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Climate Change Impact On The Bahamas
Related to country: Bahamas

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Warning On Climate Change’s Impact on Bahamas:
By Rolanda Epstein -
Nassau, Bahamas:


The Bahamas has become vulnerable to the effects of climate change with its marine life facing threats, according to the Director of Meteorology and Chairman of the National Climate Change Committee Arthur Rolle.

Mr. Rolle told the Bahama Journal on Monday The Bahamas could possibly be severely affected in the years to come due to a rise in the sea level.

Mr. Rolle attended the recent United Nations Climate Control Conference in Bali where representatives from more than 180 participating countries discussed a secure climate future for all nations.

Also attending the conference was Minister of Public Works and Transport Dr. Earl Deveaux, who addressed the attendees on The Bahamas’ views on climate control.

In 1996, a study commissioned by the government of The Bahamas showed that the maximum temperatures were increasing along with the rise in rainfall on New Providence, according to Mr. Rolle.

Mr. Rolle said studies show that in about 50 or more years from now some islands of The Bahamas could possibly be completely under water and no longer to exist.

Scientists say rising temperatures could cause sea levels to rise sharply, glaciers to melt, storms and droughts to become more intense and mass migration of climate refugees.

Mr. Rolle said the tropical cyclones The Bahamas is now experiencing are increasing in size and intensity.

"Tropical Storm Noel drenched Long Island and Exuma with 29 inches of rain in two days which represents 50 percent of the rainfall those islands usually see for the entire year," he said.

Back in 2001 at another climate control conference scientists revealed that 80 percent of The Bahamas’ land mass is vulnerable to global climate change and sea level rise.

Mr. Rolle said another climate change study showed that the one-degree rise in temperature has affected the yellow tuna, parrotfish and dolphin in the waters of The Bahamas.

"In 1998, The Bahamas experienced the worst coral bleaching and we are still trying to recover from that coral damage," he added.

"Places like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia are also experiencing coral bleaching and studies show that by 2020 the barrier reef will be no more."

Mr. Rolle said The Bahamas needs to focus on land-use planning, enforce building codes and prevent building close to the shoreline.

He said Bahamians need to be shown ways to avoid the disaster they can potentially face in the years to come due to climate change.

"The Bahamas has in place one of the finest early warning systems, but what we need to do is develop hazard plans. In the long-run we need to store emergency supplies in the event that we have these disasters," Mr. Rolle told the Bahama Journal.

The two-week sessions Mr. Rolle and Dr. Deveaux attended culminated in the adoption of the Bali roadmap, which charts the course for a new negotiating process to be concluded by 2009 that will ultimately lead to a post-2012 international agreement on climate change.

18 December 2007

December 18, 2007 | 10:22 PM Comments  0 comments

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