US President Trump Cuts Funding for Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre
Carlos Fuller
United States President Donald Trump believes that climate change is a hoax started by the Government of China. The Trump Administration has proceeded to cut back on domestic and international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This poses a huge risk to many Caribbean countries which are impacted by climate change. So while news that President Trump announced that funding for the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre stationed in Belize was somewhat expected, it is worrisome. Under the Obama Administration, thirty million dollars was earmarked to carry out research in the Eastern Caribbean Islands. International Liaison Officer for the Five C’s, Carlos Fuller, says that while the regional center has received the first year’s finances, it is expected that the remaining monies will not be received. This, according to Fuller, puts at risk crucial work that the center is doing in the region with respect to climate change.
Carlos Fuller, International Liaison Officer, C.C.C.C.C.
“So far, we have been able to provide some fifty five automatic weather stations already out of the project for the Eastern Caribbean. We have installed also a tide gauge. We have also been able to acquire a lieder system which will then give us the topography for the islands of the Caribbean. However, other projected things that are jeopardy at the moment are for example are putting some salt water osmosis system and doing other studies in the Eastern Caribbean. Those aspects may be affected by this cut.”
Hipolito Novelo
“How important is the project when it comes to data collection, prevent, mitigating and predicting weather patterns?”
Carlos Fuller
“Certainly it is a very, very important project. For example the lidar system which is going to provide the topography. With the data with that we will be able to calculate the flood zones areas much better, to be able to show where a tsunami could affect one of the islands. With that kind of data we get much more precise effects of the impacts of hurricanes in the Caribbean.”
According to Fuller, the Five C’s has an ongoing initiative with the Government of Italy and has proposed a ten million dollar project to the European Union for funding.
