Climate Change Affecting Caribbean
By Rebecca Simon
NEW YORK (July 26, 2000) -- The United Nations defines climate
change as "the way we influence the Earth's atmosphere by
emissions of greenhouse gases." These gases (carbon dioxide,
methane, nitrous oxide) trap the Earth's heat, causing a
"greenhouse effect." As a result, the 20th century has seen
noticeable rises in average land surface temperatures,
precipitation and sea levels, threatening the sustainability of
many island nations.
Speaking in Guyana at the Caribbean Tourism Organisation's recent
annual conference on Sustainable Tourism Development, Dr. Ulric
Trotz of the Barbados-based CPACC (Caribbean Planning for
Adaptation to Global Climate Change) said the Caribbean's tourism
industry is extremely vulnerable to the effects of global climate
change. According to Trotz, while islands contribute the least to
the planet's climate change, they suffer the most from it.
"Although developed nations are responsible for more than
two-thirds of the carbon gas emissions... small island developing
states (SIDS) are approximately three times as vulnerable to
negative climate change impacts than their industrialized
neighbors."
The Guyanese climate specialist believes that the effects of
climate change can already be seen in the Caribbean in the form
of more frequent and more severe hurricanes, coral bleaching,
prolonged wet and dry seasons, and warmer temperatures. In fact,
the four years of warmest temperatures since 1860 have all been
recorded in the 1990s. "The most serious environmental challenge
facing the Caribbean as a result of global climate change is
sea-level rise," Dr. Trotz maintains, "with associated coastal
erosion and salt water intrusion, an escalation in the frequency
and intensity of hurricanes and typhoons, and disruptions in
precipitation and fresh water supply."
In order for the Caribbean to cope with this potential crisis,
Dr. Trotz is urging regional leaders to enhance environmental
policies, reinforce cruise ship legislation, and enforce beach
protection policies. Unfortunately, scarce resources, lack of
economies of scale, and high communication and transportation
costs continue to pose tremendous challenges to the region.
Delegates to the conference agreed that climate changing
emissions threaten the long-term sustainability of the Caribbean
tourism industry – so highly dependent on the region's natural
resources such as beaches and coral reefs.
However, as Dr. Trotz explains, damage to the environment is not
the only threat. Increased potential for vector-borne diseases,
water quality problems, infrastructure damage, and hurricane
recovery costs also threaten tourism – an industry so important
to the Caribbean as a major source of foreign exchange and
employment.
ENDS
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