Representatives from more than 20 government ministries and departments tested a new online platform designed to assess the Cayman Islands’ climate resilience and guide future investment decisions.
They, together with non-government stakeholders, gathered at the Intergenerational Hub in George Town on 13 May for the first pilot workshop of the Cayman Islands Resilience Index (CIRI) and Investment Guidance Tool.
The platform, developed under the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability (MHES), is intended to measure national resilience and evaluate how projects and public investments contribute to Cayman’s long-term climate goals.
Workshop participants tested the prototype system, provided feedback and took part in training sessions on how the platform could be used across government.
Senior civil servants and elected officials attending included Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, chief sustainability officer Jennifer Ahearn, and environment and sustainability minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks.
The initiative aligns with the Cayman Islands Climate Change Policy 2024–2050 and the National Energy Policy 2024–2045.
The index measures resilience across six areas, including infrastructure, the economy, communities, the built environment and environmental protection.
Speaking at the workshop, Ebanks-Wilks said the testing phase marked an important step in strengthening evidence-based planning and resilience-building efforts.
“The Cayman Islands Resilience Index will give government and stakeholders a practical, evidence-based tool to better understand resilience needs, prioritise investments and measure progress over time,” she said in a press release.
She added that the workshop gave participants an opportunity to see how the platform and the accompanying Climate Investment Guidance Tool would work together to support future decision-making.
Senior policy advisor for climate resiliency Lisa Hurlston-McKenzie said the platform had been shaped through extensive consultation with ministries, departments and stakeholders.
“Building resilience is a shared responsibility, and this process has helped ensure the tool reflects the realities, priorities and needs of our Islands,” she said.
According to government, the tool is expected to help identify resilience gaps, improve project planning and strengthen access to climate finance opportunities.
During the session, participants used the platform to input data, review resilience indicators and assess how proposed projects – including infrastructure developments – could contribute to national resilience goals.
Marilise Turnbull, co-founder of Integrated Risk Management Associates LLC (IRMA), said the pilot workshop was an important opportunity to gather practical feedback and refine the system before wider implementation.
The project is funded by the European Union through the Green Overseas Programme and is being implemented in partnership with Expertise France and IRMA.
Since launching in July last year, the project team has completed stakeholder surveys, focus group discussions and a multi-agency design workshop, resulting in the development of more than 60 resilience indicators.
The project is currently in its pilot and training phase, with further refinements and integration into government processes planned following stakeholder feedback.
