Climate Change Climate Change SymposiumSymposium

Runaway Bay HEART Runaway Bay HEART Academy Academy

Jamaica’s Tourism Jamaica’s Tourism Product and Climate Product and Climate Change InfluencesChange Influences

…………………………………………………………………………………………Presentation by Presentation by

Margaret Jones Williams, PhD, QEPMargaret Jones Williams, PhD, QEPEnvironmental Solutions LimitedEnvironmental Solutions Limited

Kingston 10Kingston 10

What are the Current Global What are the Current Global Challenges?Challenges?

Copenhagen Consensus Challenge Paper of 2004 Copenhagen Consensus Challenge Paper of 2004 lists 10 global challenges:lists 10 global challenges:

1.1. Climate ChangeClimate Change2.2. Communicable DiseasesCommunicable Diseases3.3. ConflictsConflicts4.4. EducationEducation5.5. Financial InstabilityFinancial Instability6.6. Governance and CorruptionGovernance and Corruption7.7. Malnutrition and HungerMalnutrition and Hunger8.8. Population: MigrationPopulation: Migration9.9. Sanitation and WaterSanitation and Water10.10.Subsidies and Trade BarriersSubsidies and Trade Barriers

What is Climate Change?What is Climate Change?

Variation in the average state of Variation in the average state of climate which may persist for an climate which may persist for an extended period of time….usually for extended period of time….usually for decades or longer.decades or longer.

- Increase in ambient temperaturesIncrease in ambient temperatures- Alterations in precipitation patternsAlterations in precipitation patterns- Increasing frequency and intensity of Increasing frequency and intensity of

extreme weather conditionsextreme weather conditions- Sea-level riseSea-level rise

General Effects of Climate General Effects of Climate ChangeChange

• Severe Storms and FloodingSevere Storms and Flooding• Coastal FloodingCoastal Flooding• Longer more severe droughtsLonger more severe droughts• Intensive heat wavesIntensive heat waves• Reduced drinking water resourcesReduced drinking water resources• Rise in sea levelRise in sea level• Spread of insects pests and diseasesSpread of insects pests and diseases• Extinction of plants and animalsExtinction of plants and animals• Changes in precipitation patternsChanges in precipitation patterns

Frequency and IntensityFrequency and Intensity

• The increased frequency and intensity of The increased frequency and intensity of events is evidentevents is evident

• 1980 Hurricane Allen1980 Hurricane Allen• 1988 Hurricane Gilbert1988 Hurricane Gilbert• 2004 Hurricane Ivan2004 Hurricane Ivan• 2005 Hurricanes Dennis, Emily, Katrina 2005 Hurricanes Dennis, Emily, Katrina

and Wilmaand Wilma• 2007 Hurricane Dean2007 Hurricane Dean• 2008 TS Gustav, Hurricane Hannah and 2008 TS Gustav, Hurricane Hannah and

IkeIke

Hundred Year EventsHundred Year Events

•The hundred-year event no The hundred-year event no longer occurs every hundred longer occurs every hundred years.years.

What triggers climate What triggers climate change?change?The increase in ambient temperatures The increase in ambient temperatures

or global warming is considered the or global warming is considered the main factormain factor

Incoming radiation from the sun, hits Incoming radiation from the sun, hits the earth’s surfacethe earth’s surface

Reflected radiation does not all exit Reflected radiation does not all exit the earth’s atmosphere but some of the earth’s atmosphere but some of it is trapped and reflected back to it is trapped and reflected back to the earththe earth

The Greenhouse EffectThe Greenhouse Effect

• Results from gases Results from gases in the atmosphere in the atmosphere which help to trap which help to trap the radiation from the radiation from the sunthe sun

• Water VapourWater Vapour

• Carbon DioxideCarbon Dioxide

• Nitrous OxideNitrous Oxide

• MethaneMethane

Results of Sea Level RiseResults of Sea Level Rise

• Coastal erosionCoastal erosion

• Loss of real estateLoss of real estate

Results of Increased Results of Increased TemperatureTemperature

• Changes in biodiversityChanges in biodiversity

• Coral BleachingCoral Bleaching

• Biological life cyclesBiological life cycles

Assets at Risk- BeachesAssets at Risk- BeachesNegril’s Famous 7 miles of Negril’s Famous 7 miles of White SandWhite Sand

Assets at Risk- Coral ReefsAssets at Risk- Coral Reefs

Assets at Risk- Waterfalls Assets at Risk- Waterfalls Dunn’s River FallsDunn’s River Falls

