Climate change, disaster management workshop launched in Dominica

Participants of the workshop
Participants of the workshop

A two-day consultative workshop geared at mainstreaming climate change adaptation into comprehensive disaster management has been launched in Dominica.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop on Thursday, Lyndon Robertson, Program Officer at Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), pointed out it is his hope that a draft climate smart plan for the island will be created at the end of the consultation.

“We are increasingly faced with man made disasters in terms of chemical disasters, fires … in this era we have to be conscious of climate change,” he said.

According to him projections show that there will be an increase in the number of disasters affecting the region thus climate change adaptation is the way forward.

“The initiative of comprehensive disaster management evolved in the region since 2001 and has been enhancing and advancing since then,” he said.

The Objectives of the consultation include developing an awareness of climate change and its impacts at the national level including existing development challenges, vulnerabilities and future risks focusing on hydro-meteorological hazards and events.

It will also identify existing and alternative adaptation options for disaster risk reduction nationally and sector level and gaps in current capacities. It aim to prioritise and sequence viable adaptation options into entry points and actions that build on the current comprehensive disaster management country work programme framework for disaster risk reduction and integrate climate change considerations into a draft climate smart Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) and Comprehensive Work Program (CWP) for Dominica.

Topics to be covered include an overview of the guidance tool for mainstreaming climate change adaptation, review of the current CWP and enhancement beyond 2012, climate change impacts in Dominica, adaptation options and entry points in the CWPs, among others.

Presentations will be made by the Ministry of Finance, the Environmental Coordinating Unit, and the Office of Disaster management and by Lyndon Robertson and Sherrod James from the CDEM.

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3 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    November 7, 2013

    We need the data to back our claims of Climate Change.

    If we take a close look at the weather pattern for this year (2013), the rainfall compares favourably with that of 1975 (especially the month of January). The question to be answered is: are we experiencing Climate Change or a cyclical condition?

    Since Scientists do not all agree on what exactly is Climate Change, should this workshop clarify things for the Dominican public?

    • Britbob
      November 8, 2013

      Try not to buy into the vocal oil company funded obfuscation over the reality of climate change. It is real, and undeniable. All the recognized peer reviewed science tells us it is real and man made. And don’t let this seasons quiet hurricane season lull you into a false sense of security . Climate Change doesn’t work that way. You have to look at trends over decades and those trends are very clear http://www.climate4you.com/ClimateReflections.htm
      Of course Dominica as a country doesn’t contribute very much to the problem (although we can do our bit to reduce the human global carbon footprint) but mitigation of the effects is extremely important for us. 90% of our population live within 1/2 mile of the coast which is in danger of flooding from rising sea levels and hurricane storm surge. Our crops are going be be devastated more severely , more frequently as time passes. Our hotel and housing stock , if not properly designed, is going to be severely affected. Make no mistake, climate change is a real issue for us and not to pay attention is irresponsible in the extreme.

      • Anonymous
        November 20, 2013

        You have evaded the question. I am sure from your contribution you are able to read. Now try to be factual. What does the data for Dominica show?

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