St. Lucia is a constitutional monarchy and an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean.The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs (respectively).Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique.

Climate change impacts have already affected biodiversity (for instance, coral reefs have suffered bleaching in a number of areas of the country). Climate change also appears to be impacting coastal and marine ecosystems, resulting in a reduction in fish landings. Another impact of climate change and variability has been demonstrated in changes in flowering and fruiting patterns for several agricultural crops, affecting agricultural production patterns and overall food availability. A decline in the quantity and quality of the country’s water supply has also been associated with the impacts of climate change and variability; quantity has been affected by the increasing incidence of extreme events of no rainfall and drought while quality has been affected by nutrient pollution. Nutrient pollution of freshwater resources results in an increase in human health-related diseases. Nutrient pollution also contributes to habitat change which, in turn, affects marine life and aquatic species.

Ireland and St. Lucia are the only two countries in the world named after women. Saint Lucia was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse (AD 283 – 304) when French sailors were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December, the feast day of St. Lucy, and named the island in her honour. Éire, and thus Ireland, is said to derive from the old Irish word “Éiru” who was an Irish Goddess in old mythology and the matron Goddess of the island and sovereignty.