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No events for this month.
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CCCCC Mission Statement:
Through its role as a Centre of Excellence, the Centre will support the people of the Caribbean as they address the impact of climate variability and change on all aspects of economic development through the provision of timely forecasts and analyses of potentially hazardous impacts of both natural and man-induced climatic changes on the environment, and the development of special programmes with create opportunities for sustainable development.
Introduction:
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre coordinates the Caribbean region’s response to climate change. Officially opened in August 2005, the Centre is the key node for information on climate change issues and on the region’s response to managing and adapting to climate change in the Caribbean.
It is the official repository and clearing house for regional climate change data, providing climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States through the CARICOM Secretariat. In this role, the Centre is recognised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other international agencies as the focal point for climate change issues in the Caribbean. It has also been recognised by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) as a Centre of Excellence, one of an elite few. This reputation is a major honour for the Centre, and it should be a great source of pride for the people of the Caribbean as well.
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Caribbean States Unite in Song to Promote the Climate Change Position of Small Islands
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The threat to small island states being posed by climate change is the focus of a song commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the CARICOM Secretariat.
Entitled "1.5 To Stay Alive"", the song is written and performed by Barbadian performance poet Adisa "AJA" Andwele. AJA is also the UNDP Spokesperson for Peace and Poverty Eradication for Barbados and the OECS.
The theme of the song refers to the Centigrade degree limit to which global surface temperatures can rise before Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are severely compromised in their ability to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), of which Caribbean islands are members, and the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) joined to form a coalition of about 80 countries demanding that global efforts be concentrated on keeping temperature increases under 1.5°C to lessen the devastating impacts on these highly vulnerable countries.
These impacts include sea level rise with accompanying coastal erosion and destruction of coastal infrastructure, damage or death to coral reefs and fisheries, saline intrusion into aquifers thus diminishing freshwater supplies, and more intense hurricanes and storm surges. The continued social and economic survival and environmental integrity of these countries, particularly low-lying islands such as the Bahamas, which face the possiblity of complete inundation, is questioned as their risk and exposure increase. The AOSIS Declaration on Climate Change, agreed at their High-level Summit on Climate Change in September this year, in addition to the 1.5°C limit, also calls for peaking of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2015 with subsequent decline, and long term stabilisation of atmospheric concentrations below 350ppm (parts per million) of carbon dioxide. It is a position that was earlier enunciated by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the Liliendaal Declaration on Climate Change and Development which they issued after their Summit in July this year.
AJA’s poetic lyrics bring to the fore with vivid imagery the fears and concerns of people living on small islands. Some of these impacts are already being experienced and threatening the homes and livelihoods of these populations. As leaders of developed and larger developing nations are currently proposing to commence climate change negotiations around 2°C, others are adamant that this cannot be the level of minimum acceptable risk since it ignores the human rights of millions at the outset. As President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives asserted at the AOSIS Summit that the resulting massive losses for some SIDS would be tantamount to “mass murder” as it gives little hope for their survival.
Forming the culmination of the Bali Road Map charted in December 2007, these negotiations will occur at the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP XV) in Copenhagen, Denmark from 7-18 December 2009. This meeting will be attended by world leaders with the intention of agreeing to various mechanisms to succeed the Kyoto Protocol formed in 1998. This Protocol set targets for Annex I countries (mainly developed or industrialised nations) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. In Copenhagen leaders will aim to establish commitments for greenhouse gas reduction in a post-2012 Kyoto regime. Many opposing positions are arising during the meetings leading up to COP XV, including the proposal by some developed countries that emissions reduction targets also be imposed on developing countries while some developing states argue that this would be detrimental to their developmental progress.
"1.5 To Stay Alive" is written in the rapso tradition, which combines poetry performed to calypso and other rhythms from the Caribbean. The song also features the dynamic vocals of Barbadian singer, iNDRANi. With support from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and in conjunction with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), UNDP is assisting CARICOM leaders in their preparations for Copenhagen as they solidify their unified position to be presented at COP XV. This song demonstrates part of these regional efforts to promote more ambitious, fair and effective global action on climate change.
It can be downloaded for free at www.myspace.com/mousikeproductions. In addition, it can be accessed at the websites of the respective organizations as follows: http://www.bb.undp.org, http://www.caricom.org, or http://caribbeanclimate.bz
For further information about this project, please contact:
Dr Reynold Murray, Programme Manager, Energy and Environment
UNDP Barbados and the OECS, UN House, Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados
Telephone: +1 246 467 6000 ext 6014 Email: -email-
Ms Ingrid Prince
CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana
Telephone: + 592 592-222-0001-75 Ext
Email: -email-
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Climate challenge for Caribbean
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The figures are daunting.
