Transcript Impact of Climate Change on the Coastal Areas of Jamaica

The impact of Climate Change on Coastal Areas in Jamaica:
The importance of Coastal Zone Management
Ms. Leiska Powell
The University of the West Indies and
Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre
Conference
Climate Change: Impacts on the Caribbean
June 15-17
The Impact of Climate Change on the
Coastal Areas of Jamaica: The Importance
of Coastal Zone Management
Presentation by Leiska Powell
Outline of Presentation
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What is causing climate and impacts
What are coastal zones?
Importance of Coastal Areas is Jamaica
Impact of Climate Change on Jamaica’s Coastal
Areas
Integrated Coastal Planning and Management
Case Study: Barbados
Conclusion
What is causing Climate Change?
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GHGs such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane and
CFCs trap heat radiating from the earth’s
surface
These GHGs prevent the heat from
immediately escaping into space.
The part of the atmosphere that is closest to
the earth’s surface warms, resulting in Global
Warming.
Impacts Resulting from Climate
Change
The impacts are expected to include the following:
 Average temperature rise in the region of
approximately 3ºC by 2080
 Average sea level rise of 5 mm/year over the
next century
 Increased intensity and potentially increased
frequency of extreme weather events such as
hurricanes
 Changing patterns of rainfall
Critical Facts
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SIDS account for less than 1% of GHG
emissions (IPCC, 2001).
However, SIDS are among the most vulnerable
to the potential adverse effects of climate
change and sea level rise.
This is because SIDS are :
1. Ecological Fragile
2. Small in size
3.Geographic dispersion
Critical Facts Cont’d
4. Vulnerability to natural disasters
5. Limited natural resources
6. Isolation from markets
7. Limited commodities and dependence on
imports
8. Vulnerability to external economic and
financial shocks.
What are Coastal Zones?
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Define using two approaches:
1. Physical- It views the coast from a spatial perspective,
incorporating all those areas that drain out to the sea and , those
that are periodically inundated by tides …This definition
embraces the coastal watersheds, plains and shoreline; the
rivers, and wetlands that drain them; and the beaches,
seagrass beds, reefs and other marine formations.
2. Stresses relationships and interaction that are linked by
physical, biological or human interactions as a result of tides,
drainage, waste discharge, storms, resource utilization etc.
Benefits that Coastal Ecosystems
Provide
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Provide benefits under four categories:
1. Regulating- protection of shores from storm
surges and waves; prevention of erosion and water
quality maintenance.
2. Provisioning- fisheries, medicines and construction
materials.
3. Cultural- tourism and recreation, spiritual and
aesthetic appreciation.
4. Supporting- cycling of nutrients, fish nursery
habitat.
Importance of Coastal Areas in
Jamaica
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It is a source of livelihood
Generates millions of dollars- eg. Tourism [foreign
exchange earnings in 2000 estimated at US$1332.6m
and approx. 20% (directly and indirectly ) of employed
labour force].
As a result, approx. 2/3 of the population live in coastal
towns and cities and most commercial and industrial
activities are concentrated along the coast.
Cont’d
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However, coastal ecosystems undergo stress
from competing multi-usage demands often
result in conflicts and the destruction of the
functional integrity of the resource system.
Degradation of coastal resources can increase
Jamaica’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate
change.
Therefore, the marine environment should be
incorporated into development planning
agendas.
Impact of Climate Change on Jamaica’s
Coastal Areas
Change Factor
Potential Impacts on the Coast
1. Flooding and inundation of low lying areas and coastal communities
2. Dislocation of coastal communities
3. Land loss
Sea Level Rise
4. Saltwater intrusion
1. Increased coastal erosion and damage to coastal infrastructure and
buildings
2. Loss of Tourism Investments and subsequent negative impact on
employment
3. Increased likelihood of flooding
Hurricanes/
Storm Surge
Temperature
Rainfall
4. Increased risk to human life and risk of infectious disease
5. Damage to coastal resources such as coral reefs, seagrasses and
mangroves
1. Coral bleaching from higher sea surface temperatures
1. Increased rainfall duration/intensity may result in higher incidence
of flooding
Selected Hurricanes in the Caribbean
and their Impact- 1988-2005
Hurricane
Year
Country
Impact (GDP %)
Gilbert
1988
Jamaica
65
Hugo
1989
Monsterrat
200
Debbie
1994
St.Lucia
18
Luis and Marilyn
1995
Antigua
65
Luis and Marilyn
1995
St.Kitts and Nevis
85
George
1998
St.Kitts and Nevis
50 (sugar Harvest)
Lenny
1999
Barbuda
95
Michelle
2001
Jamaica
1
Ivan
2004
Grenada
200
Ivan
2004
Jamaica
8
Dennis and Emily
2005
Jamaica
1
Impacts of Hurricane Ivan
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Hurricane Ivan impacted on 8% of the
country’s GDP.
All productive sectors – agriculture and
livestock, manufacturing, mining and tourism etc
were affected.
Agricultural Sector- US$137.9 mi in damages.
Approx. 8,000 farmers were out of work during
the recovery phase as their farms were damaged.
Tourism Sector- US$25.7 mi damage and losses.
Total damage and losses caused by Hurricane
Ivan – US$595 mi
Integrated Coastal Planning and
Management (ICPM)
ICPM is dynamic process in which a
coordinated strategy is developed and
implemented for the allocation of
environmental, socio-cultural and institutional
resources to achieve the conservation and
sustainable use of the coastal zone
(Sorensen, 1993).
It is an evolutionary and iterative process
Responds to changing conditions-effects of
climate change
Goals of ICPM
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The goals of ICPM are to :
1. promote sustainable development of
coastal areas
2. reduce the vulnerability of the coastal
zone and their people to hazards
3. maintain essential ecological processes, life
support systems and biological diversity.
Functions of ICPM Unit/Agency
1.
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3.
Area Planning- plan for present and future
uses of coastal and marine areas, that is, longterm vision.
Promotion of Economic Developmentpromote appropriate uses of coastal and
marine area eg. tourism
Stewardship of Resources-protect the
ecological base of coastal and marine areas e.g.
preserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable
use
Functions of ICPM Unit Cont’d
4. Conflict Resolution- harmonize and balance
existing and potential uses and address conflict
among the various uses.
5. Protection of Public Safety- protect public
safety in coastal areas typically prone to nat. as
well as human made hazards.
6. Proprietorship of Public Submerged Lands
and Waters-manage govt. held areas and
resources wisely.
ICPM Unit- Barbados
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ICPM Unit was established in 1996, was seen as
1. best way for maintaining effective management of
the coastline
2. crucial to Barbados surviving climate change
impacts.
Examples of the functions performed by the Unit –
coral reef monitoring, enforcement of building setbacks and zoning of ecologically sensitive areas, public
education, beach erosion monitoring and control and
review of coastal projects etc.
Results Achieved
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Preparation of an Integrated Coastal
Management Plan for the entire island.
Training in key specialist areas- coastal
engineering, GIS, hydrographic surveying.
A variety of oceanographic, coastal and
ecological monitoring programmes established.
Design and implementation of appropriate
solutions to deal with beach and coastal erosion
problems etc.
Conclusion
Relationship between Economy, Society and Environment
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is a close relationship between the ecological,
economic and social systems.
Global climate change will impact on all these systems
As such, to maximize flexibility and enhance resilience and
adaptation, appropriate policies and national planning much
integrate all three (3) systems.
Recommendations
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Need to establish an Integrated Coastal Planning
and Management Unit.
Updating Development Orders for the Coastal
Zone
Enforcement of Coastal Setback Distances
Thank You