Latin America and the Caribbean need to adapt to climate change, a Canadian expert said on Tuesday.

The region is still in the initial stage of adaptation to climate change, with differences among the countries because some have plans and some others do not, said Walter Ubal, a climate change and water expert with the International Development Research Center of Canada.

There is an immediate need to provide scientific evidence, with the support of different sectors, to begin the adaptation process, Ubal told a three-day meeting on climate change adaptation in the water sector.

He stressed the importance of beginning to generate policies and a new culture involving society as part of the solution.

The region is facing serious climate problems such as flooding, typhoons and severe droughts that are affecting human lives, infrastructure and natural resources, he said.