PATTERSON… we have great cause to be concerned about the effects of climate change
NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — Former Jamaican Prime Minister P J Patterson says there is need for strong political awareness of the relevant issues related climate change and disaster risk considerations.
Patterson, who spoke at the opening of the 9th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management earlier this week, encouraged politicians to foster close collaboration with regional agencies with mandates regarding climate change.
“Political awareness and support are key in order to ensure full support at the highest level of Governments for appropriate allocation of national funds to address these issues.
According to Patterson, the region is fully aware of the challenges linked to climate change, as faced by small island developing states .
“Our regional Heads of Government and our people are well-acquainted, many of us through adverse experiences, with the challenges our countries face as small island developing states in a highly hazard prone region of the world. At times, it seems that the rich natural endowments with which we have been blessed are borne by curses that serve to impede our advancement.”
The former prime minister stressed the importance of a “consolidated approach and collective action to protect our environment to avert disasters where we can, or at least, to mitigate their effects, and at the same time, to spur sustainable development”.
He added that the region’s approach to the achievement of sustainable development globally, regionally and nationally must be through integrated efforts to achieve resilience.
“The building of a resilient nation has to begin and proceed on the base of community resilience. We can learn a great deal from the Cuban model, which has been tested and proven.”
Concerning national policies, Patterson said climate change measures must be integrated.
“This must resonate with us in the Caribbean. We have great cause to be concerned about the effects of climate change; rising sea levels which threaten our coastal developments, and devastate our agricultural production; more severe tropical storms which can eradicate years of hard work in a few short hours; and proliferation of tropical diseases.”
He added that the disasters constitute a “clear and present danger to our lives and well being. It could wipe out the tourism product entirely and destroy all our prospects for economic growth”.
In making reference to the Paris conference, Patterson said the outcome is very important to the region “as we are disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The countries represented here are in the main small island states. While we fall within the same category of landlocked and developed countries which are also most disadvantaged, I believe the Caribbean and the small Pacific Islands should be singled out for very special and urgent attention by the Developed World and the International Institutions as is now the accepted case for Africa.”
Patterson, at the same time, said officials need to broaden their outreach for the next conference to include, possibly as associates in the first instance, all nations which are part of the geographic space — Guadeloupe, Martinique, Curacao, St Maarten, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
“Natural disasters, when they come, do not seem to respect national borders. They spread their fury, regardless of flags. In avoiding, moderating and responding to disasters, we need a more inclusive approach to secure the best deployment of personnel, technology and equipment,” he said.