The year 2017 was another defining moment for the Caribbean after suffering the devastation caused by two category 5 hurricanes – Irma and Maria – within 14 days of each other. Damage and loss due to these storms is being estimated at approximately US$130 billion and affected 18 countries, including CCRIF member countries, their populations and social and economic infrastructure. These catastrophic events resulted in CARICOM declaring its ambition for the Caribbean to become the first climate-resilient zone in the world.