A dramatic morning which saw multiple rounds of voting for the competitive seats, came amid widening geopolitical divisions and repeated deadlock within the UN body dedicated to resolving conflicts and preventing wars from erupting in the first place.The five countries were elected by the 193-member General Assembly to serve as non-permanent members of the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2027.Austria and Portugal won the two seats allocated to the Western European and other States (WEOG) Group, while Trinidad and Tobago and Zimbabwe were elected from the Latin American and Caribbean Group and the African Group respectively.Kyrgyzstan secured the Asia-Pacific seat after defeating the Philippines in four rounds of voting.Vote tallyPortugal and Austria prevailed in the first round, receiving 134 and 131 votes respectively – comfortably above the required two-thirds majority. Germany received 104 votes and was eliminated.In the Latin American and Caribbean Group, Trinidad and Tobago secured 181 votes, while Guyana received one vote despite not being a candidate. Zimbabwe, the sole candidate for the African Group seat, received 182 votes.Kyrgyzstan makes historyThe most competitive contest unfolded in the Asia-Pacific Group. Kyrgyzstan led the first ballot with 105 votes to the Philippines’ 85, before steadily increasing its support through three head-to-head rounds of voting, ultimately prevailing by 142 to 49 in the fourth round.The election marks a historic milestone for Kyrgyzstan, which will serve on the Security Council for the first time since joining the United Nations in 1992.Delegates from the Kyrgyz mission applauded and celebrated with other diplomatic well-wishers for several minutes following the result inside the gilded General Assembly Hall.The other four newly elected members all have previous Council experience: Austria and Portugal have served three times each, Zimbabwe twice and Trinidad and Tobago once.Fifteen seatsThe Council comprises 15 members: five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States – with veto power and 10 non-permanent members elected for staggered two-year terms.Seats are distributed among regional groups to ensure geographical representation.The five countries elected on Wednesday will replace Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia when their terms conclude at the end of 2026.Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia will remain on the Council through the end of 2027, providing continuity in its work.Peace under pressureThe incoming members will take their seats at a moment when the Council faces some of its most difficult tests in years.Its work has increasingly been shaped by geopolitical rivalries among major powers, particularly the five permanent members.Deep divisions over conflicts including Ukraine and Gaza have led to stalemate, frustrating action, while the use of vetoes has at times prevented agreement on resolutions addressing major crises.Growing calls for reformThe Council has also faced mounting calls for reform, with UN and world leaders arguing that its composition no longer reflects contemporary geopolitical realities.Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly warned that international institutions remain “stuck in the world as it was in 1945, not the world of today,” including the Security Council itself.African countries have been among the strongest advocates for change, arguing that a continent of 54 Member States remains underrepresented in the Council's permanent decision-making structures. Calls for expanded representation from developing countries overall have also grown louder.The question of vetoThe veto power – which allows any permanent member to block Council action regardless of broader support – has also come under increasing scrutiny.Since 2022, a General Assembly mandate requires the Assembly to meet whenever a veto is cast in the Security Council, giving the wider UN membership an opportunity to examine and debate its use.While non-permanent members do not possess veto power, they can play an influential role in shaping negotiations, building coalitions and advancing issues of concern to their regions and the wider international community.What the Security Council doesEstablished under the UN Charter, the Security Council bears primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.Unlike General Assembly resolutions, which are generally non-binding, Security Council decisions adopted under the Charter can carry legal force for all UN Member States.The Council has the authority to impose sanctions, authorize peacekeeping missions, establish international tribunals and, in exceptional circumstances, authorize the use of force.Closed doorsMuch of the Council's work takes place around its iconic horseshoe-shaped table in the Security Council Chamber at UN Headquarters, in New York.While public meetings often attract global attention, many of the Council’s most consequential discussions take place behind closed doors in consultations and negotiations among its members. This story original appears on UN News.

