USM Hosts Workshop on Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction
June 6, 2025
From June 25–27, USM will host a 2-day workshop to assess disaster risk and climate resilience on St. Martin. Stakeholders will reflect on lived experiences, the 2030 SDGs, and explore the draft St. Martin Climate Impact Atlas to strengthen our island's climate response.
Pond Island – June 25–27, 2025 – The University of St. Martin will be the proud host of a vital two-day workshop reflecting on the state of disaster risk reduction on St. Martin. In light of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this workshop seeks to answer a pressing question: “How safe and protected are the people on St. Martin, considering the risks of natural hazards caused or exacerbated by climate change?”
St. Martin continues to experience the intensifying effects of climate change. In 2024, the island recorded its hottest year yet with temperatures averaging 28.4°C and an unprecedented 260mm of rainfall in just one week in November. The Atlantic hurricane season saw 18 tropical storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes an alarming trend following the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The workshop is part of the St. Martin Climate Impact Atlas project, developed by the Climate Adaptation Services Foundation (CAS) in collaboration with USM, the Ministry of VROMI, and DEAL (Guadeloupe). It is funded by the International Panel for Deltas, Coastal Areas, and the Islands (IPDC).
Workshop Objectives: - Assess community preparedness for climate disaster risks - Reflect on lived experiences and lessons learned - Identify existing and potential measures for disaster prevention - Evaluate progress on the 2030 UN SDGs, Sendai Framework, and Paris Agreement - Validate the draft version of the St. Martin Climate Impact Atlas - Build shared understanding and next steps for climate resilience
Who Should Attend? Everyone. Climate change affects us all. This workshop invites participation from civil servants, policymakers, NGOs, business professionals, educators, youth, and the general public from both North and South St. Martin.
Workshop Program Overview: Session 1: Lived Experiences with Storms and Flooding Wednesday, June 25 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM USM Instructor and poet Rochelle Ward and students will present personal stories of storms, rainfall, and flooding, followed by insights from researchers Emilie Flamme (MIT) and Ishfarah Esseboom (Utrecht University).
Session 2: Where Are We with the 2030 SDGs? Thursday, June 26 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM A panel of policy advisors and NGO reps will evaluate St. Martin’s progress on the UN SDGs, Sendai Framework, and the Paris Agreement.
Session 3: Using the St. Martin Climate Impact Atlas Thursday, June 26 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM The draft Atlas will be presented for public feedback and refinement, with collaboration from CAS, VROMI, and DEAL.
Session 4: Heatwaves, Drought, and Rising Seas Thursday, June 26 | 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM The community will discuss rising temperatures, drought, bushfires, and sea level rise, guided by creative storytelling and lived experience.
Session 5: Co-creating a Climate Risk Mind Map Friday, June 27 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Participants will co-create a visual mind map capturing St. Martin’s climate challenges and solutions, feeding directly into improving the Atlas.
