Scientists from Arctic and islands plan action on climate change
If you were outside today you needed no convincing that our weather is hot. And even though the protagonists of our next story were meeting in the air conditioned comfort of the Biltmore, the subject of their deliberations was anything but cool. News Five’s Kendra Griffith has more.
Cletus Springer, Coordinator, Sustainable Development, O.A.S.
“It is still a fact that our greenhouse gas emissions, which have increased by over thirty percent over the last two hundred years or so is still cause for concern. It is a fact that our sea levels have risen between ten to twenty centimetres. It is still a fact that the polar ice caps are melting. So that while they are those who are in the ranks of sceptic who might want to disagree as to what the cause of these changes may be, the fact remains that these changes are occurring and that if they continue to occur the life as we have come to know it will cease to exist and that is the motivation that has brought us here today.”
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
And what these fifty men and women from around the world are doing is developing a five-year action plan for two categories of nations most vulnerable to the effects of climate change: the Arctic and Small Island Developing States, one of which is Belize.
Dr. Kenrick Leslie, Dir., CARICOM Climate Change Centre
“Suffice it to say, that dramatic changes to the lives and livelihood of Arctic and SIDS living communities are being forecast unless urgent action is taken to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In the artic, the permafrost, marine resources and forestry will be severely impacted. In the tropical SIDS, sea level rise and increase surface temperature are already affecting both the natural ecosystems and the socioeconomic conditions.”
The participants are members of the group, Many Strong Voices, which was formed in 2005 to represent the Arctic and SIDS. In his opening remarks, Minister of Natural Resources John Briceño, gave the initiative his full backing.
John Briceño, Minister of Natural Resources
“Over the next three days you will vigorously pursue discussions on how together we can build our capacity to mitigate against the effects of climate change and sea level rise, how we can adapt to the changes ahead and share our experiences with one another.”
“It is important work you have set upon for the next three days and I welcome you here to Belize and lend my support for this important undertaking.”
Funding for the workshop was provided by the Government of Norway and the U.S. National Science Foundation. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.
The meeting ends on Wednesday.
