* By Tyrone Hall, Communications Specialist at the CARICOM Climate Change Centre
Natural events and human activities contribute to an increase in average temperatures around the world. Increases in greenhouse gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the main cause. Our planet and our region are warming and this leads to a change in climate.
Here are 5 key facts about climate change and the Caribbean region:
[dropcap type=”circle” color=”#ffffff” background=”#ff9900″]1[/dropcap]The Caribbean is a minor contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, but will be among the most severely impacted.
[dropcap type=”circle” color=”#ffffff” background=”#ff9900″]2[/dropcap]We are already experiencing its impacts. More frequent extreme weather events, such as the 2013 rain event in the Eastern Caribbean; the extreme droughts being experienced across the region, with severe consequences in places like Jamaica; the 2005 flooding in Guyana and Belize in 2010. And further Climate Change is inevitable in the coming decades.
[dropcap type=”circle” color=”#ffffff” background=”#ff9900″]3[/dropcap]Inaction is VERY costly! An economic analysis focused on just three areas – increased hurricane damages, loss of tourism revenue and infrastructure damages – could cost the region US$10.7 billion by 2025. That is more than the combined GDP of Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Member States.
[dropcap type=”circle” color=”#ffffff” background=”#ff9900″]4[/dropcap]These risks can be managed by taking ‘no regrets’ actions – development actions we must take in any event. So we must build our infrastructure to withstand more intense weather events, select crops that can withstand extreme conditions and climate-influenced opportunistic pests, and transform our planning frameworks to improve our resilience.
[dropcap type=”circle” color=”#ffffff” background=”#ff9900″]5[/dropcap]Climate Change is a fossil-energy related problem. Fossil fuel consumption is a major driver of Climate Change. It also costs the Region US$37 billion of its foreign exchange earnings and further reduces the potential for economic growth. Employing renewable forms of energy will allow us to tackle two big problems: climate change and economic competitiveness.
Download the 5 Things to Know About Climate Change in the Caribbean brochure.
[youtube height=”450″ width=”650″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc3sV9ypEIk[/youtube]
Learn more about Climate Change in the Caribbean in the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre website: www.caribbeanclimate.bz
Join the climate change and sustainability community on Twitter: @BIDcambioclima
Read more:
- Study: Economics of Climate Adaptation in Trinidad and Tobago
- How can we make Caribbean islands “climate-smart”?
- How can habitat corridors make our infrastructure more sustainable?
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