Small Islands, Big Impact: Climate change and biodiversity in the Caribbean Strategies for engaging policy makers, civil society and the wider public UNESCO FUTURE FORUM Port of Spain, 8 July 2010 Session on addressing environmental and climate change challenges faced by SIDS, especially in the Caribbean
Presentation outline Presentation outline • Who is CANARI? • The evolution of CANARI’s climate change and disaster risk reduction programme • Why focus on education and awareness? • What are the key messages? – How will we be affected? – How can we respond to the changes? • Effective strategies for disseminating the messages?
CANARI CANARI • Regional non-profit organisation which has worked in the islands of the Caribbean for 30 years. • Based in Trinidad. Formerly located in Saint Lucia and St Croix, with a small office in Antigua. • Geographic focus: the islands of the Caribbean • 2009 recipient of the MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.
CANARI’ ’s mission s mission CANARI • To promote equitable participation and effective collaboration in managing the natural resources critical to development through: – research – sharing and dissemination of lessons learned, including capacity building; and – fostering partnerships.
CANARI Climate CANARI Climate Change programme Change programme • Climate change and biodiversity in the insular Caribbean project (MacArthur Foundation) • Series of guidebooks, leaflets and videos on Climate change in the UK Overseas Territories (Joint Nature Conservation Committee, UK) • Capacity building of civil society (Commonwealth Foundation): – Workshop engaging civil society organisations, the media and performance artists/drama-in-education practitioners – Development of a ‘ Climate change communications toolkit ’ for community-based organisations • Capacity building of civil society (Christian Aid): – Development of a ‘ Climate change toolkit ’ for communities in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Jamaica • MOU with CCCCC to implement Caribbean Regional Climate Change Adaptation Public Education and Outreach Strategy • Model Community-based Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (CDEMA)
Other partnerships Other partnerships • Panos Caribbean • Buccoo Reef Trust • Sandwatch • Caribsave ….and many national NGOs
Key messages: Key messages: Climate change is Climate change is happening and is a happening and is a pressing issue pressing issue • There have been natural and cyclical variations Photo courtesy: NASA & USGS in the Earth’s climate in the past, but the current rate of change is faster than anything the planet has experienced before.
Key messages: Climate Climate Key messages: change will have profound change will have profound effects on our lives effects on our lives • For the Caribbean region in the 21 st century, there is a fairly high level of certainty that: • Air and sea temperatures will increase; • Rainfall will change, with some regions becoming drier and others wetter; • Sea level rise will accelerate and be between 0.2 to 0.5m; • Hurricanes are likely to become more powerful.
Key message: Caribbean Caribbean Key message: islands are inherently islands are inherently vulnerable and have much vulnerable and have much to lose to lose • The economies of Caribbean islands depend on a narrow range of goods or services • They have high communication and transportation costs and are vulnerable to natural hazards • Certain Caribbean ecosystems that are important to human well-being are identified as “most vulnerable” Inherent vulnerabilities + climate change = increased risk
Key message: Climate Climate Key message: change will affect many change will affect many aspects of human well aspects of human well being, such as being, such as • tourism livelihoods • food security • infrastructure • water resources • health
Key message : Adaptation : Adaptation Key message is a ‘ ‘no regrets no regrets’ ’ strategy strategy is a with immediate benefits with immediate benefits Adaptation is an opportunity to improve: • natural resource management and physical planning • ability to deal with the natural hazards as well as the growing human-induced stresses on the environment. • Adaptive responses can be: – technological (e.g. improving coastal defences) – managerial (e.g. introducing crop rotation) – policy-based (e.g. strengthening planning regulations) – behavioural (e.g. preparing one’s home for a hurricane)
Meeting Multiple Objectives Meeting Multiple Objectives though Adaptation though Adaptation Disaster Management Triple Dividend Biodiversity Climate & Sustainable Adaptation Development
Local management and Local management and climate change adaptation climate change adaptation Management of natural resources and biodiversity at the regional, national and community level can reduce the impacts of climate change through • Reforestation and forest conservation • Watershed management • Treatment of waste water • Control of mosquito habitats • Coastal buffer zones • Protected area management
Key message: Good climate Key message: Good climate policy should adapt and and mitigate. mitigate. policy should adapt • Although Caribbean islands make a small contribution to global emissions of greenhouse gases, they can play their part in mitigation by: – enhancing energy efficiency – diversifying their energy sources – increasing reliance on non fossil fuel sources of energy – promoting climate friendly technologies – advocating collectively for the mitigation measures needed in the major industrialised countries
Collectively small efforts can Collectively small efforts can make a big difference make a big difference – Reducing personal and community vulnerability to natural hazards – Reducing energy use in transportation and in the home – Practicing good environmental habits e.g. recycling, conservation – Improving business practices e.g. clean energy, waste reduction/recycling – Advocating for implementation of national adaptation plans and sustainable development policies – Advocating for a stronger Caribbean voice in international negotiations – Informing others about climate change and what they can do
Creating the ripple effect: building on Creating the ripple effect: building on Caribbean talent and culture for public Caribbean talent and culture for public education and outreach education and outreach I DON’T WANNA WASH AWAY I don’t wanna wash away I don’t wanna lose another day You can’t make me float away Lose my land and all my say Seas are rising, try to reach the moon Beaches splicing, dicing, disappearing Political goons acted just like fools My land is gone so soon Temperature is rising, competing with the sun I itch, I burn, I thirst….
Using key change agents and Using key change agents and “champions champions” ” as channels of as channels of “ information information • Media • Youth • NGOs and CBOs • Artists and theatre-in-education professionals • Sportspersons • UNFCC National Focal Points • Communities that are particularly vulnerable to climate change • Extension officers (e.g. agriculture, fisheries) • School teachers
Core public education and Core public education and awareness strategies awareness strategies • Building the cadre of “champions” via facilitated dialogue with scientists • Developing a community of Artistes Weathering Climate Change – Region-wide concerts by conscious performance artists – Developing drama-in-education materials • National multi-sectoral climate change workshops • Providing relevant information to the media • Building partnerships between NGOs and the media • Conducting local research, (e.g. Sandwatch) • Collecting traditional knowledge (e.g. Panos) • Making wider use of video, television, YouTube etc.
Thank you Sarah McIntosh sarah@canari.org http://www.canari.org
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