2.3
Climate Injustice
Greater Caribbean countries have contributed little to the climate crisis but are bearing the brunt of its impacts.
2.3
Climate Injustice
Greater Caribbean countries have contributed little to the climate crisis but are bearing the brunt of its impacts.
2.3
Climate Injustice
Greater Caribbean countries have contributed little to the climate crisis but are bearing the brunt of its impacts.
Greater Caribbean countries have contributed less than 5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Contributions from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are even more negligible, at less than 1%. Yet, the Greater Caribbean is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions.
Greater Caribbean countries have contributed less than 5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Contributions from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are even more negligible, at less than 1%. Yet, the Greater Caribbean is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions.
Greater Caribbean countries have contributed less than 5% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. Contributions from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are even more negligible, at less than 1%. Yet, the Greater Caribbean is one of the most climate-vulnerable regions.
Figure 1
Latin America and the Caribbean share of global net anthropogenic GHG emissions (1990 - 2019)
Source: Figure 2.9 in Dhakal, S., et al., (2022) Emissions Trends and Drivers. In IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change[P.R. Shukla, et al., (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA.
Figure 1
Latin America and the Caribbean share of global net anthropogenic GHG emissions (1990 - 2019)
Source: Figure 2.9 in Dhakal, S., et al., (2022) Emissions Trends and Drivers. In IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change[P.R. Shukla, et al., (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA.
Figure 1
Latin America and the Caribbean share of global net anthropogenic GHG emissions (1990 - 2019)
Source: Figure 2.9 in Dhakal, S., et al., (2022) Emissions Trends and Drivers. In IPCC, 2022: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change[P.R. Shukla, et al., (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA.
Sea-level rise, ocean acidification, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, and extreme heat are some of the top climate hazards that are threatening the region and testing the resilience of both its natural environment and communities.
Sea-level rise, ocean acidification, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, and extreme heat are some of the top climate hazards that are threatening the region and testing the resilience of both its natural environment and communities.
Sea-level rise, ocean acidification, hurricanes, flooding, droughts, and extreme heat are some of the top climate hazards that are threatening the region and testing the resilience of both its natural environment and communities.
The region endures the highest cost of disasters as a share of its economy compared to all other regions of the world.
The region endures the highest cost of disasters as a share of its economy compared to all other regions of the world.
The region endures the highest cost of disasters as a share of its economy compared to all other regions of the world.
Hurricanes are by far the costliest climate hazard. With rising ocean temperatures, hurricanes have increased in intensity and size. On average, Caribbean SIDS suffer yearly losses from storm damages equivalent to 17% of their GDP. [1]
When Hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall in the eastern Antilles island chain in 2017, the damages exceeded USD 5.4 billion for 5 of the 11 countries affected, a staggering amount for small island states. [2] It was the first time that two storms of this magnitude hit the region in a single year. Hurricane Maria alone caused damages in Dominica equivalent to 226% of its GDP, arriving only two years after Hurricane Erika, which exacted a cost of 92% of its GDP. [3]
Recovery from hurricanes is painstakingly slow. Impacted countries are often dealing with the fallout of one hurricane when another hits. [4]
Hurricanes are by far the costliest climate hazard. With rising ocean temperatures, hurricanes have increased in intensity and size. On average, Caribbean SIDS suffer yearly losses from storm damages equivalent to 17% of their GDP. [1]
When Hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall in the eastern Antilles island chain in 2017, the damages exceeded USD 5.4 billion for 5 of the 11 countries affected, a staggering amount for small island states. [2] It was the first time that two storms of this magnitude hit the region in a single year. Hurricane Maria alone caused damages in Dominica equivalent to 226% of its GDP, arriving only two years after Hurricane Erika, which exacted a cost of 92% of its GDP. [3]
Recovery from hurricanes is painstakingly slow. Impacted countries are often dealing with the fallout of one hurricane when another hits. [4]
Hurricanes are by far the costliest climate hazard. With rising ocean temperatures, hurricanes have increased in intensity and size. On average, Caribbean SIDS suffer yearly losses from storm damages equivalent to 17% of their GDP. [1]
When Hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall in the eastern Antilles island chain in 2017, the damages exceeded USD 5.4 billion for 5 of the 11 countries affected, a staggering amount for small island states. [2] It was the first time that two storms of this magnitude hit the region in a single year. Hurricane Maria alone caused damages in Dominica equivalent to 226% of its GDP, arriving only two years after Hurricane Erika, which exacted a cost of 92% of its GDP. [3]
Recovery from hurricanes is painstakingly slow. Impacted countries are often dealing with the fallout of one hurricane when another hits. [4]
Figure 2
Droughts, tropical cyclones, and flooding are frequently experienced climate hazards, with simultaneous and compounding damages.