Assets at Risk- Rivers and Assets at Risk- Rivers and StreamsStreamsRafting on the Rio GrandeRafting on the Rio Grande

Assets at Risk- Recreational Assets at Risk- Recreational WaterWater

Assets at Risk- InfrastructureAssets at Risk- Infrastructure

Damage to Bog Walk Gorge Damage to Bog Walk Gorge after Gustav - Main Route to after Gustav - Main Route to North CoastNorth Coast

Assets at Risk- Water Assets at Risk- Water SupplySupply

Food SecurityFood Security

• Crops that cannot withstand extreme Crops that cannot withstand extreme storm eventsstorm events– CoffeeCoffee– BananasBananas– Vegetables like tomato and lettuceVegetables like tomato and lettuce

• Crops that can withstand extreme Crops that can withstand extreme storm eventsstorm events– SugarcaneSugarcane

Destruction of CropsDestruction of CropsSt. Mary Bananas after St. Mary Bananas after GustavGustav

What are the Climate Change What are the Climate Change issues faced by Parks and issues faced by Parks and

Protected Areas?Protected Areas?• Marine ParksMarine Parks

– Loss of Natural AssetsLoss of Natural Assets•Loss of coastal areas due to inundationLoss of coastal areas due to inundation•Coral bleaching due to increased Coral bleaching due to increased

temperaturestemperatures•Loss of marine habitatsLoss of marine habitats•Destabilization of beaches due to Destabilization of beaches due to

erosionerosion•Destruction of reef due to wave actionDestruction of reef due to wave action•Alterations in species diversityAlterations in species diversity

Discovery BayDiscovery Bay

What are the Climate Change What are the Climate Change issues faced by Parks and issues faced by Parks and

Protected Areas?Protected Areas?

• Loss of Built AssetsLoss of Built Assets– BuildingsBuildings– Infrastructure (sewerage, utilities)Infrastructure (sewerage, utilities)– Transportation NetworkTransportation Network

What are the Climate Change What are the Climate Change issues faced by Parks and issues faced by Parks and

Protected Areas?Protected Areas?• Terrestrial ParksTerrestrial Parks

– Loss of forest coverLoss of forest cover•Loss of habitatLoss of habitat•Alteration of species diversityAlteration of species diversity

– Watershed degradationWatershed degradation•Slope instabilitySlope instability•Sedimentation and Pollution of surface waterSedimentation and Pollution of surface water

– Sea level riseSea level rise• Inundation of coastal areasInundation of coastal areas•Saline intrusion in ground waterSaline intrusion in ground water

Blue MountainsBlue Mountains

WorkshopClimate Change and the Blue

Mountains: Adapting Practices to Ensure

Forest Conservation and Sustainable Development

On the occasion of the visit of HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales in March, 2008 at Holywell, BJCMNP

Climate Change Workshop Climate Change Workshop BJMNPBJMNP

• The purpose of the stakeholders’ seminar was to: – identify likely impacts of climate change on the

BJCMNP– to identify the possible mitigation and adaptive

measures for implementation– to agree on a process and immediate actions

for a coordinated approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation measures that will ensure forest conservation and sustainable development in the Blue Mountains

Issues faced by BJMNPIssues faced by BJMNP

• Deforestation Deforestation

• Unsustainable Agricultural Practices Unsustainable Agricultural Practices e.g. Slash and burn especially of the e.g. Slash and burn especially of the steep slopessteep slopes

• Invasive speciesInvasive species

• Pollution of water resourcesPollution of water resources

Issues faced by BJMNPIssues faced by BJMNP

•Discussions focused on the proposal of Climate Change mitigation and adaptation measures that will ensure forest conservation and sustainable development in the Blue Mountains in four sectors: -

• -agriculture• - tourism• - conservation• - infrastructure

RecommendationsRecommendations

• Valuation - There is a need for environmental Valuation - There is a need for environmental accounting to adequately account for the accounting to adequately account for the value of the forests and its’ conservationvalue of the forests and its’ conservation

• Incentives - Need for developing countries Incentives - Need for developing countries (and people) to be rewarded for conserving (and people) to be rewarded for conserving tropical forests tropical forests

• Community and government participation – Community and government participation – involvement at public and private sector involvement at public and private sector levelslevels

• Setback Regulations for coastal areasSetback Regulations for coastal areas• Secure and elevate infrastructureSecure and elevate infrastructure• Increase reservoir capacity Increase reservoir capacity

Discussion Time !Discussion Time !