Connect with us

Issue 27 - July 2017

Climate change and flooding threaten 4.2 million people on Caribbean and Pacific islands

New IDB study estimates potential impact on cities and people in low-elevation coastal zones 

A new study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) estimates that 4.2 million people in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean and in the Pacific are living in areas that are prone to flooding due to rising sea levels.

In addition to coastal erosion, rising sea levels are expected to negatively impact economic output and employment and could aggravate inflation and cause an increase in government debt, according to the study, A Blue Urban Agenda: Adapting to Climate Change in the Coastal Cities of Caribbean and Pacific Small Island Developing States.

“Caribbean and Pacific coastal cities are on the frontlines of climate change,” said Michael G. Donovan, Senior Urban Specialist at the IDB, co-author of the study. “It is critical to adapt and improve the resilience of cities in coastal zones, especially those experiencing rapid urbanization. Mayors in port cities across the globe could benefit from the policies that Small Island Developing States are developing as their governments respond to coastal transformation,” he added.

One out of five residents of Caribbean and Pacific SIDS live in low-elevation coastal zones, which are defined as areas with elevations less than 10 meters above sealevel. This is most extreme in The Bahamas and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, where over 80 percent of the population lives at low elevations, the study said. 

The good news is that the international community has begun responding to the challenge. The study reviews aid and private sector flows totalling US$55.6 billion provided to Caribbean and Pacific SIDS over a 20-year period ending in 2015 and found that increasing emphasis has recently been placed on comprehensive programs for strengthening coastal city resiliency. 

The report also analyzes how Caribbean and Pacific SIDS have leveraged nearly $800 million in green climate funding to support coastal resilience. “The donor community and the SIDS have been innovative in their efforts to solve this problem in the context of what is known as the ‘Blue Urban Agenda’. The challenge facing SIDS government officials is investing in protection of their highly vulnerable coastal cities before the damage occurs,” said Michelle Mycoo, lead author from the University of West Indies, St. Augustine, located in Trinidad and Tobago. 

The study reviewed the efforts made by Caribbean and Pacific SIDS to implement adaptation strategies aimed at reducing vulnerability and enhancing sustainability. It shows an increasing emphasis on urban governance and institutional capacity building within city planning agencies. 

The report also includes several policy recommendations for making towns and cities more resilient to climate change. Those measures include improving coastal planning, land reclamation, coastal setbacks, enforcement of building codes, climate-proofing infrastructure, mangrove reforestation, and coastal surveying and monitoring. 

The report analyzed more than 50 projects in SIDS financed by the IDB, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank, UN-Habitat, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), Asian Development Bank, European Union, UK Department for International Development (DFID), UNDP,CARICOM, Australian Agency for International Development (AUSAid), and the Pacific Community. 

These projects are located in Bridgetown (Barbados), Kingston (Jamaica), Suva (Fiji), Majuro (Marshall Islands), Nassau (Bahamas), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), and other coastal cities. 

This is the first report from the IDB to compare coastal cities in ecologically fragile Caribbean and Pacific Small Island Developing States. The IDB plans to share lessons learned from SIDS with Brazil, where 13.5 million people live in low-elevation coastal zones.

A Blue Urban Agenda: Adapting to Climate Change in the Coastal Cities of Caribbean and Pacific Small Island Developing States provides strategies to implement commitments for SIDS in international agreements, such as the Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action resolution (Samoa Pathway), COP21, the Sustainable Development Goals, and Habitat III. The report follows the IDB Group’s announcement last year that it would increase the volume of climate-related financing to 30 percent of operational approvals by the end of 2020. 

About The IDB

The Inter-American Development Bank is devoted to improving lives. Established in 1959, the IDB is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private sector clients throughout the region.