Question: In the past five years, have the following weather events resulted in damages to homes, buildings, crops or roads?
Costa Rica
Suriname
Colombia
Bahamas
Antigua and Barbuda
Jamaica
Source: GCCMI Survey data, 2024. Based on surveys in 14 communities across 6 countries in the Greater Caribbean region.
Figure 2
Droughts, tropical cyclones, and flooding are frequently experienced climate hazards, with simultaneous and compounding damages.
Question: In the past five years, have the following weather events resulted in damages to homes, buildings, crops or roads?
Costa Rica
Suriname
Colombia
Bahamas
Antigua and Barbuda
Jamaica
Source: GCCMI Survey data, 2024. Based on surveys in 14 communities across 6 countries in the Greater Caribbean region.
Figure 2
Droughts, tropical cyclones, and flooding are frequently experienced climate hazards, with simultaneous and compounding damages.
Question: In the past five years, have the following weather events resulted in damages to homes, buildings, crops or roads?
Costa Rica
Suriname
Colombia
Bahamas
Antigua and Barbuda
Jamaica
Source: GCCMI Survey data, 2024. Based on surveys in 14 communities across 6 countries in the Greater Caribbean region.
Although hurricanes are the costliest hazard in the Greater Caribbean, flooding due to sea-level rise and extreme rainfall is the most widespread and frequent. Over 33 million people in the region have been impacted by floods since 2000. A third of those affected live in Colombia. [5] Flooding has impacted over 20% of Colombia’s population in the last two decades, making it the most flood-affected country in the region. [6]
On the coast, erosion, loss of marine ecosystems and freshwater resources, as well as repeated inundations are causing displacement, loss of property, and infrastructure damage. Inland flooding leaves soil saturated, reducing crop yields and weakening trees. Infrastructure such as homes, roads, and power lines are washed away.
Across the Greater Caribbean, rainfall is projected to increase in intensity in punctual events, while decreasing in overall amount per year. This new reality means that in addition to floods, droughts will also become more severe.
The 2014-2016 drought in Central America was deemed the worst on record. Countries in the Dry Corridor of Central America were particularly devastated. 3.5 million people required humanitarian assistance. [7]
Flooding and droughts are increasingly likely to occur in the same hotspots. Communities in Barranquilla, Colombia, reported that a combination of flash floods from intense rainfall events and prolonged drought periods have ravaged the soil and destroyed the production capacity of farmers.
Although hurricanes are the costliest hazard in the Greater Caribbean, flooding due to sea-level rise and extreme rainfall is the most widespread and frequent. Over 33 million people in the region have been impacted by floods since 2000. A third of those affected live in Colombia. [5] Flooding has impacted over 20% of Colombia’s population in the last two decades, making it the most flood-affected country in the region. [6]
On the coast, erosion, loss of marine ecosystems and freshwater resources, as well as repeated inundations are causing displacement, loss of property, and infrastructure damage. Inland flooding leaves soil saturated, reducing crop yields and weakening trees. Infrastructure such as homes, roads, and power lines are washed away.
Across the Greater Caribbean, rainfall is projected to increase in intensity in punctual events, while decreasing in overall amount per year. This new reality means that in addition to floods, droughts will also become more severe.
The 2014-2016 drought in Central America was deemed the worst on record. Countries in the Dry Corridor of Central America were particularly devastated. 3.5 million people required humanitarian assistance. [7]
Flooding and droughts are increasingly likely to occur in the same hotspots. Communities in Barranquilla, Colombia, reported that a combination of flash floods from intense rainfall events and prolonged drought periods have ravaged the soil and destroyed the production capacity of farmers.
Although hurricanes are the costliest hazard in the Greater Caribbean, flooding due to sea-level rise and extreme rainfall is the most widespread and frequent. Over 33 million people in the region have been impacted by floods since 2000. A third of those affected live in Colombia. [5] Flooding has impacted over 20% of Colombia’s population in the last two decades, making it the most flood-affected country in the region. [6]
On the coast, erosion, loss of marine ecosystems and freshwater resources, as well as repeated inundations are causing displacement, loss of property, and infrastructure damage. Inland flooding leaves soil saturated, reducing crop yields and weakening trees. Infrastructure such as homes, roads, and power lines are washed away.
Across the Greater Caribbean, rainfall is projected to increase in intensity in punctual events, while decreasing in overall amount per year. This new reality means that in addition to floods, droughts will also become more severe.
The 2014-2016 drought in Central America was deemed the worst on record. