Climate Change and Small island

Developing statesGroup 1

Leonie Wellington Marsha Barrett Karlene Blake

Kamika DuncanKirk Davis

 What is Climate change?• Climate is usually defined as the “average weather” in a place over a period

of approximately 40 years. It includes patterns of temperature, precipitation,

wind and seasons.

• Climate patterns play a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems,

and the human economies and cultures that depend on them.

• However, over time, the climate we’ve come to expect is not what it used to

be. Our climate is rapidly changing with disruptive impacts, and that change

is progressing faster than any seen in the last 2,000 years. This has also

made it increasingly difficult to predict the weather patterns.

Factors influencing climate change

Natural Effects

• There is a natural effect that keeps the Earth's climate warm and habitable. Planet Earth is billions of years old and has undergone temperature shifts from ices ages to periods of global warming.

• Generally, however, it has managed to maintain a relatively even temperature- About a third (1/3) of the radiation from the sun is reflected back into space by Earth’s atmosphere’ That allows a wide variety of species, including humans to survive and strive.

• This is also because earth’s atmosphere naturally produces a greenhouse effect to insulate Earth from rapid temperature swings. However the same greenhouse effect that protect us can also become dangerous if we cause it to grow too strong.

• Volcanic activity is a natural phenomenon that also contributes to the creation of green house gases.

Anthropogenic (man-made) Effects

There is also the Anthropogenic or man-made greenhouse effects of climate change

• Although many “greenhouse gases” occur naturally, human activities have increased their levels and added new ones. Scientists say that increased levels of these gases are contributing to climate change.

• Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas, but human activity isn’t considered a direct cause of changes in its concentration. However, a warming atmosphere has already added 4 per cent more water vapour over the oceans in the last 30 years. (NOAA) 

What is Global Warming?• This is an increase in the earth’s average temperature

due to the effect of green house gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels -petroleum, coal, and natural gas- as well as from aerosols, and other chemicals, being released into the atmosphere.

• Deforestation also helps to facilitate global warming as fewer trees mean less absorption of the carbon dioxide that is being released. It said that human beings are emitting much more carbon dioxide than can be used up by trees or be dissolved in surface water. (Hence this practice is not sustainable).

The green house effect

 The greenhouse effect occurs as a result of greenhouse gases trapping the sun’s heat and keeping it close to the earth.• These green house gases would have otherwise

escaped from earth. Therefore, the green house effect actually “occurs when the heated surface of the earth radiates infrared radiation which green house gases such as water vapour and carbon dioxide absorb and heat the air which in turn radiates infrared radiation upward and downward where it is reabsorbed and re-radiated.” (San Jose State University) This leads to an overheating of the earth, causing temperatures to rise, melting of ice caps....

Activities that contribute to greenhouse gas levels

• Burning fossil fuels — oil, gasoline, gas and coal • Industrial processes and mining • Landfills, septic and sewer systems • Agricultural practices, including fertilizer and manure

management • Land use practices, including deforestationAll Info source: Access Washington -Climate Change www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange

Evidence of Climate Change Worldwide

• Highest Quality• Greatest Quantity• Largest Variety• Consistent Professionalism• Visually Appealing

Evidence of Climate Change

The Caribbean and Climate Change

• The two dozen island nations of the Caribbean, and the 40 million people who live there, are in the front lines of vulnerability to climate change.

• Hotter temperatures, sea-level rise and increased hurricane intensity threaten lives, property and livelihoods throughout the Caribbean.

Effects on the Caribbean• As ocean levels rise, the smallest, low-

lying islands may disappear under the waves.

• As temperatures rise and storms become more severe;Tourism―the life-blood of many Caribbean economies―will shrink and with it both private incomes and the public tax revenues that support education, social services, and infrastructure

Hard evidence of Climate Change in the Caribbean

• The reality of climate change is already affecting the Caribbean where:

• St. Georges, Granada, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Castries, St. Lucia are already seeing the effects of costal erosion.

Hard evidence of Climate Change in the Caribbean

• In Cane field Dominica, the airport already floods.

• Saltwater infiltration – is also taking place where salt water is being infiltrated into the fresh water and this is another result of rising sea levels.

Climate Change in Jamaica• Negril’s disappearing beaches.

• Soon we might not even have FOOD to eat. Hmmmmm!!!!

Conserve in the car• Plan ahead – do several errands in a

single trip.• Walk or bike. It’s healthier anyway.• Clean out the junk in the trunk.

Lighter cars get better mileage.• Make sure your engine is properly

tuned.• Keep your tires properly inflated.• Carpool or ride the school bus.• Support public transportation.• Consider a smaller car or a hybrid for

your next vehicle.

How does climate affect Tourism

• It is important to know that all of the SIDS uses this sector as a major income earner.

• Climate change• Sea-level rise directly (indirect): • Loss of beaches to erosion and inundation,• salinization of freshwater aquifers, • Increasing stress on coastal ecosystems, • Damage to infrastructure from tropical and

extra-tropical storms,

Continued• Overall loss of amenities would jeopardize the

viability and threaten the long-term sustainability of this important industry in many small islands.

