GLOBAL CHANGES AND RISK MANAGEMENT A Caribbean Perspective 5th World Water Forum 16-22 March, 2009 Presented by: Hon. Dr. Horace Chang Minister of Water and Housing Jamaica

PRESENTATION OUTLINE Background Potential Impact of Climate Change on Region Impact of Recent Hurricanes Response of SIDS Rationale for Special Consideration for SIDS Recommendations Conclusion

BACKGROUND 51 states and territories are categorized as Small Island Developing States there are 20 SIDS within the Caribbean region SIDS face certain unique environmental and socio-economic vulnerabilities climate change is the single biggest threat to the existence, human habitats, natural resources and economic viability of SIDS

Potential Impact of Climate Change on Region major obstacle to the achievement of sustainable development will worsen impact of existing development challenges environmental degradation more extreme events (e.g. intense hurricanes and serious drought) serious implications for water and food security

Impact of Recent Hurricanes Grenada - Hurricane Ivan in 2004 90 % of housing stock and 80% of agricultural assets destroyed annihilated the nutmeg (a spice) crop damages amounted to 2.4 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars (200 percent of that country’s GDP at the time)

Impact of Recent Hurricanes Haiti – Hurricanes Fay Gustav, Hanna and Ike in 2008 total devastation especially in rural communities mud flows flooded valleys and towns approximately 800 lives lost country’s agricultural harvest estimated at 200 million Haitian dollars was lost

Response of SIDS at forefront of the global efforts to address climate change established the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action drawn up in 1994 implementation of Mitigation and Adaptation measures

Rationale for Special Consideration for SIDS Social Conscience SIDS account for less than one percent of global greenhouse gases yet bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change Ecological and Cultural Diversity great beauty and rich cultures attract visitors worldwide unique and rich wildlife one in every ten of the world’s bird species live on only one island one-sixth of the entire world’s threatened plant species live only on islands Coral reefs among the richest and most beautiful ecosystems on Earth, a single reef can be home to 3,000 different species,

Rationale for Special Consideration for SIDS Expansion of world markets SIDS have the potential to provide new markets for the developed world Global Village climate change is a global phenomenon and its effects will ultimately be felt everywhere if we can find the solutions to SIDS we are one step closer to solving the global challenges

Recommendations Direct financial assistance to address sustainable development issues sustainable development is costly the region has limited capital grants and low interest loans (<5%) needed Debt relief region struggling with ever increasing external debt burden e.g. Jamaica’s current debt burden exceeds 100 percent of GDP Creative approaches can be employed e.g. selling of carbon credits in exchange for debt reduction

Recommendations (cont’d) Technological Transfer technological interventions required already exist significant savings if countries facilitate the sharing of technical information through education and training Capacity building need for increased capacity within the region to deal with climate change particularly in policy design and formulation and management of natural resources some progress made but more needs to be done

Recommendations (cont’d) Creating an enabling environment governments must commit to creating, or improving the institutional and legislative framework necessary to promote sustainable development Research and Development universities in the region must undertake research to enhance our capacity to deal with climate change research needed in: alternate sources of energy e.g. bio fuel and solar energy the development of drought tolerant crops and livestock

Conclusion development cannot be held hostage to the environment the greatest threat to the environment is poverty and it is only through development that we can overcome poverty the challenges are enormous but not insurmountable financial assistance; debt relief; technological transfer; capacity building; an enabling environment and research are stepping stones to our goals

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