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Caribbean economies, lifestyles, activities, practices and operational cycles are intricately linked to climate, making them vulnerable to its variations and/or changes. As examples, climate extremes impact agriculture, fisheries, health, tourism, water availability, recreation, and energy usage, among other things. There is however limited incorporation of climate information in the long term developmental plans and policies of the region. This is in part due to a knowledge deficit about climate change, it's likely manifestation in the region and the possible impact on Caribbean societies. In this paper, a review of the growing bank of knowledge about Caribbean climate science; variability and change is undertaken. Insight is offered into the basic science of climate change, past trends and future projections for Caribbean climate, and the possible implications for the region. In the end a case is made for a greater response to the threats posed by climate change on the basis of the sufficiency of our current knowledge of Caribbean climate science. A general profile of what the response may look like is also offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural trends in the insular Caribbean are increasingly shaped by global change. Global change is characterized by two components, globalization and environmental change. Specifically, we can identify stresses and shocks associated both by economic trade liberalization, and the impacts of environmental hazards. In the latter case, an apparent increase in extreme weather conditions (notably unpredictable periods of prolonged drought and of intense rainfall) are possible harbingers of climate change. These forces have impacted both export agriculture and domestic food production throughout the region. In this paper, we document the performance of the agricultural sector in the context of these external forces. One focus of attention is the ability of small-scale farming systems to cope with, and adapt to, external change, drawing on their traditional knowledge. Opportunities for Caribbean agriculture are also evident through overseas niche markets and alternative trading networks like fair trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]