Climate risk costly for Caribbean countries

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COPENHAGEN, Denmark, December 9, 2009 – The Caribbean countries of Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti and the Dominican Republic last year recorded losses of US$254 million and 62 deaths due to extreme weather events, including storms, floods and heat waves, all associated with climate change.

That’s according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2010 report launched by Germanwatch this week at the United Nations Climate change meeting in Copenhagen. The Climate Risk Index 2010 is based on figures from 2008 and also an analysis of the worldwide data collection on losses caused by weather events from 1998 – 2008. Germanwatch is an independent non-government organization that focuses on international issues, such as trade, environment and the relationship between developed and developing countries.

It ranked Haiti as the 24th most vulnerable country in 2008, but 22nd over the 1998-2008 period. Haiti had losses of US$54 million or 0.4 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while 316 persons died as a result of the weather events.

The Dominican Republic ranked 50th in 2008 but 27th between 1998 and 2008. About 15 persons died during weather events in 2008 and losses were about US$65 million or 0.04 per cent of GDP.

While Antigua and Barbuda had no deaths from storms, floods and heat waves in 2008, they still had losses of US$38 million or five per cent of their GDP. The country was ranked 53rd in 2008 and 58 during the decade.

At the same time 13 Jamaicans died due to weather related events in 2008, resulting in a 21st ranking. Nine per cent of the Jamaican GDP or US$22 million was lost due to weather related events.

“The Climate Risk Index thus indicates a level of exposure and vulnerability to extreme events which countries should see as a warning signal to prepare for more severe events in future,” the Germanwatch report said. The rankings under the Climate Risk Index were done only for the 192 countries that are part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

According to Germanwatch, the Index underlined the need for the current climate summit to step in and help the especially vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change.

"It is first and foremost the duty of industrialized countries to implement an adaptation framework for the most vulnerable developing countries,” said Christopher Bals, Political Director at Germanwatch in a press release. “One key element should be an internationally financed insurance mechanism for those countries at risk, financed primarily by those who have caused climate change."

His statement was supported by Saleemul Huq, adaptation expert from the Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

"The Germanwatch Climate Risk Index clearly shows the devastating impacts of extreme weather events on many poor countries, including my own (Bangladesh). What is remarkable is that many of these countries are already taking action now to prepare for the effects of climate change; they are not just sitting back and waiting,” he said.

“Nevertheless the richer countries have a clear legal and moral responsibility to scale-up adaptation finance, in addition to their commitments to provide development aid of 0.7 percent of their Gross National Income."

The report also recommended some outcomes that Germanwatch would want to see coming out of the Copenhagen meeting including the provision of near term financing (2010 - 2012) for vulnerable countries to deal with urgent adaptation needs and building their capacity for comprehensive national responses.

The UN climate conference is being billed as the largest and most important climate change conference in history as it is hoped that the 192 countries present will formulate a binding global agreement to replace the current agreement, the Kyoto Protocol. The first phase of agreement of the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end in 2012 and a new agreement on climate change needs to be in place by then. (Supplied by Panos Caribbean)

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