NDMC FOCUSES ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Friday June 18, 2010
The Public Information and Education (PIE) sub-committee of the National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) is focusing on the impacts of climate change in the Virgin Islands as part of its educational awareness programme this month.
The Territory’s Climate Change Coordinator Ms. Angela Burnett Penn of the Conservation and Fisheries Department told the Department of Information and Public Relations, “Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, economic, and social challenges facing the world and Caribbean region today.”
Ms. Penn explained that climate change simply refers to a change in the long-term average weather conditions for a given region. She pointed out that the Virgin Islands are very vulnerable to climate change. The Territory is impacted by climatic events because the natural resources, economic activities which are tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and the way of life have all developed around and depend on traditionally stable patterns of temperature, rainfall, humidity, and the trade winds.
“The key changes expected for the Territory are increased average temperatures, rainfall extremes – more floods and drought, stronger hurricanes, and a rise in sea level. These changes will likely cause a range of impacts in the Territory such as increased beach erosion and coral bleaching. More costly damages to infrastructure and property may result from severe weather events, increased agricultural pests and diseases, loss of critical fish habitat and fish migration to cooler waters, increased outbreaks in dengue fever and asthma rates, degraded tourist attractions, and water stress.” Ms. Penn added.
Ms. Penn further explained, “Our most important defence to climate change is early preparation. We need to do what we can to reduce our vulnerability to these climate change impacts now. This may mean, for example, increasing the resilience of our natural resources by reducing other impacts that we can control, and building wiser and stronger.”
She also encouraged persons to help in reducing climate change and connecting with nature by planting native trees and flowers to maintain healthy eco-systems as this acts as a sink for carbon. She concluded that Environment Month is being celebrated under the theme, “Biodiversity: Connecting with Nature”.
The Conservation and Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour are currently leading an effort to develop a policy and strategy to reduce the impacts of climate change. The public is urged to participate in this process by attending the public stakeholder consultations which will continue this August.
The department and ministry also encourage persons to do what they can to reduce their contribution to the climate change problem by limiting their energy use and carbon emissions. “Persons should walk more often, ride a bike or even car pool and replace their regular incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Energy Star qualified CFLs provide bright, warm light and use 75% less energy, produce 75% less heat, and lasts up to 10 times longer,” Ms. Burnett Penn advised.
As part of the disaster education and awareness activities, the PIE sub-committee will be producing printed material to help create awareness and “Nine ways to reduce climate change” which will be highlighted on the programme, The Almanac aired on ZBVI Radio 780 AM. In addition during the month of July further information will be forthcoming on climate change with public service announcements and the Department of Disaster Management’s Focus Television Programme.
The National Disaster Management Council (NDMC) is chaired by Governor David Pearey and coordinates disaster preparedness and response readiness activities. The Public Information and Education sub-committee is responsible for promoting public awareness of hazards and disasters, among other things.