For the Caribbean, disasters are not headlines — they are lived experiences. From powerful hurricanes to flooding and drought, every season brings reminders of the region’s exposure to climate risk.But across the Caribbean today, a different story is emerging. One not only of vulnerability — but of leadership.The Caribbean is stepping forward as a pioneer in delivering one of the most ambitious global climate adaptation initiatives: Early Warnings for All — a commitment to ensure that every person is protected by early warning systems by 2027.In a major milestone, the Caribbean became the first region in the world to formally launch and begin implementing this initiative.And that leadership was on full display today in Port of Spain, where regional and international partners convened for the Regional Workshop on Impact-Based Forecast and Warning Services (IBFWS) and the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for the Caribbean, organized by the Caribbean Meteorological Organization and the World Meteorological Organization. The event was opened, on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, by Mr. Shakeer Baig, Acting Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service, under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Utilities — a clear demonstration of national commitment to strengthening early warning systems as a cornerstone of resilience.Making early warning systems work — from start to finishFor years, early warning systems have often operated in pieces. Forecasts would be issued, warnings disseminated, and communities expected to act — sometimes without clear information or enough time.That is now changing.Across the region, countries are building end-to-end systems that connect the science of forecasting with real-life decision-making. This means making sure that warnings are clear, practical, timely, and able to reach everyone — especially those most at riskIt also means shifting from technical language to human understanding. People do not need to hear about wind speeds or rainfall totals — they need to know what it means for their homes, their livelihoods, and their safety.Partnerships driving progressThis transformation is being powered by strong partnerships. At the centre is the CREWS Caribbean 2.0 programme, which is supporting countries to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems and close critical gaps.On 26-29 May 2026 in Port of Spain the CREWS programme is hosting a regional workshop on Impact-based Forecast and Warning Services and the Common Alerting Protocol for the Caribbean gathering meteorologists and hydrologists from the region.The CAREWS programme brings together key regional institutions such as the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), alongside global partners including WMO, UNDRR, ITU and the Red Cross movement. In Trinidad and Tobago, implementation of the programme is implemented in cooperation with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) which is the lead national institution responsible for coordinating how the country prepares for, responds to, and recovers from disasters.This work is supported by a dedicated group of donors, including the CREWS trust fund, the Green Climate Fund, the European Union, and bilateral donors. Together, they are helping countries move from planning to implementation — and from pilot projects to systems that work at scale.Caribbean solutions, Caribbean learningOne of the strengths of the Caribbean approach is the spirit of regional solidarity. Countries are working together, learning from each other, and adapting solutions to their own contexts. This is South–South cooperation in action — not theory, but practice. Whether through regional workshops, technical exchanges, or shared systems, knowledge is flowing across borders, helping to accelerate progress for all.Progress that is already saving livesThe results are becoming visible. Across the region countries are developing early warning roadmaps and action plans, national systems are being strengthened and tested, alerts are already reaching thousands of people in real time. Communities are being trained and equipped to respond before disasters strike. This is what success looks like: not just better forecasts, but earlier action, stronger preparedness, and reduced risk.Trinidad and Tobago: a whole-of-society approach in actionThe regional effort is reflected at country level, including in Trinidad and Tobago, where the United Nations system has been working closely with government and partners to strengthen resilience across sectors and at the community level.A key step has been the introduction of the Disaster Risk Information Management System (DRIMS), which is helping decision-makers better understand risks through improved data and analysis. This allows for stronger planning, better coordination, and more effective early warning.At the same time, disaster risk reduction is being integrated into national environmental policy. Through an inclusive national process, risk considerations are now informing the revision of the country’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, recognizing that protecting ecosystems is essential for resilience to flooding, coastal hazards and environmental degradation.At the community level, tangible progress is underway. Through the Community Flood and Early Warning Systems initiative, monitoring infrastructure has been expanded, strengthening the country’s ability to detect and forecast flooding. Flood mapping of high-risk areas has improved local response mechanisms, while community training has ensured that residents understand how to act early when warnings are issued.Importantly, this work places strong emphasis on inclusion. Women and girls, who often face different risks and barriers in disaster contexts, are being actively engaged to ensure that early warning systems respond to their specific needs. At the same time, particular attention is given to persons with disabilities, who may not receive information through standard channels or may face additional challenges in evacuation. By designing systems that are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to diverse needs, early warning efforts are becoming more effective for all members of society.Additional UN-supported initiatives—from strengthening logistics preparedness to advancing communication systems and digital tools—are further enhancing early warning and response capacity, including future work to strengthen last-mile alerts under the Early Warnings for All initiative.Taken together, these efforts demonstrate how the UN system, though its many specialised agencies (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, World Meteorological Organization, International Telecommunication Union, with critical implementation capacity and delivery at country level programme management ensured by the United Nations Development Programme, World Food Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund, UN Women, and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.Working across sectors and alongside national partners, the UN system is supporting a whole-of-society approach to resilience — where data, policy, infrastructure and community action are fully connected.A new generation leading the wayAs I looked around the room at today’s workshop, I was struck by something else.When I began my career in development, this profession—meteorologists, hydrologists, and early warning specialists—did not look the way it looks today. What we are witnessing nowis the emergence of a new and dynamic field, made up largely of young professionals working at the intersection of science, technology, and public service.They are harnessing new tools, generating new data, and advancing new understanding as we collectively experience and respond to increasingly complex weather events. They are working with automated systems, innovative technologies, and cutting-edge science—often building these systems even as they are being deployed.This is truly a profession of the future.What is equally striking is how they work: in networks that cross borders, cultures, and institutions; collaborating across disciplines; breaking down silos that have traditionally defined how we approach risk and response.To this new generation of professionals, quietly working behind the scenes to protect communities and save lives: thank you for your service. Your work is not only advancing science—it is shaping a safer future for us all.A moment of opportunityThere is still work to be done. The 2027 deadline is close, and progress must accelerate.But what is happening in the Caribbean offers a powerful lesson. Early warning systems are not just about technology — they are about people, trust, and coordination.The region is showing how global ambition can be translated into real, practical solutions — and how even the most vulnerable regions can lead.If this momentum continues, the Caribbean will not only protect its people. It will help shape how the world addresses disaster risk in the years ahead.

