CHARLESTOWN – In a move to strengthen national climate resilience and disaster preparedness, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, with support from UNICEF, has launched a groundbreaking data platform that identifies how children are affected by environmental and climate-related hazards.
The Children’s Climate Risk Index – Disaster Risk Model (CCRI–DRM), developed in collaboration with national agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on St. Kitts; the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD), and the Ministry of Sustainable Development, is designed to support evidence-based policies and actions that safeguard children’s rights and wellbeing in the face of growing climate risks.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony, Clive Murray, Climate, Environment, Energy and Disaster Risk Reduction (CEED) Specialist at UNICEF, underscored the organization’s commitment to helping governments use data to protect children from the worsening effects of the climate crisis.
“Around the world, climate and environmental hazards are already affecting the lives and wellbeing of millions of children,” said Murray. “These challenges are threatening access to clean water, education, nutrition, and protection – the very rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.”
He added that while data gaps remain a major obstacle to effective planning across the region, initiatives like the CCRI–DRM offer a solution.
“Without strong, timely, and transparent data, it becomes difficult to design effective policies or target resources, especially for the most vulnerable. By improving data collection and analysis, we can ensure that Saint Kitts and Nevis’ children are visible in global datasets, and that their realities shape regional and international climate action.”
The Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), developed globally by UNICEF, assesses how children are exposed to climate and environmental shocks and measures each area’s ability to prevent and respond to those hazards. The localised Disaster Risk Model (DRM) builds on this framework to reflect the specific risks and vulnerabilities of children across St. Kitts and Nevis.
According to Glenroy Blanchette, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, the model represents a major step forward in the country’s efforts to build climate resilience.
“As a small island developing state, St. Kitts and Nevis faces ongoing threats to its social and economic stability due to hurricanes, flooding, sea level rise, and other climate-related hazards,” said Blanchette. “The Federation continues to demonstrate strong leadership in advancing climate resilience and disaster risk reduction through the development and implementation of the Child Climate Risk Index–Disaster Risk Model.”
The CCRI–DRM was developed through a highly collaborative process involving more than 50 stakeholders including government departments, data specialists, community representatives and young people. With 42 environmental and social indicators, the platform combines data on exposure and vulnerability, providing a clearer picture of the risks faced by children and families in each parish.
The model will guide future planning and resource allocation while strengthening coordination among agencies. It will also serve as a learning tool for policymakers and educators, fostering community-level engagement and action.
“By embedding evidence-based decision-making, inclusivity, and human rights at the centre of its climate response, Saint Kitts and Nevis is setting a powerful regional example,” said Blanchette.