TWO PUBLIC FORUMS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS EFFECTS BEING HELD IN BELIZE

November 03, 2008

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Center will be hosting two public forums in Belize this week. The first will be held this evening at the UWI Open Campus on Princess Margaret Drive. Dr. Marin Parry, member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us more.

Dr. Marin Parry, Member – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

"We are going to discuss two main things. One is the effects of climate change in Belize and secondly what we need to achieve internationally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions which cause climate change. Also the role that Belize can play in the adaptation and mitigation; which is the word we use to describe green house emissions. Globally it is very important it is going to affect almost every country in the world. The IPCC believes that it is the poor people in the less developed countries that are going to be most affected. In Belize I think the most important effect will be sea water level rise up 2 or 3 feet in the next 60 or 70 years. For a low lying country this is very important, rainfall will also be more intensive and it is going to run off causing more erosion.  Even though rainfall will increase, less rainfall will be easily captured for use; it will fun off rather that peculate into the ground and be available through use in ground water or in reservoirs.”

Apart form the rising of sea levels the warming of the waters in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are also effects of Global warming.

Dr. Marin Parry, Member – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

"There is a clear understanding that the frequency and intensity or hurricanes and tropical depressions is dependent on the temperature of surface water of the oceans. The scientific community understands that warmer temperatures of the sea surfaces such as in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico do affect the intensity the frequency of hurricanes. There is an indication that they are increasing in frequency and intensity. Any particular one such as Katrina and its affects on New Orleans maybe we cannot say at president that it is as result of greenhouse gasses and global warming but over time we will be able to do that.”

Parry mentioned two things that Belizeans can do to alleviate the effects of global warming.

Dr. Marin Parry, Member – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

“There are two ways. One is that Belize as a nation should never underestimate its importance in being able to influence the international debate and agreement which we think we must secure within the next year in the next international negotiations in December of next year. Particularly together with its Caribbean partners and secondly individual Belizeans can influence this by writing to their political representative, senators or your City and Town majors. In a democracy Belizeans should never underestimate the influence they can have. They can also effect change through membership in local conservation societies or buying goods that are sustainable.”

Scientific studies have shown that the earth has warmed by more that one degree Fahrenheit over the past century. Parry said that we can expect another one degree warming which the IPCC believes we cannot avoid; however, we can we can take action to avoid further warming as the effects of climate change are not only scientific but economic as will. The Public Forum will start at 6:30 this evening, the second will be held at the George Price Center in Belmopan tomorrow.

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