The world is being rapidly reshaped by the emergence of nations such as India and China as the new global industrial powers, the accelerating pace of scientific and technological advance, demographic trends, the shifting pattern of resource demand and environmental impacts, and changes in the nature of risk, political and economic influence, competition and conflict.
These changes represent important new opportunities but also existential challenges for the nations of the Caribbean, which have to adjust to market liberalisation, the phasing-out of the preferential terms of trade that have been the primary conduit of aid and development assistance and rapidly increasing competition from the emerging economies, while simultaneously contending with rising rates of homicide, the illegal narcotics trade and, in some cases, the compromising of the state by organised crime. The nations of the Caribbean need to have flexible but robust plans for dealing with these profound challenges. The University of the West Indies has a particular role and responsibility as the primary locus of advanced research and teaching in the region to support the development of an effective Caribbean
response to these new opportunities, challenges and demands.
The core task of the Institute for Sustainable Development (lSD) is to assist the University to deliver these strategic priorities.