Climate change induced by human activities is happening whether or not we are prepared. However, it will not affect us all equally; the poor and marginalised will experience the brunt of climate change.
Climate change has already resulted in mass migration in Bangladesh, forcing between 50,000 and 200,000 climate refugees to relocate as a result of sea level rise; and this number is expected to rise in the coming years. Hitting closer to home, last year, our Caribbean neighbours suffered from the destruction of both Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Dominica were devastated, and a year later are still struggling to rebuild. Furthermore, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Barbuda, and Turks and Caicos were also affected significantly. Last year’s hurricanes took the lives of over 3,191 citizens, and caused damages costing as high as $130 billion.
The hidden cost…
As we continue to rely on fossil fuels to power our economies, disasters like the ones we experience in the Caribbean last year will worsen. Globally, fossil fuels increase greenhouse gas emissions, leading to human-induced climate change creating rising sea levels, increasing storm strength, and killing coral reefs and other critical nutrition- producing environments. There is a correlation between warming ocean temperatures, high sea levels, and increasing impact of natural disasters. National Geographic reported that hurricanes draw their power from warm water; warm and moist air provides greater energy for these storms, boosting their damaging impact. Globally averaged, seas level is expected to rise by between one and four feet in the next century, and this will increase the damage of storm surges.
A year later…
A year later, countries are still grappling with rebuilding from last year’s hurricanes. Even worse, it has been reported that Puerto Rico lost a total of 2,975 lives, as opposed to the 64 that was first recorded. This number continues to rise because of a lack of medical facilities to care for those affected. Many were not able to receive necessary care during the hurricane.
Once again, this disproportionately affects the poor, who are reliant on local facilities. Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda said only $20 million has been pledged to help his country rebuild after Hurricane Irma caused $220 million of damage to tourism-dependent Barbuda.
We are in the middle of hurricane season, and for most in the Caribbean, this means living in fear of what’s to come. Small island nations produce less than one percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are the most vulnerable and are at the frontline of climate-related disasters.
“Climate change is a security issue, and a survival issue for our countries, as we are witnessing right now with the impacts of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean,” said Enele Sopoaga, Hon. Prime Minister of Tuvalu, speaking at the high-level political event organised by UNDP.
Natural disasters worsen the resource and capacity issues of any nation. It is worrisome to think that as a result of climate change, we will experience these events more frequently and with greater force. Last hurricane season, hundreds of human lives were lost, infrastructure was damaged beyond repair, and it seems as through recovery is a long road ahead. This year, we can only hope the Caribbean will have an uneventful hurricane season.
Moving forward
For us to move towards a more resilient future, the international community must reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, and implement stronger policies to curb our current high level of greenhouse gas emissions. Domestically, we have to invest in infrastructure that would withstand the effects of climate change, preserve coastal wetlands to absorb storm surges, and improvements to coastal protection must be accounted for in our budget. Countrywide, we need to prepare prior to storms by strengthening our national evacuation plans and warning systems. More than ever before, it is important to understand Guyana’s Green State trajectory and actively participate in the process. Creating a green economy will not only help in climate change mitigation, but adaptation as well.
