One may have wondered if rising sea levels, dying coral reefs and the increase of tropical diseases might eventually overwhelm the Cayman Islands before government ever got around to a discussion about the impact of global warming.
Fortunately, it appears we won’t be in the dark no matter what happens because the Cayman Islands finally seem to be taking global warming seriously.
The Caymanian Compass commends the Cayman Islands Department of Environment for hosting this week’s workshop ‘Preparing for and Adapting to Climate Change in the Caribbean’.
Top researchers from the UK’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research are to present their ideas about global warming and how it may affect us.
Will rising sea levels wash away our three islands? Will global warming lead to epidemics of tropical diseases that will threaten us? What might global warming mean to our tourism product? These are important questions for which we, as a nation, need to seek answers.
It is interesting that the world is rapidly shifting from debate about the reality of global warming to the practical challenge of what should be done.
The conservative position of scepticism has cost the world valuable time.
Even the Bush administration in the United States is less confrontational about the science that supports global warming.
Some major oil companies openly accept climate change after years of denial.
If only action would follow admissions, real progress against global warming might be achieved.
Halting global warming may be beyond the reach of a small nation such as ours, but we do have an obligation to understand as much as possible about the issue and prepare for it as well as we can.
We also commend the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce for inviting three visiting scientists to talk about global warming as it relates to sustainable development in the Cayman Islands.
While we are pleased to see workshops and serious talks taking place in the Cayman Islands, it is important for all of us to understand that this is only a beginning.
A broad and official acknowledgement of this threat would be nothing more than a point from which to launch positive action.
With awareness, the burden of responsibility will grow.
Knowing and failing to act is worse than complete ignorance and, after this week, we can never again claim ignorance.
Related Videos
