Climate resilience: between urgency and action
The Caribbean lives to the rhythm of hurricanes, droughts, coastal erosion and endangered biodiversity. Faced with these threats, the islands are stepping up their efforts to build a local climate resilience. And while the challenges are immense, the solutions are often concrete, quantified and rooted in the local area.
At Richès Karayib with this in mind, we have selected five recent, verified and significant data points that provide a straightforward overview of ecology and sustainability in the region. These figures illustrate the reality of Caribbean climate resilience on a territorial scale.
1ʳᵉ - Dominica, a pioneer in climate resilience
Dominica didn’t just rebuild after the devastating passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017. It took a radical turn by officially pledging to become the first ” climate-resilient nation” in the world.
This green reconstruction program, piloted by the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica, includes reinforced infrastructure, rethought urban planning and integrated renewable energies. A pioneering initiative on a global scale, it makes Dominica a showcase for sustainable development.
93% - Exceptional forest cover in Suriname
With 93% of its territory covered by forests Suriname is one of the most forested countries on the planet. This impressive figure, confirmed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), places this small South American state – culturally and historically Caribbean – at the heart of global climate issues.
Its dense forest acts as a carbon sink essential for regulating the regional climate. Preserving this resource is therefore a vital issue, both for Suriname and for the entire Caribbean region. It is also a central pillar of the Caribbean climate resilience as a whole.
0.58 kg/day - The reality of waste in Haiti
Each Haitian produces an average of 0.58 kg of waste per day or more than 212 kg per year. This may not seem like much, but the problem lies in the collection rate, which has reached a ceiling of 12% only according to the World Bank.
As a result, a large proportion of this waste, often plastic, ends up in the streets, in rivers or on the coast. This situation weakens ecosystems, aggravates health risks and underscores the urgent need for action particularly in high-density areas. These issues are closely linked to the challenges of climate resilience in the Caribbean, particularly in an urban context.
10,000+ corals replanted around the Bahamas
Faced with the rapid degradation of coral reefs, the Bahamas National Trust launched the Reef Rescue program, which has over 10,000 coral reefs in the waters in the archipelago’s waters since 2019.
Reefs play a crucial role in coastal protection, marine biodiversity and the tourism economy. This program is one of the most dynamic in the Caribbean, mobilizing scientists, volunteer divers and local communities to restore these natural barriers weakened by global warming and ocean acidification. This is a concrete lever for Caribbean climate resilience on an ecological scale.
-38% - Alarming fish losses in the region
Between 1984 and 2017, the West Central Atlantic zone which includes the Lesser Antilles, recorded a 38% drop in fish catches according to the FAO and WECAFC.
This dramatic fall is the combined result of overfishing and marine pollution and warming waters. It poses a direct threat to food security and local economies dependent on fishery resources. Climate resilience in the Caribbean therefore also requires sustainable management of marine resources.
A Caribbean of natural riches and exposed vulnerabilities
This panorama of figures shows a Caribbean that is both vulnerable and combative. The environmental challenges are many: global warming, over exploitation of resources, coastal pollution. But the answers are there: they are rooted in the forests of French Guiana, the bold policies of Dominica, the restored coral reefs of the Bahamas, or the daily gestures to reduce waste in Haiti.
Sustainability in the Caribbean cannot be reduced to slogans: it must be measured, analyzed and discussed. These figures, which are sometimes worrying, are also action points. They show that Caribbean climate resilience is built on local realities, community know-how and visionary policies.
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