Annual economic damage from climate change in Caribbean Community (Caricom) member countries has been estimated at around US$11 billion by 2080, or 11 percent of the grouping's gross domestic product.
Nearly a fifth of the losses is likely to be linked to the specific effects of sea-level rise - loss of land, and damage to tourism infrastructure, housing, buildings, and other infrastructure.
That estimated bill from the World Bank is one the factors that led Caricom leaders to issue a lengthy statement on climate change after their 2-5 July summit in Guyana.
The Caribbean region is among the regions said by scientists to be most at risk from the effects of global warming.
A report by the bank last year said the top 10 countries, in terms of population affected, that could experience the most serious damage include Suriname, Guyana and the Bahamas.
[ Read the rest ... ]
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Second global Online Conference on Climate Change calls for Papers
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Up to one million users from all over the world discuss climate change on the
internet / Call for papers by Hamburg’s University of Applied Sciences
When scientists from all over the world talk about climate change, it often causes
unnecessary CO2 emissions due to air travel and air-conditioned hotels. The Faculty of Life Sciences of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences therefore hosts “Climate 2009”, the second worldwide climate conference on the internet, which is guaranteed climate-friendly:
http://www.climate2009.net/
Enter this platform from 2nd to 6th November 2009 and read about new projects and innovative initiatives being undertaken in both industrialised and developing countries. Up to one million users from all over the world are expected to participate in “Climate 2009”. “Our climate conference is an important step into the future”, says Professor Walter Leal, chair of the congress. “We must use technology in order to preserve the climate.”
The patron of the conference is the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Dr. Michael Jarraud. Renowned partners of “Climate 2009” are the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
The conference introduces you to the latest findings on scientific research on climate change and focuses on economic, social and political aspects of climate change. The hosts of the conference expect more than 100 papers to be submitted; photos and graphs will illustrate the texts. Special discussion fora and chat rooms will provide direct interaction with the participating scientists. The
congress will be held in English and German.
Besides publication throughout the conference week from 2.-6. November 2009, the best English papers will be considered for publication in the "International Journal of Climate Change Studies and Management" and/or the book publication "Social, economic and political aspects of Climate Change". We would welcome the chance to review a paper from you. Visit the conference home page at http://www.climate2009.net/ to send in your abstract and get a first glimpse of what the purely virtual conference is all about. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 30/4/2009.
The success of last year’s conference encouraged the hosts to hold yet another
worldwide event. In 2008, the conference was the world's first online scientific
meeting on climate change and had more than one million page impressions with
participants from over 162 countries. Like last year, the conference promises intriguing discussions: Santiago de Chile’s University presented its project on environmental education, Vietnamese scientists described the effects of forest clearance and German researchers introduced their estimations for future energy demand until 2050.
Participants from the scientific, business and political community as well as interested citizens are invited to submit their papers until 30 April 2009. All papers will be reviewed by the scientific committee.
Facts about “Climate 2009”:
- http://www.climate2009.net/
- 2nd to 6th November 2009
- Held by Faculty of Life Sciences of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
- Conference chair: Professor Walter Leal
- Deadline for papers: 31st March 2009
Further information
Conference chair / Organizers
The Research and Transfer Centre "Applications of Life Sciences" of the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
was established in August 2007 and is headed by Professor Walter Leal. As a research and development institute,
the centre offers local, national and international project-related approaches to solving problems primarily in the
field of Life Sciences (including biotechnology, medical engineering, pharmacology and environmental protection
technology) as well as superordinate topics such as energy, climate protection and sustainability.
Contact
Franziska Mannke
Research and Transfer Centre "Applications of Life Sciences", Faculty of Life Sciences
Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
Lohbruegger Kirchstraße 65, 21033 Hamburg, Germany
Tel.: +49-40-42875-6324, Fax : +49-40-42875-6499
e-mail: -email-
www.haw-hamburg.de/ftz-als.html
[Submitted by fmannke]
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Guidelines for authors/contributors to the upcoming publication in the Integrationist Series: CARICOM Policy Options for International Engagement
A.Book outline:
The book will consist of 7 Sections as summarized below. Each paper is not expected (and should not attempt) to address all of the issues identified in each section. The authors are encouraged to submit a brief outline of his or her paper to the UWI-CARICOM Project once conceptualized to indicate what issues within the Section selected his or her paper will address.
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CARIBBEAN TOURISM ORGANIZATION
has a vacancy for a
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PRODUCT SPECIALIST
The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is seeking a Sustainable Tourism Product Specialist who will be responsible for the coordination and implementation of projects and activities, which will help to increase tourism revenue in CTO member countries by encouraging the growth, quality, competitiveness and sustainability of the Caribbean tourism product.
[ Read the rest ... ]
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