Safequarding Grenada’s water supply in times of climate change

Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, torrential rain and drought are becoming increasingly frequent in Caribbean islands like Grenada, which are directly feeling the impacts of climate change. However, climate adaptation measures are expensive. Enabling smaller countries to implement more extensive and cost-intensive climate projects is the focus of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The objective of the GCF is to support climate-related measures in developing countries and emerging economies and promote low-emission, climate-friendly development.

Safeguarding Grenada’s drinking water supply

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is also implementing joint projects with the GCF. In Grenada, it is working on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMU) to fundamentally restructure the water sector. Water resources are scarce on the island: water tanks are being destroyed by storms, and rising sea levels are contaminating the drinking water supply, with the impact being felt by the population. These problems are also affecting agriculture and tourism, Grenada’s key sources of income. This is the first GIZ project to be cofinanced by the GCF. The objective is to make the country’s water supply resilient to crises and climate change. Grenada also wants to conserve significantly more water so that it can continue to supply water to its population of around 112,000 and the island’s large numbers of visitors.

Sustainability: financing and specialist expertise for the climate

The GCF enables Grenada and many other countries to finance sustainable projects. With 12 seats on the GCF Board, developing countries are represented on an equal footing with other countries – and can submit project proposals.

Since 2016, GIZ has been supporting its partners in planning, financing and implementing GCF-financed projects. In addition to Grenada, projects are also under way in Kenya, Laos and Senegal. Further projects are being planned – to ensure that climate action is also a reality in places that would otherwise lack the necessary resources.