Climate change in the Caribbean – learning lessons from Irma and Maria

Dr Michael Taylor

The Guardian, 6 October 2017

Alongside other emerging climate patterns, there is a strong case to be made that there is something unfamiliar about the Caribbean’s climate today. We are seeing repeated and prolonged droughts, an increase in the number of very hot days, intense rainfall events causing repeated localised flooding, and rising sea levels that are consuming the beautiful beaches on which tourism in our region depends.

: Published: 06 October 2017

THE NEXT ROUND OF GLOBAL CLIMATE NEGOTIATIONS IS:

COP28

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
30 NOVEMBER - 12 DECEMBER
2023

6-18 NOVEMBER 2022

WHAT REALLY MATTERS
FOR THE CARIBBEAN

CARIBBEAN CLIMATE JUSTICE ALLIANCE
TOP-5 Priorities @ COP27

→ VIEW ALL #COP27 PRIORITIES

'1.5 is Still Alive'

Taj WEEKES

Kendel HIPPOLYTE

Climate Facts

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The Caribbean contributes less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, but is expected to be among the earliest & hardest-hit by climate change.

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Floods, storm surges, erosion & other coastal hazards, exacerbated by sea-level rise, threaten vital infrastructures, settlements and facilities supporting our livelihood.

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28 of the 40 millions of Caribbeans live in coastal cities, towns & villages.

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Deteriorating coastal conditions are expected to adversely affect fisheries and the Caribbean's value as a tourism destination.

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CLIMATE CHANGE THREATENS THE VERY EXISTENCE OF SOME CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.

"Since 2009, more than a hundred Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and many others have been calling for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels to prevent the worst of climate change impacts. The inclusion of a 1.5°C temperature limit in the 2015 Paris Agreement was a major victory for vulnerable countries."

IPCC

SPECIAL REPORT ON

GLOBAL WARMING OF 1.5 ºC

→ CLICK HERE

THE PARIS AGREEMENT

Adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21
Paris, 12 December 2015

→ CLICK HERE

What's
Climate Justice?

→ United Nations

→ CANARI

→ Carbon Brief

→ Climate Analytics