Islands address climate change adaptation issues at workshop in Brussels
The workshop which was geared towards small islands, addressed challenges and applicable tools that overseas territories can implement to manage climate change adaptation initiatives and strategies. – The Virgin Islands was among the European Union Overseas Territories represented at the “Islands and Adapting to Climate Change” workshop held in Brussels, Belgium.
In attendance were representatives from The Cayman Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaco, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Wallis & Futuna, Fresh Polynesia, New Caledonia, St. Pierre ET Miquelon, the Falkland Islands and Greenland.
Also in attendance were representatives from the European Commission, the Overseas Countries and Territories Association, (OCTA) the United Kingdom’s Department of International Development (DFID) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).
In an update to the Department of Information and Public Relations on her return to office last week, local Climate Change Coordinator, Ms. Angela Burnett Penn, highlighted some major items discussed.
“Overseas Countries and Territories are among the most vulnerable to climate change impacts. The Caribbean overseas territories (OT) of the UK are currently working on a joint climate change declaration to push our agenda,” Burnett Penn reported.
She added that, “Workshop participants agreed that a priority for OTs is the development of a common adaptation strategy on climate change. This would encompass three central pillars which are sustained financing, a local and EU level political strategy and local capacity building.”
The “Islands and Adapting to Climate Change” workshop consisted of a series of presentations which included examples of work carried out in overseas territories to address coral reef monitoring, climate change adaptation and the creation of vulnerability assessments.
Working groups were also formed which focused on changes to the coastal and marine sector, land, agriculture and socioeconomics due to climate change.
Highlighting the Territory’s participation in the workshop, the Climate Change coordinator stated that, “The Virgin Islands gave a presentation on plans for community based adaptation projects in Cane Garden Bay to reduce the flood and sedimentation problems currently being experienced there and what would be further aggravated by climate change.”
Ms. Garymar Rivera, the Senior Technical Planning Manager at the Department of Disaster Management also represented the Territory at the March 29 – 30 workshop which was fully funded by OCTA.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour through the Conservation and Fisheries Department is responsible for the sustainable management of the Territory’s natural resources. As such adapting to climate change and the multiple threats it poses to beaches, coral reefs, fishery resources and biodiversity is an important part of its mandate.