Climate Change Adaptation
Introduction
Although the Trump administration may not feel that climate change is a clear and present danger with the potential for imminent damage to the United States, the situation of the Caribbean is very different. The small island developing states of the Caribbean are among the most vulnerable to climate change in the entire world. The region has suffered perennial natural disasters that have caused damage the equivalent of a significant percentage of GDP (e.g., damage of 200 percent of GDP when Hurricane Ivan hit Grenada, requiring massive reconstruction of infrastructure and rehabilitation to the built environment). Climate change, evident in the form of global warming and sea level rise, will require mitigation measures, particularly because Caribbean countries are coastal societies (i.e., population, economic activity, and infrastructure are concentrated on a narrow strip of the coast).
There is a need for more financial resources for disaster relief and disaster risk reduction projects to accelerate the recovery of economic activity after a natural disaster, with emphasis on infrastructure projects, and to enhance climate adaption and mitigation. These resources should be complementary to other initiatives in the region such as the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF).
The recent devastation brought by the 2020 pandemic & hurricane season is one that’s impossible to ignore. It may just be the “wake up call” that the Caribbean has needed for some time now in order to adjust trade for food security, change building codes, lessen vulnerability and increase adaptability to suit the current climate which is increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters.
In rebuilding this time, our approach MUST be different. The creation of sustainable urban and rural developments that take into consideration the natural environment in which they exist is key. As small islands located directly in the hurricane belt and also subject to earthquakes, it is critical that we now consider flexible infrastructure that can shift with earth tremors to offer earthquake resistance, buffering of our coastlines to mitigate storm surge with flooding and most pertinent and critical to the region- protection against storms and hurricanes. The pandemic raise food security concerns in the Caribbean and demand for more smart homes.
While these are challenges that exist due to our location, there also benefits to be derived from it. We must instead look favorably upon our position in the tropics and the abundance of resources this affords us in building our offices and homes.
Energy
While the price of oil and gas is lower than in past years, there is no guarantee that they will not increase. Most of the Caribbean countries are almost completely dependent on imported fossil fuels, with the exception of Trinidad and Tobago and possibly Guyana in the future. These countries cannot assume financial relief on the scale provided by the PetroCaribe program, as the dire economic circumstances in Venezuela may force a change in the terms of PetroCaribe. The dependence on imported energy has to be substantially altered by a shift to alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, and thermal, by a combination of public, private, and public-private partnerships.
Utilization of solar power to provide electricity is the new normal. This has benefits both pre-disaster but even more so after disaster has occurred. It allows faster rebuilding and resettling of damaged communities as electricity is readily available for the use of communication, tools and machinery needed in cleaning and repairing.
Citizenship by Investment
Citizenship-by-investment programs are generally an attempt to attract inflows of foreign capital into Caribbean countries that have extremely small markets, very limited resources, and few export opportunities. The programs have been criticized as being improperly managed, and there is an opportunity for the United States to provide technical assistance to improve both the initial and annual screening processes. The proliferation of these programs is indicative of the urgent need for public-sector investment especially in infrastructure. In pursuit of infrastructure development, some governments have turned to China, which has financed and constructed highways, hospitals, concert halls, stadiums, and government buildings.
Building a Resource Base Economy
Climate resilience can be seen as the capacity to seamlessly absorb environmental stresses such as hurricanes, earthquakes and other hazards, yet still persist with regular functioning in the face of these external impacts. This can be achieved by a collaborative effort of strategies.
- The provision of efficient and competitive production of goods and services for both regional and international markets, means that our Region’s people can maximize their talents and resources, thereby leading to greater efficiency and increased profits for all markets. Building partnerships and undertaking research, sharing data, updating our technology and Caribbean resources.
- Collaborative efforts on design decision-making for healthy, safe and smart resilient housing in our urban communities can also help this situation. Furthermore, building climate resilience in transport and telecommunication systems, strengthening the knowledge base for climate change adaptation through urban design, green buildings and improved understanding of climate impacts and risks, will boost green advocacy in the Caribbean.
- Urban agriculture will improve the nutrition and livelihoods of poor families, planting on roofs and making edible walls will feed many families in the community. Vetiver grass is highly efficient in soil stabilization, erosion control and natural sustainable urban drainage systems. Retention ponds, and green spaces will increase climate resilience in rural communities significantly by decreasing rainwater runoff even in heavy rainfall events. Integrating adaptation into urban and environmental strategies and plans will all make our communities more climate resilient.
Trade
Trade between the Caribbean countries (other than Cuba and the Dominican Republic) and the United States has been conducted under special trade arrangements. The Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) (revised 1990) and the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) passed in 2000, which enhances CBERA, provide unilateral duty-free market access for nearly all goods from beneficiary countries. The 2006 Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement Act (HOPE) enhances the current access for certain apparel enjoyed by Haiti under CBTPA.
The Dominican Republic has made good use of the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA/DR). The CARICOM governments do not feel their economies are ready to cope with a CARICOM-U.S. Free Trade Agreement at this time. There are other ways to enhance the arrangements governing U.S.-CARICOM trade.
All CARICOM countries except Suriname are CBERA beneficiaries. However, not all CARICOM beneficiaries are eligible for the additional preferences provided under CBTPA. Only Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago have been designated as fully eligible to receive the enhanced benefits of the CBTPA.
CBERA benefits are limited to merchandise trade, which accounts for a diminishing share of total regional exports. With the exception of Belize, Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, services dominate total exports of individual countries. Therefore, one clear objective in any future trade arrangement should be to provide opportunities to harness and grow the services trade between the United States and CARICOM. Integrated value chains in health, education, and business services processing could benefit employment and international competitiveness in both the United States and the Caribbean.