Climate Change Could Put Up to 14% of Bermuda at Risk for Flooding
Today, Premier Ewart Brown presented a new report detailing the impact global climate change will have on Bermuda, unless the international community takes action. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that up to 14% of Bermuda's land area could be at risk of flooding during high tides. Premier Brown:
Climate change threatens the basic elements of life for people around the world – access to water, food supplies, health and our use of our land and the natural environment. If current predictions are on target, it will also affect jobs and livelihoods.
The highlights of this important report for Bermuda include the following:
• Looking forward, up to 14% of Bermuda’s land area could be at risk of flooding during high tides;
• Increasing storm intensity threatens serious flooding, which will be exacerbated by sea level rise;
• There will be increased rainfall, more intense rainstorms, longer periods of drought and larger and more intense but less frequent tropical storms.Such impacts threaten our:
• critical infrastructure including ports, the airport, roads and buildings, electricity and freshwater supply;
• community health and well-being;
• local agriculture and possibly fisheries; and
• our local habitats and wildlife species.Bermuda’s challenge will be for our leaders and our residents to understand and accept the science that supports climate change, be aware of the threats of climate change to Bermuda and for us to come together and effectively plan for our future sustainability by identifying, agreeing and adopting the correct mitigation measures to offset the forecasted threats of this global phenomenon.
The Premier reiterated the call he made at the Copenhagen Summit for international action. Premier Brown noted the need for Bermuda to plan for eventualities and take the lead in the fight against global climate change by following the recommendations int he Sustainable Development Plan. Premier Brown:
You will be aware that Bermuda, as a small island nation, has not made a substantial contribution to the problem that the planet faces with Climate Change, as our greenhouse gas emissions are negligible in global terms. Additionally, Bermuda will not likely make a sizable contribution to the planet’s efforts to effectively plan for and address this subject. Nonetheless, the expected impact of climate change on our island home necessitates effective planning to address these threats to our sustainability...
Bermuda can set an example for other small islands with a coordinated and effective approach to addressing this issue. Such a coordinated approach has already been demonstrated in the compilation of the Sustainable Development Plan and I am confident that we can facilitate a nation-wide understanding of the issue and a comprehensive and realistic strategy that leads to a sustainable future for Bermuda.
Global climate change is real and the time for international action is now. The PLP Government takes this threat seriously and will continue our planning for the eventualities of climate change while simultaneously moving forward with green initiatives and pushing the international community to act.
