The proposed project will support caribbean climate adaptation by CO-producing new research on community-based organizations (CBOS), an important and understudied subset of groups that can effectively…

The proposed project will support caribbean climate adaptation by CO-producing new research on community-based organizations (CBOS), an important and understudied subset of groups that can effectively lead, mediate, and implement climate responses in the region. CBOS were a critical part of a faster and more effective recovery response after puerto ricos hurricane maria and hurricane fiona. While puerto rican CBOS have become experts in emergency response, the ways in which they facilitate climate adaptation outside the disaster-response period is less clear. Through interdisciplinary and participatory adaptation research, including exploratory case study development, establishment of two insular caribbean advisory teams, and a culminating a regional presentation and a final report, this project will provide new insights into the strategies, tools, barriers, and adaptive capacities of CBOS to drive local climate actions in puerto rico. This effort is led by a dynamic partnership between syracuse university environmental finance center (SU-EFC), housed at the center for sustainable community solutions (CSCS) and the transdisciplinary institute of social-action research (ITIAS) at the university of puerto rico humacao (UPRH). ITIAS, which is affiliated with uprhs department of social sciences, promotes transdisciplinary and community-based research for grassroots organizations, community groups, and government institutions in puerto rico, often integrating the work of locally-based students to conduct research alongside community partners. ITIAS is closely affiliated with uprhs academic program in social sciences with research and social action (inas, in spanish), an undergraduate program that focuses on providing students with the tools and experiences to conduct research alongside communities. SU-EFC brings over a decade of experience providing technical assistance and applied research in puerto rico, and supports a full-time caribbean program manager (DR. Fuentes) who splits time between puerto rico and new york, as well as support staff in puerto rico. This project addresses noaas FY2024 adsci program priorities by advancing understanding of key barriers and enabling conditions among CBOS to strengthen their adaptive capacities, looking beyond the critical role they have played when responding to climate emergencies and disasters, towards a long-term resiliency strategy that is more widespread, connected, and transformative. While a major emphasis of the project is local case study development, the use of multiple methodologies including the engagement of expert advisors, synthesis research, and knowledge-exchange elements will support and triangulate the development of regionally relevant and responsive adaptation recommendations that are scalable and replicable across region a island nations and territories. This project will explore how community-based organizations drive and mediate climate actions at the local level. Research will be conducted primarily on the main island of puerto rico (see geographic coverage), where the bilingual project team and its partners have a strong track record of evaluating and collaborating with CBOS. The project team will utilize noaas inventory of community-based organizations, as well as other tools and sources of data made available during the project. Research findings will be collected with guidance from a community advisory committee. At the regional level, research findings will be shared with partner organizations and experts through a caribbean region advisory group. Led by two puerto rican CO-PIS, this project is closely aligned with principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (see section 7). By the end of this project, we will advance dialogue on the role CBOS play in climate adaptation efforts in island communities, contributing to the larger discussion about how policy makers can engage and integrate CBOS into climate adaptation efforts.