For more information go to http://www.iadb.org/

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Issue 27 - July 2017

How To Give An Environmental Boat Briefing

The new Green Fins How-to-video is out! This month’s release title is: How To Give An Environmental Boat Briefing, the video is aimed to serve as a guidance for dive guides and management on what aspect should be included during a proper boat briefing. It will also inform the guests on what to expect and what they can do.

For more information go to http://greenfins.net/en

Continue Reading

Issue 27 - July 2017

Issue 27: July 2017

1. Letter from the Editor. Happy summer to everyone up north and hoping all our readers in the US had a fabulous 4th of July week. Whether back at work or still on vacation…

 

2. If you value SEVENSEAS Media as a resource and as the free PR arm for everyone in marine conservation and sustainable tourism, we need your support! Learn more about how to get involved and ensure we remain a valuable resource…

 

3. Vamizi Island, a Cradle of Coral, provides a bastion of hope for people and biodiversity. Off the east coast of Africa and the northern tip of Mozambique lies the Hope Spot of the Quirimbas Islands…

 

4. Under the Waves with Karim Iliya: July 2017. A juvenile humpback whale takes a breath while bubble feeding off the cold waters of Eastern Greenland.

 

5. Ever dream of swimming with humpback whales? Now you can. If you are interested in swimming with or photographing humpback whales Karim guides people in small trips in Tonga…

 

6. Massive clean-ups and new national parks as humanity stands with nature on World Environment Day. Thousands of people across six continents are joining massive clean-ups of beaches and parks…

 

 

7. Introducing Isla Mar Research Expeditions – Field Courses in Puerto Rico. A field course coordination company in Puerto Rico that specializes in organizing and hosting island ecology (marine/terrestrial) themed courses.

 

8. FEATURE DESTINATION. Photo Essay: New Zealand’s Diverse Landscapes. In New Zealand, the landscape can change drastically within a few hours’ drive….

 

9. FEATURE DESTINATION. Diving the Poor Knights Islands. We made our way along a wall with massive stalks of kelp jutting from jagged rock, a kaleidoscope of sponges and anemones filling the spaces in between…

 

10. Ambassadors of Hope for our Oceans. The beautiful coral reefs of their island home, Panglao, support a booming tourism industry…

 

11. If You Eat Seafood, You’re Eating Thousands of Pieces of Plastic. …people in Europe currently consume up to 11,000 microparticles a year and that 99 percent of them pass through the body, but the remaining 1 percent…

 

12. Loggerhead Marinelife Center released “Lilly” the sea turtle, named after Palm Beach resort wear icon Lilly Pulitzer. The large sub-adult loggerhead turtle was found last October just north of the Center with a deep shell wound above the turtle’s shoulder.

 

13. Inuit and Scientists Are Bringing Narwhals and the Melting Arctic Into Focus. Smithsonian Exhibition To Reveal Traditional and New Knowledge of Narwhals and Their Threatened Ecosystem.

 

14. Underwater and Out-of-the-Way: Exploring Xcalak and the Banco Chinchorro. …the Mesoamerican reef is a Mission Blue Hope Spot and in 2016 the Mexican government established the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere…

 

15. Beautiful Maireener Shells and Necklaces from Tasmania. Tasmanian Aboriginal women traditionally collected maireener shells to fashion necklaces and bracelets.

 

16. Incredible Facts About Our Oceans (Video). Oceans take up almost 70% of our planet, and yet the human race has barely begun to explore the true extent of ocean life.

 

 

17. Turn the Tide on Plastic #CleanSeas. Help eliminate microplastics in cosmetics and reduce single-use plastics.

 

18. 1 Topic, 5 Facts: Coral. This regular feature will help acquaint you with our blue planet.

 

19. Connect with the Global Marine Community. In a nutshell, the Global Marine Community is a free interactive resource that gives you access to a weekly email detailing a round-up of events and opportunities in ocean conservation.

