There is no doubt that the ASC is the most powerful and influential association, striving for the economic, social and environmental development of the Caribbean region. The Association works on the Caribbean Sea Initiative and facilitates language learning; it works on the development of a sustainable tourism zone and defends the interests of developing countries. The vexed question of the Caribbean region is natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes that bring an enormous damage to the economy, take people's lives, ruin buildings and drive people to stress, grief and painful recollections.
The ACS creates and brings into effect significant projects that help to strengthen disaster agencies, implement efficient equipment for researching and in-time registering, ensure safety and reliability of buildings.
In 2002, the ACS presided three point five million dollar project to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean region, to prepare Early Warning Systems (EWS) for the climate variability and changes, and strengthen national meteorological offices in the region.
The project aims to provide national meteorological offices in the region with tools of enhanced planning for the sustainable development in the Caribbean so that they can provide data, relevant for planning purposes at national and international levels.
The improvement of Caribbean meteorological stations is a highly significant event that can assist in readiness for a disaster and minimize the damage, caused by the severe weather. This project is also of a high value for the development of sustainable tourism, as each country is required to provide secure and safe conditions for international visits.
Another project was also started in 2002 under the name of the Disaster Mitigation Project. The main aim of the project is the reduction and diminution of the damage, resulted from natural hazards, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, to the population and buildings. A specific objective is to create an updated and comprehensive set of regional codes and standards for wind and earthquake loads, to develop and disseminate improved construction practices and techniques as to guarantee the safety and reliability of the buildings constructed.
The updated set of codes is to include both buildings of any size, such as single and two storey dwelling houses and office buildings, hotels and guesthouses, large assembly buildings, schools and essential buildings, such as hospitals.
The Inter-American Development Bank is a funding Agency of the project and the ACS Secretariat supervises and monitors the execution of the work of four regional consultants from Costa Rica and Trinidad and of two specialists from an Italian specialized institution (Politecnico di Milano). However, the project is brought into effect through the participation and cooperation of all regions, national, regional and international institutions and organizations. Obviously, the ACS will announce all positive results and effects of the projects in the nearest future.