1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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,

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. THE END