 

20. UN Environment statement on US decision to leave Paris Agreement. “…we need more action, not less. This a global challenge. Every nation has a responsibility to act and to act now…”

 

21. Paso Pacifico is changing wildlife surveillance. The illegal trade in sea turtle eggs is threatening the survival of all seven species of the world’s sea turtles…

 

22. How To Give An Environmental Boat Briefing. …aimed to serve as a guidance for dive guides and management on what aspect should be included during…

 

23. SeaKeepers Asia June Expeditions. In June 2017, the SeaKeepers Asia chapter of The International SeaKeepers Society participated in two facets of our DISCOVERY Yachts Program…

 

24. Pangaea Ocean Sailing Expedition. Panex is opening up sailing expeditions for guest crew. This is an unique opportunity to go sailing, cross an ocean, and be a part of something bigger.

 

 

25. Interested in advertising, contributing an article, or becoming a donor? 27 Issues, readership in 174 countries, nearly 15,000 subscribers, 20,000 monthly visitors…and growing.

Continue Reading

Issue 27 - July 2017

Letter from the Editor – July 2017.

Happy summer to everyone up north and hoping all our readers in the US had a fabulous 4th of July week. Whether back at work or still on vacation, summer often means that time of year to explore, excite, and expand our horizons. Also, an opportunity to make an impact while you are on the road.

I just recently came back from Vietnam, and though we will go deeper into that in a future issue, I came to the realization that country is a dream. I made more friends than I imagined possible, discovered mind bending artwork, food (and coffee, OMG the coffee!) that I am still dreaming about, amazing sights, and incredible culture. Now, time permitting, whenever I am on the road I try to visit local zoos and aquariums so I can review, rate, and report on them. When I see questionable practices, I then will go a step further to consult with an expert and then reach out to management if we feel necessary. When I visited the The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City, I admit I was shocked – it was by no stretch the worst zoo I had ever seen in my life.

Habitats were often cement boxes with tourists excitedly banging on the glass or bars that separate them from the creatures inside. There were little-to-no educational components and animals were mixed throughout children’s rides so there was no distinction in what was a living creature and a game. Smaller animals like otters and meerkats seemed to not be distraught but larger mammals were showing sever signs of distress. A Malaysian black bear banging its head and body incessantly against the habitat door, isolated giraffes standing listless and frozen in time, and elephants rocking nervously back and forth then huddled in defense when the keeper would enter their confined space. Considering the rules and limitations in Vietnam I do not envision improvement for the future- in fact, at this state of disrepair I believe the zoo should be closed and likely many of the animals euthanized while appropriate outreach is conducted with state officials. I have never said that before for any institution.

So is this another horror story to ruin the bunch? It shouldn’t be. Good zoos and aquariums play many vital roles. Some have extensive rehabilitation and release divisions, others have unique captive breeding programs, and almost all good zoos have extensive educational components. No matter who you talk to you will see there are countless opinions on this topic- whether regarding the size of the animal, the species, comparing zoo habitats to natural environments, or sheer ethics of captivity. So what should you do? Learn which are the good ones, support them, and if you have the means see how to help the ones that need improvement. Struggling to find a birthday gift for someone? How about a membership to a local zoo, aquarium, or sanctuary.

The needle dictating what is ethical/acceptable/natural-as-possible is constantly moving but understand that while there are cages and tanks that are quite dreadful, there are some similar organizations out there that do some invaluable work that many species depend on.

Have questions about this issue, Vietnam, my zoo experience, or anything else? Email me. It might take a bit for me to get back to you but I respond to everything.

Please encourage friends, colleagues, and classmates to like and subscribe to free products and organizations like SEVENSEAS Media. The larger our network, the stronger our conservation message, and more significant our impact. 

SEVENSEAS Media is the leading free resource that promotes marine conservation through community engagement, online media, and eco-tourism, every month, to our readers all across the globe. We ask that YOU be that inspiration for others to follow in your footsteps.

Safe travels & happy swimming,

Giacomo Abrusci, Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief

 

Continue Reading

Trending