• Destruction of some important and unique cultural and spiritual sites, coastal protected areas, and

traditional heritage sites in several Pacific  • Projected milder winters in North America and

northern Europe,

How does climate change affect

Agriculture and fisheries? Surges and the introduction of pests and exotic insects. E.g.

the lion fish. The growth subsistence root crops and vegetables is likely to

be affected by heat stress, Heavy rain and longer periods of rainfall resulting in flooding Drought (long) In addition, more subtle changes in rainfall patterns,

together with rising temperatures, will shorten growing seasons in some areas, reducing crop productivity.

Positive impacts on Agriculture This issue can be positive too but it depends heavily on your

location.

For example: some countries who have being experiencing long periods of drought may end up getting more rain to boost their productivity.

Can result in more luscious growth with crops

Water availability for irrigation

Fisheries The availability of fish will be reduce due high water

temperatures The distribution of food sources will be reduce. coral bleaching Increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide would alter

the composition of species and threaten the diversity of marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, the habitats of endangered species and the breeding sites of sea birds.

Weather pattern and Phenomena

• Food and Agriculture Organization, and rainfall

patterns are already quite erratic.

• Extreme weather condition such as storms cyclones

and hurricane.

• More flooding because SIDS are mostly low lying.

• Intense El Niño.

Effects Continued Because the population,

agricultural land and infrastructure tends to be concentrated in the coastal zone, any rise in sea-level will have significant and profound effects on their economies and living conditions.

• For some low-lying SIDS, their very survival is threatened. Global climate change may damage coral reefs, alter the distribution of zones of upwelling and affect both subsistence and commercial fisheries production.

For some low-lying SIDS, their very survival is threatened. Global climate change may damage coral reefs, alter the distribution of zones of upwelling and affect both subsistence and commercial fisheries production.

Climate change and infrastructure

• The global economy is based on a worldwide network of infrastructure that facilitates trade in goods, services, financial and non-financial assets, and exhaustible and renewable resources.

• Climate change is recognized as one of the most significant threats to development during the 21st Century and beyond. Infrastructure and the engineering profession have a crucial role to play in efforts to reduce emissions in order to stabilize global warming, and to adapt to the climatic changes that have become inevitable.

Climate change is likely : • increase the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

Specifically, heat waves will likely be more severe, rise sea level could amplify storm surges in coastal areas, and storms will likely be more intense, more severe storms and higher storm surges.

• To cause heavy rains which may result in flooding, which could disrupt traffic, coastal roads, delay construction activities, and weaken or wash out the soil and culverts that support roads, tunnels, and bridges.

• railways and airports are vulnerable to sea level rise, which could lead to delays as well as temporary and permanent closures.

• These changes could increase the risk of delays, disruptions, damage, and failure across our land-based, air and marine transportation systems. Exposure to flooding and extreme weather conditions shortens the life expectancy of highways bridges and roads.

As temperatures increase, many types of vehicles can overheat, and tires

will deteriorate more quickly.

Like other coastal infrastructure, harbor facilities, including docks and

bridges, may have to be raised to accommodate higher tides and storm

surges, as sea levels rise.

Landslides and wash-outs could also occur more frequently, as saturated

soils are exposed to more rainwater. Drought could increase the likelihood

of wildfires that reduce visibility and threaten roads and infrastructure.  

The stress of water may cause damage, requiring more frequent

maintenance, repairs, and rebuilding of infrastructures.

Damaged Roads

Damaged Bridges

Damaged Railways

Our Forests and Climate Change

Climate changes directly and indirectly affect the growth and productivity of forests:

directly due to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide and climate and indirectly

through complex interactions in forest ecosystems. Climate also affects the frequency

and severity of many forest disturbances.

Climate change will likely alter the frequency and intensity of forest disturbances,

including wildfires, storms, insect outbreaks, and the occurrence of invasive species.

The productivity of forests could be affected by changes in temperature, precipitation

and the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

Climate change will likely worsen the problems already faced by forests from land

development and air pollution.

Continued Climate change could alter the frequency and intensity of forest

disturbances such as insect outbreaks, invasive species, wildfires, and storms. These disturbances can reduce forest productivity and change the distribution of tree species.

Although many trees are resilient to some degree of drought, increases in temperature could make future droughts more damaging than those experienced in the past. In addition, drought increases wildfire risk, since dry trees and shrubs provide fuel to fires.

Droughts can weaken trees and make a forest more susceptible to wildfire or insect outbreaks. Similarly, wildfire can make a forest more vulnerable to pests.

Warming temperatures could increase the length of the growing season. However, warming could also shift the geographic ranges of some tree species. Habitats of some types of trees are likely to move northward or to higher altitudes. For example, species that currently exist only on mountaintops in some regions may die out as the climate warms since they cannot shift to a higher altitude.

Forests that are healthy tend to be more resilient to climate change. Forest adaptation measures

related to climate change are often aimed to reduce the impacts of current ecosystem stressors.

