The Climate crisis in the Caribbean is real. Between 1970 and 2020, 91.5% of Caribbean disasters were –related to the impacts of climate change – hurricanes, floods, and droughts, among others, resulting in over 250,000 human losses and more than 22 million affected people. From an economic standpoint, combined losses, and damage from hurricanes represent over USD 137 billion.
My friend Takao and his wife Emi went on a Caribbean cruise in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic, to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. As part of the tour, they visited Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. The giant cruise ship took an eastward course early in the morning and sailed slowly towards the vast pier, facing the sunrise, with Paradise Island (known for its huge resort Atlantis) on the left and Junkanoo Beach on the right. They still vividly remember its beautiful scenery.
In recent days, the UN General Assembly adopted a historic resolution, declaring access to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment a universal human right, something that was not included in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.
The concept of human rights is something which is well understood throughout the world and enshrined in the laws of almost every country. Additionally, within Latin America and the Caribbean, many states have ratified strong regional human rights standards. Human rights are also central to the IDB’s mission of improving lives and bringing sustainable development to the region, which is why they are at the heart of the Bank’s new Environmental and Social Policy Framework (ESPF). But how can we understand and address human rights risks in development projects?
As one of the regions experiencing the impacts of climate change more severely and frequently, the Caribbean is not standing idle. Countries are moving forward with climate change agendas that reflect their needs in adaptation action and resilience enhancement, as well as opportunities in mitigation.
Two years have passed since COVID-19 first emerged, and efforts are underway to prevent the next pandemic from occurring again. While we are still learning the lessons of COVID-19, experts affirm this won’t be the last time a new or relatively rare infectious disease emerges. Indeed, the current monkeypox outbreak underscores this point. So, how are we going to prevent the next one?
The climate crisis is unfolding before us. The impacts have started to materialize, and they are affecting some of the most vulnerable communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2020, average temperatures exceeded the historic record by 4.2°C in Florianopolis, Brazil, 2.4°C in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, or 4.9°C in Santa Rosa, Ecuador.
COVID-19 has laid bare the importance of assessing the health risks and impacts of development projects. All projects, in one way or another, must now consider the risks posed by the pandemic. Whether it is because protocols must be put in place to prevent large-scale spread, for example, in worker camps, or because a sick workforce may lead to significant delays, considering the risk factor posed by the coronavirus has become essential.
Latin America and the Caribbean is highly vulnerable to the risks associated with natural disasters and climate change. This includes slow onset risks like temperature increase evidenced in the heat waves that have affected Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil this year, with record figures, such as the city of Cordoba in Argentina that reached 42.5°C. The region is also exposed to rapid onset risks such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and landslides.
Big changes to the use and value of marine resources in the Caribbean
A few weeks ago, a very significant paradigm shift quietly occurred in the Caribbean in the world of economic growth and environmental sustainability. It happened in the Bahamas and whereas it did not register on any Richter scale, it was a monumental shift in our appreciation of the natural resources around us and how we value these resources.
Building a blue business climate for optima use of resources