Climate change is affecting Small Island Developing States through rising sea levels, stronger storms, changes to agriculture and fisheries, and damage to infrastructure. The document discusses evidence of these impacts in the Caribbean and strategies several Caribbean countries and organizations are implementing to adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These include establishing the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, national climate change policies and action plans, and projects to increase climate resilience.

1. Climate Change and
Small island
Developing states
Group 1
Leonie Wellington
Marsha Barrett
Karlene Blake
Kamika Duncan
Kirk Davis

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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)

5. 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).

6. 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....

7. 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 deforestation
All Info source: Access Washington -Climate Change
www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange

9. Evidence of Climate Change
Worldwide
• Highest Quality
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• Visually Appealing

10. Evidence of Climate Change

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Climate Change in Jamaica
• Negril’s disappearing beaches.
• Soon we might not even have FOOD to
eat. Hmmmmm!!!!

17. 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.

20. 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,

21. 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,

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. • 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.

30.  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.

31. Damaged Roads

32. Damaged Bridges

33. Damaged Railways

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. How climate change affects our forests

38. Healthy Forests

39. Unhealthy Forests

40. Increase in Forest Fires

41. 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)

42. 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

43. • 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.

44. Caribbean Initiatives to Mitigate the effects of
Climate Change
Caribbean Response to Climate Change

45. 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

46. CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY
CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE
Its 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

47. Climate Change Initiatives in
Jamaica
Currently 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

48. 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.

49. 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

52. 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=PL444CE33
FB8EBD9CA
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53js2wpqBZI
• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/forests.html
• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-
adaptation/transportation.html
• USGCRP (2009). Global Climate Change Impacts in the United
States .

53. 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

54. Thanks for participating
Questions?