Port of Spain, 26 May, 2026:  Representatives from National Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Services, Disaster Risk Management Organizations, regional institutions and international partners have gathered today in Trinidad and Tobago for the opening of the Regional Workshop on Impact-Based Forecasting and Warning Services (IBFWS) and the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for the Caribbean.The four-day workshop, co-hosted by the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) with funding from the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Caribbean project, seeks to strengthen regional capacity, institutional coordination and operational readiness for the 2026 North Atlantic Hurricane Season.Opening speakers stressed that for Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), preparedness cannot begin with the start of the hurricane season. Preparedness and coordination must be continuous, given the region’s exposure not only to hurricanes, but to flooding, marine hazards, drought and other hydro-meteorological extremes throughout the year.Remarks highlighted the immense human and economic costs associated with extreme weather in the Caribbean, noting that recent disasters have displaced tens of thousands of people and caused damages equivalent to significant proportions of national economies. Speakers emphasized that effective early warning systems are central to resilience and sustainable development; with stronger early warning systems having well-coordinated partnerships including national meteorological services, disaster risk management organizations, governments, telecommunications providers, media, and communities at risk. Participants also heard that forecasting in the Caribbean has improved but those advances have not resulted in better outcomes for some of the most vulnerable.  It has been recognized that warnings are more effective with communication of likely impacts, on people, communities, infrastructure, and livelihoods, along with actions to taken to reduce risk. Therefore, the workshop’s focus is on advancing Impact-Based Forecasting and Warning Services, to translate forecast and warning information into meaningful and actionable guidance.The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a standardized approach to disseminating warnings across multiple communication channels, is an important tool for warning delivery and helping alerts to reach vulnerable populations rapidly and consistently. The CMO Coordinating Director, Dr. Arlene Laing emphasized that implementation of impact-based forecasting and CAP in more Caribbean states will support:• Faster dissemination of warnings;• Better coordination between meteorological and disaster management agencies;• Improved decision-making;• More effective anticipatory action; and ultimately,• Greater protection of lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.She stressed that, “For Caribbean SIDS, these are not simply technical improvements. These are development priorities.”The United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC), Joanne Kazana, highlighted the Caribbean’s leadership role under the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All initiative, which seeks early warning coverage globally by 2027. Progress has been made across the region; however, it was acknowledged that significant work remains to strengthen implementation and ensure that no country or community is left behind.  The United Nations RC noted the importance of transforming technical hazard information into warnings that communicate real-world impacts and protective action for communities.  Participants were inspired by her comments that they are “a new generation that is paving the way and creating something that never existed before”. His Excellency Guillaume Pierre, Ambassador of the French Republic to Trinidad and Tobago, reminded that France has mobilized resources aimed at building resilience to extreme weather and climate in Small Island Developing States, with the launch of CREWS in 2015, a commitment reiterated with France’s recent announcement of additional funding for CREWS during the recent G7 meeting.  He emphasized the vital role of international cooperation, “making everyone safer by being united, and working together as a crew”. Participants from more than 20 Caribbean countries and territories are expected to contribute to practical exercises, simulations and discussions aimed at strengthening Standard Operating Procedures, coordination arrangements and implementation of impact-based forecasting and the use of CAP in operations before the 2026 hurricane season.

