 2027. Key activities include:

• Supporting the elaboration of Action Plans that define national and regional priorities for climate-resilient, low-emission development pathways.
• Assessing country needs based on Eurclima's strategic criteria.
• Providing technical and strategic advice to the EU during country dialogue processes.
• Conducting analytical studies to inform decision-making and investment prioritization.
• Facilitating multi-stakeholder consultation processes with governments, civil society, and private sector actors.
• Implementing agreed actions in participating countries.
   

Participating Countries and Entities

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Barbados
• Belize
• Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Jamaica
• Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• The University of the West Indies

Sustainable Development Goals

Euroclima will contribute to progress on Sustainable Development Goals: 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 13 (Climate Action), 14 (Life Below Water) and 15 (Life on Land) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).