As the Development Plan Appeals Tribunal continues its important work, the decisions made today will shape the Cayman Islands for generations. Sustainable Cayman is engaged in the tribunal’s discussions with one clear message: We must plan with care to ensure we prosper together.
With development pressures at an all-time high, planning must be guided by foresight, evidence and a commitment to both people and place.
The choices before us cannot be driven solely by short-term gains. Long-term sustainability – environmental protection, resilient infrastructure and community well-being – must sit at the heart of every decision.
To support this, Sustainable Cayman has launched ‘Plan with Care. Prosper Together’, a seven-part series outlining recommendations made to the tribunal aimed at advancing balanced, responsible growth that protects our cultural identity, natural heritage and quality of life.
Our recommendations emphasise the need for independent, data-driven assessments, including:
Strategic environmental assessments
An independent assessment of the draft planning statement is essential to evaluate long-term risks, compare alternatives and ensure decisions are grounded in evidence – especially as climate impacts intensify, already evident in Cayman through accelerating coral loss, worsening beach erosion and increasing flooding in low-lying communities.
Carrying capacity studies
Understanding the level of growth our islands can sustain without degrading infrastructure, ecosystems or quality of life is crucial to aligning development with long-term prosperity.
Protection of wetlands and coastal access
Wetlands – especially the Central Mangrove Wetland – perform life-supporting functions, from flood absorption to carbon storage. Protecting them as critical infrastructure, along with safeguarding beach access and coastal setbacks, is vital.
Resilient housing and infrastructure
Nature-responsive design and green-blue infrastructure should become standard requirements to reduce flooding, combat heat and lower long-term public costs.
As the tribunal deliberates, we urge decision-makers to consider these recommendations carefully. With the minister of environment and sustainability commendably seeking to extend the Paris Agreement to Cayman, our national commitments must be matched by planning decisions that genuinely strengthen climate resilience.
We encourage all Caymanians to join this conversation. Learn more and watch the video series on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn. Together, we can secure a thriving future for Cayman – where people and place prosper together.
Katrina Jurn on behalf of Sustainable Cayman
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