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the United Nations (UN), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) formally launched two landmark regional documents: the CARICOM–UNDP Diagnostic Document and the Proposed CARICOM–UN Framework for Action, establishing a shared and coordinated implementation path for confronting crime and violence across the CARICOM through a public health lens.The launch, held in Basseterre on 21–22 May 2026, brought together government representatives, regional institutions, the UN system, civil society, academics and international development partners. The two instruments shared at the launch were developed through a sustained process of regional consultation and represent a multi-sector commitment to prevention-oriented security governance in CARICOM. The Diagnostic Document consolidates data, analysis, trends, and other indicators making the case for the public health approach to crime and violence. The Framework for Action Document operationalises the political commitments already endorsed by CARICOM Heads of Government, setting out a coordinated, multi-sector implementation pathway spanning health, education, justice, social protection, and community systems to support prevention in nationally divergent contexts. Central to both documents is the recognition that violence reduction depends on cross-sector coordination, protected financing, and sustained political will so that prevention measures can be scaled up where needed and endure beyond individual political cycles. Honourable Dr Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis and Chair of CARICOM, explained that one of the most difficult challenges in advancing a preventative approach to crime and violence is not necessarily proving the science behind it, but convincing leadership structures and the wider society to embrace a shift away from viewing crime solely through the lens of policing and punishment. He stated, “Nothing can really be done unless there is political will. Political will is what allows us to implement policies and to put whatever is necessary behind them. To see CARICOM and the United Nations now throwing their weight behind the preventative approach for the Caribbean, I am hopeful because I know this will work. And if this framework is implemented, the next decade, when it comes to crime and violence in the Caribbean, will be much better than the previous decade.”  Alison Drayton, Assistant Secretary-General for Human and Social Development, CARICOM Secretariat, commented, “Interconnected threats demand more than isolated national responses. They require coordinated regional action grounded in evidence, solidarity, resilience, and sustainable development. This launch represents a pivotal transition from shared concern to collective, strategic action. By formalising the CARICOM-UNDP Diagnostic Document and the CARICOM-UN Action Framework we are translating the political consensus of our Heads of Government into a sophisticated, region-wide mechanism for change. Our partnership with the UNDP is instrumental in this evolution. It allows us to address the fundamental drivers of insecurity, poverty, social exclusion, and lack of opportunity, with a comprehensive development agenda.”Stephanie Ziebell, Deputy UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean , speaking on the first day, said, “The CARICOM-UNDP Diagnostic Document we are launching… plays an important role in helping us move beyond treating symptoms. It provides a shared regional evidence base that allows us to better understand how violence is shaped by interconnected social, economic, institutional, and even transnational dynamics… At the same time, the accompanying CARICOM-UN Framework for Action takes us a step further. It moves us from understanding the problem to thinking about how we build solutions.  It is not a one-size-fits-all blueprint, but rather a flexible framework that countries can adapt to their own realities and their own priorities.” Joanna Kazanna, UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten stated, “Across the Caribbean, governments are increasingly recognising that violence cannot be addressed through enforcement measures alone. Sustainable reductions in violence require prevention systems that are rooted in communities, supported by institutions, informed by data, and coordinated across sectors. These documents reflect an important regional shift toward treating violence as a development and governance challenge, not simply a security issue. The United Nations system working as one, is proud to support CARICOM and Member States in building the long-term enabling conditions for prevention, resilience, and social cohesion across the Region.” The Basseterre launch is a bridge between regional policy and national implementation and a catalyst for the 3rd CARICOM Regional Symposium on Crime and Violence, informing deliberations by Heads of Government and potential outcomes. -END--About UNDP in the Caribbean
UNDP works in over 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion. In the Caribbean, UNDP’s Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean supports governments and communities across governance, resilience, climate, and human development.
About CARICOM
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973, comprises 15 Member States and six Associate Members. Its mandate spans economic integration, foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security cooperation across the Caribbean region.
About the United Nations
The United Nations is an international organisation founded in 1945. Currently made up of 193 Member States, the UN is guided by the purposes and principles contained in its Charter. The UN works to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, deliver humanitarian aid, promote sustainable development, and uphold international law.Media contact
Khalil Goodman, Communications Consultant
Email: Khalil.goodman@gmail.comWebsite: www.undp.org/barbados