The government is inviting members of the public to attend a meeting on Wednesday, 25 May, to discuss the ongoing climate change risk assessment being carried out across all three islands.
Representatives from two United Kingdom agencies – the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) – which are working with the government on the assessment report, are currently on island to facilitate the public meeting and to take part in a two-day technical workshop with individuals from the public sector, non-governmental agencies and academia.
Premier Wayne Panton, who is also minister of sustainability and climate resiliency, said in a press release announcing Wednesday’s meeting, that the climate change risk assessment is a critical first step in reviewing and updating the Cayman Islands’ Climate Change Policy.
“Climate risk assessments identify the likelihood of future climate hazards and their potential impacts on our three islands and our communities,” Panton said. “This local process is fundamental to updating our climate change policy and developing a robust strategy, with clear priorities for mitigation, adaptation and investment action in the Cayman Islands,” said Panton.
“We are grateful to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for their support, and to the visiting scientists from Cefas and UKCEH for their guidance and expertise.”
Cayman currently has no climate change policy. In 2011, the National Climate Change Committee drew up a draft policy, titled ‘Achieving a Low Carbon Climate-Resilient Economy’, but that policy was never enacted. At the moment, the only official policy that mentions climate change in Cayman is the National Energy Policy, which seeks to limit per capita carbon emissions to 2014 levels and achieve 70% renewable energy in Cayman by 2037.
Initial report drawn up
Following “extensive desktop research”, Cefas and UKCEH have now drafted an ‘evidence report’ that offers “the most detailed assessment of climate change impacts ever undertaken for the Cayman Islands”, according to this week’s press release.
From this report, Cefas has compiled a ‘long-list’ of 52 key risks and opportunities related to biodiversity and habitats, the economy and society.
“Over the course of a two-day technical workshop, local stakeholders and regional experts will review, score and rank this list to inform a final report which is expected to be completed by September 2022,” the release stated.
John Pinnegar, Cefas principal scientist and lead advisor on climate change, said the assessment is an important step to building local resiliency, and follows on from previous work that was carried out for the Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership which looked at ocean and marine climate change threats facing all the British Overseas Territories.
“The Cayman Islands will face many challenges in the future, including more frequent coral bleaching events, changes to the abundance and distribution of key fishery species – this assessment will help the Government identify the most pressing risks in order to build resilience,” Pinnegar said.
UKCEH Project Manager Christopher Barry added, “This collaboration across land, sea and water is crucial for understanding the complex challenges that climate change presents for both people and nature in the Cayman Islands, and we look forward to discussing these findings with its stakeholders.”
UK funding
The UK government has made CI$123,250 in funding available – facilitated through the office of Governor Martyn Roper – to carry out the assessment report.
Roper said in the release, “I am pleased that colleagues from the Centre for Environment Fisheries & Aquaculture Science and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology are able to visit in person to carry out the workshop which will see stakeholders with a variety of expertise come together to identify key climate change risks.
“I know there is much interest in this initiative so I encourage the community to attend the public meeting or to take part in the survey and make your contribution to this important initiative which will benefit everyone across the Cayman Islands.”
The public meeting will be held from 6pm to 7:30pm, on Wednesday, 25 May, at Constitution Hall (formerly the Town Hall) in George Town.
The UK experts and representatives from Cayman’s Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency will also be featured on Radio Cayman at 1pm on Tuesday, 24 May.
Later this week, the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency will launch a public questionnaire to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices related to climate change in the Cayman Islands.
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