Specific approaches include:

Removing invasive species

Promoting biodiversity and landscape diversity

Collaborating across borders to create habitat linkages

Managing wildfire risk through controlled burns and thinning

Changing cultural practices and breeding for plants resistant to drought and heat stress

is imperative.

Improving the resilience of forests is plants resistant to drought and heat stress is

imperative.

Improving the resilience of forests is the best strategy to follow to reduce the impact

of climate change. This includes reforestation and preventing furthering the agriculture

and forestry sectors.

How climate change affects our forests

Healthy Forests

Unhealthy Forests

Increase in Forest Fires

Managing the Effects of Climate Change

• There are two main ways to manage global warming:

• Mitigation – limiting greenhouse gas emissions and trying to prevent further climate change

• Adaptation – learning to live with the environmental changes and there effects.

( Raven, Berg and Hassenzahl, 2008)

International Response to Climate Change

• Establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change in 1992 whose goal is to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions in the

atmosphere at levels low enough to prevent to prevent dangerous human

influences on the climate.  The Convention requires all Parties to implement

national programmes and measures to control greenhouse gas emissions

and to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Parties also agree to

promote the development and use of climate-friendly technologies;

education and public awareness of climate change and its impacts;

sustainable management of forests and other ecosystems that can remove

greenhouse gas from the atmosphere, and to cooperate with other Parties

in these matters

• Kyoto Protocol of 1997, ratified in 2005. This Kyoto Protocol established legally binding emissions targets for industrialized countries, and created innovative mechanisms to assist these countries in meeting these targets.

Caribbean Initiatives to Mitigate the effects of Climate Change

Caribbean Response to Climate Change

ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE CARIBBEAN (ACCC) PROJECT

• This project lasted for THREE years from 2001-2004 and was overseen by the World Bank

• The outcomes of ACCC included:• Development and distribution of risk management guidelines for climate change adaptation

decision making; Political endorsement (by CARICOM) of the business plan and establishment of the basis of financial self-sustainability for the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC);

• A draft regional public education plan

• Successful launch of a Master’s Programme in climate change (the first set of graduates, in 2003, included eight students)

• Staff training and development at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in climate trend analysis in order to strengthen climate change capacity;

• Dialogue established with the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Programme (PICCAP) for collaboration on issues related to climate change; and

 

CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY CLIMATE CHANGE CENTREIts goals are as follows:

1. Mainstreaming climate change adaptation strategies into the sustainable development agendas of CARICOM states.2. Promote the implementation of specific adaptation measures to address key vulnerabilities in the region.3. Promote actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through fossil fuel reduction and conservation, and switching to renewable and cleaner energy sources.4. Encouraging action to reduce the vulnerability of natural and human systems in CARICOM countries to the impacts of a changing climate.5. Promoting action to derive social, economic, and environmental benefits through the prudent management of standing forests in CARICOM countries

Climate Change Initiatives in JamaicaCurrently there is no legislation enacted in Jamaica to mainstream Climate Change, HOWEVER, there are several initiatives outlined in the Vision 2030 Development Plan:Some initiatives include: • Sector Plan for Natural Resources and Environmental Management and Hazard

Risk Reduction and Climate Change

• Draft Jamaica National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan (JNCCPA)

• NEPA Climate Change Response Strategy 2010-2015

• Jamaica National Energy Policy

• National Renewable Energy Policy 2009 – 2030 …Creating a Sustainable Future

• Integrated Solid Waste Management Policy

Jamaica Contiued

Implementation of a Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Project in Jamaica.• The project, which is managed by the United Nations Environment

Programme (UNEP) and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), is aimed at increasing resilience and reducing risks associated with natural hazards in vulnerable areas. The project will be undertaken over a 30-month period.

Barbados Climate Change Initiatives• National Climate Change Policy • The primary goal of the policy is to set up a national process for adapting to the

effects of climate change and to minimize greenhouse emissions over the short, medium and long term in a manner consistent with Barbados’ broader aspirations of sustainable development.

• The policy is designed to establish a mechanism to respond to climate change and to engage in climate negotiations on the regional and global stage.

• Development of a $377 million green energy complex, which will transform solid waste into energy.

• Construction of a desalination plant on the island

References• Karl, T., Melillo, J.,Peterson, T. (n.d.) United States Global Change

Research Program. Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, USA.

• Raven,P., Berg,L.,Hassenzahl, D. (2008) Environment. John Wiley and Sons, NJ• http

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjR3mdwqVUM&list=PL444CE33FB8EBD9CA

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53js2wpqBZI• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/forests.html• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/transportatio

n.html• USGCRP (2009). 

Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States .

References continued

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Summary for Policy Makers; 2007

• Climate into the 21st Century, World Meteorological Organization, 2003, University Press, Cambridge UK, pg 203 (in print title="in print - Climate into the 21st Century, World Meteorological Organization")

• Preparing for a Changing Climate, Department of Ecology, pg 3 • Climate into the 21st Century, World Meteorological Organization,

2003, University Press, Cambridge UK, pg 223• Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NASA)• Scientific American, December 2012, Linking Climate and Weather,

Charles Greene

Thanks for participating

Questions?