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United Nations Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week Addresses Climate Change Challenges in the Caribbean
The United Nations Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW) will convene from October 23-27, 2023 to address the critical challenges of climate change in the region and call for regional action on energy systems, cities, land and ocean, and societies. Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean SIDS face significant impacts and vulnerabilities due to climate change, and it's crucial to protect and empower vulnerable communities through disaster preparedness, climate-resilient livelihoods, and public awareness. The LACCW will gather sentiments and core messages to take to COP28 and the Fourth International SIDS Conference in 2024. Strengthening infrastructure, adopting sustainable agriculture practices, reinforcing cities, transitioning to clean energy, and accessing climate finance are key steps toward building resilience. The UN Eastern Caribbean Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) 2022-2026 provides a robust framework for UN assistance in the sub-region, but efforts must be scaled up to achieve a resilient and inclusive future. Collaboration, sharing knowledge, and working towards common goals are essential to combat the global threat of climate change.
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Originally published by barbadostoday.bb (opens in new tab)
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.
By Didier Trebucq and Vincent Sweeney
In the heart of the Latin American and Caribbean region where the vibrant cultures and rich biodiversity intersect, the United Nations Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week (LACCW) will be convened from October 23 to 27, 2023 hosted by the Government of Panama. Leaders, activists, policymakers and experts from across the region will assemble to take stock of the critical challenges of climate change ahead of COP28 in Dubai. LACCW is a call to regional action on four priority areas: i) energy systems and industry; ii) cities, urban and rural settlements, infrastructure and transport; iii) land, ocean, food and water; and iv) societies, health, livelihoods and economies.
The consequences of climate change are felt acutely in the 29 Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) that have experienced record high temperatures, with consequent impacts from rising sea levels, devastating hurricanes, longer dry seasons and droughts, which affect economies, populations and livelihoods. Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean SIDS are among the smallest and most vulnerable, with small, open economies that have been beset by recent external shocks such as the 2008 global financial and 2020 COVID-19 crises. Caribbean SIDS also grapple with decades of unsustainable practices in development, production and infrastructure that have, over decades, spewed solid waste and effluent pollution into sensitive terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Combined with climate effects, these threaten the resilience of ecosystems which provide frontline protection in coastal areas.
In a 2023 Caribbean survey on SIDS challenges conducted by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the highest category of reported concerns cited were “adverse effects of climate change” (15 per cent), followed by “loss of biodiversity” (11 per cent), and “natural disasters” (8.7 per cent). Climate change disproportionately affects the poorest, most marginalised, and vulnerable communities. Women and children often lack access to resources and assets to cope with disasters. Poverty levels in Eastern Caribbean SIDS average 24.6 per cent, while women tend to be unemployed at higher rates and paid at lower levels than men, which increases their vulnerability. Most of the poor are employed in tourism and agriculture – sectors that are particularly vulnerable to external events. Small-scale landholders and producers are also increasingly vulnerable due to high levels of income dependence on degraded agricultural lands and fishing stocks. It is essential to protect and empower these communities to become more resilient by involving them in coordinated disaster preparedness and response, early warning systems, and investing in climate-resilient livelihoods and social safety nets. This also means investing in education and public awareness, ensuring that everyone knows the role they can play in turning the tide against global warming and reducing the severity of future climate impacts.
