Developing States must harness technology to mitigate climate change disasters – Edghill

…urges collaborations between SIDS, int’l organisations & businesses

The importance of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) leveraging data and technology to mitigate against challenges raised by climate change, including natural disasters, was on Tuesday emphasised by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, at the SIDS4 Conference.
Prime Minister, retired Brigadier Mark Phillips, led a Guyanese contingent over in Antigua and Barbuda for the 4th international conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4). On Tuesday, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill took part in a panel discussion on leveraging data and analytics to mitigate against natural disasters.

According to the Minister, Guyana and other SIDS can develop targeted interventions to mitigate against disasters, by harnessing the power of technology and innovation.
“Data serves as the foundation upon which informed decisions are made, and analytics provide the tools necessary to extract meaningful insights from relevant data. By harnessing the power of technology and innovation, we can better understand the complex interplay of factors contributing to disaster risks, and develop targeted interventions to mitigate these risks,” Edghill said.
Edghill gave Guyana as an example, noting the vulnerability of the coast to flooding. He noted that Guyana’s infrastructure, especially those that are decades old, have become overwhelmed by these floods. According to him, many SIDS face similar challenges.
“An important aspect of this approach is the establishment of robust risk assessment frameworks. These frameworks utilise a combination of historical data, scientific modelling, and predictive analytics to assess the likelihood and potential impact of various hazards, such as floods, hurricanes, and landslides.”
“By understanding the risks posed by these hazards, we can prioritise investments, allocate resources effectively, and design infrastructure that is better able to withstand future shocks,” Edghill further said.
Edghill also made the point that states must engage stakeholders at all levels, ranging from vulnerable communities to indigenous groups, to ensure their needs are met. Additionally, he noted that institutions responsible for infrastructure development must incorporate state of the art technologies to do their work.
“It is important to recognise that building resilience is not solely a technical endeavor. It requires a holistic approach that takes into account institutional capacity needs, social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. As such, we must engage stakeholders at all levels of society, including vulnerable communities, indigenous peoples, and marginalised groups, to ensure that their voices are heard, and their needs are met.”

“Governments of SIDS must foster a spirit of collaboration and initiative taking when it comes to policy development that is aligned with the risk-based approach. Institutions responsible for infrastructure development must be enhanced through the introduction of state-of-the-art technologies for data collection and analysis where this is lacking. Data sharing and technical support partnerships should also be established as a matter of policy,” he further said.
Meanwhile, Edghill also stressed the need for governments, international organisations and the private sector to collaborate and invest in building resilient infrastructures that would benefit all. Additionally, he noted the potential for this collaboration to fill gaps in data collection, analysis and modeling.
The side event took place alongside the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), from 27- 30 May in Antigua. SIDS4 brings together leaders to agree on a new programme of action for SIDS with a focus on practical and impactful solutions and to forge new partnerships and cooperation at all levels.
The draft outcome document from the conference includes a commitment to “scale up the planning, development and management of sustainable and resilient infrastructure and to create risk-informed policy, investment decisions and systems in sectors including transportation, energy, communications, water, health and education.”
The SIDS conference, which started on Monday, will run until Thursday. Other Guyanese officials at the conference include Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat. (G3)