CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC):

Three Caribbean islands -St. Lucia, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines - are to receive support from the World Bank under an agreement allowing for the establishment of a pilot adaptation programme which seeks to reduce the impact of climate change on coastal areas.

The Bank and the Global Environment Facility Tuesday signed a US$2.1 million grant agreement for the support of the new programme which is also intended to show how adaptation planning and assessment can be practically translated into national policy, sustainable development planning, and poverty reduction.

"Adaptation to climate change is a critical economic, social and development issue in Caribbean countries," said Caroline Anstey, World Bank Director for the Caribbean.