"Bahama Islands could disappear as a result of climate change".
hace 10 year
Last week in Lima, Desco developed the discussion "Climate, policies and changes in Latin America."Avelino Suárez Rodríguez, a physicist from the University of Havana, scientist at the University of Havana, was present. Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) of Cuba and researcher at the Center for Research on the World Economy (CIEM). The specialist explained the climatic alterations currently facing the Caribbean, an area particularly vulnerable to climate change. He indicated that in Cuba, the town of Batabanó is prone to disappear, as a consequence of the increase of Greenhouse Gases (GHG).
Suárez Rodríguez, who has spent several years studying the impacts of global warming on biodiversity and has participated in the preparation of the second, third and fourth reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) argued that ordinary citizens need to become aware of climate change. "Not destroying, recycling, reducing and generating a change in the paradigm of life.", he said.
The Caribbean is one of the areas most vulnerable to climate change, so what are the climatic alterations we will see in the future if no action is taken to address them?
In the case of island states, such as the Caribbean and other parts of the world, we may witness, in a few years, an increase in sea level rise and some countries will be reduced by this climatic alteration, a product of climate change.
Which Latin American countries could face reduction in their areas and are prone to disappear?
In Latin America, the most serious problems will be faced by the islands of the Bahamas, which could disappear, and there are certain places in Cuba, such as the town of Batabanó, where the sea will penetrate, generating extreme events.
Could Batabanó disappear?
It may possibly disappear.
If COP21, to be held in December in France, fails to reach a global agreement to address climate change: Will extreme events become more frequent?
First, let us hope that the agreement in France is successful, and second, measures must be taken to avoid disasters. For example, in Cuba, actions are already being taken for the changes that Batabanó will face; construction is being avoided, and above all the population is being informed. We hope that in the long term people will understand the magnitude of the change they will face.
Adaptation and ancestral cultures
In how many years could we see consequences of climate change such as the disappearances of countries, to which you refer?
On the subject of climate change we could not speak of exactitudes, but we can say that the changes will be seen on the basis of decades, in which each country has a different output.
What actions is the Cuban government taking to address the effects of climate change?
In Cuba we have a study on the risk of extreme events. There is a group of specialists from different areas who are being trained thanks to financial support from Norway. The idea is for Caribbean colleagues to learn from the "Coping with Natural Disasters" program and replicate our practices in their countries. For example, in the case of hurricanes, we are looking at adaptation in an organized and inexpensive way. The populations already know the places that are going to be flooded and measures are being taken, especially to save human life.
We could say then that Cuban populations have information about climate change ...
We have adequate information and we are starting to take adaptation measures because the Cuban government has decided to work along these lines.
In your presentations you stress the importance of ancestral cultures in the face of climate change. What could we learn from them?
The IPCC always recognizes indigenous and local knowledge. In Cuba, for example, we do not have indigenous knowledge, we only have people who come from Africa, who live in the countryside and know how to manage their area. However, in several Latin countries there is an indigenous presence, who have solved problems related to the environment in the last 100 and 200 years. They also provide solutions and information for adapting to climate change.
Could you mention an example of this?
For example, there are successful experiences in the management of agriculture in the Andes. What can be done is to compile this information and combine it with science in order to be more successful. It is a work that we have to start building, but it is a function of the whole planet, especially of young people, and of course also of local communities. Work is being done in the region on adaptation and mitigation, but on an insufficient scale.
How can citizens help counteract the effects of global warming?
Not destroying, recycling, reducing and generating a change in the paradigm of life.
Source: COP Connection
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