19/06/2026
How do you climate-proof a city with only USD $200,000 using Nature-based Climate Solutions (NbCS)?
That was the challenge participants tackled during the Green Infrastructure, Resilient Futures workshop facilitated by EFJ's Rashene Clarke Randall and Reneiquca Walker-McKnight, during today's morning session of the Caribbean Urban Forum 2026 held Kingston.
Participants explored global best practices from Medellín, Colombia and Seoul, South Korea, before taking part in a hands-on exercise to design Nature-based Climate Solutions (NbCS) for Downtown Kingston.
Teams selected interventions such as bioswales, green roofs, permeable pavements, urban wetlands, and rainwater harvesting systems to reduce flooding, cool urban spaces, and build climate resilience.
The workshop challenged participants to think beyond infrastructure by considering governance, maintenance, financing, community engagement, and equity.
Then came the twist... Hurricane Iris.
Teams had to quickly revise their plans in response to a Category 5 hurricane scenario, budget reductions, supply chain disruptions, and community demands, demonstrating the importance of adaptive planning and resilience-by-design.
The workshop showcased how nature-based climate solutions can strengthen urban resilience, reduce disaster risks, support biodiversity, and create healthier, more sustainable communities across Jamaica.
The EFJ's participation in the Caribbean Urban Forum 2026 is part of efforts to increase awareness about nature-based climate solutions and the Jamaica Urban Solutions for the Environment (J-USE) project being implanted by the EFJ with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.
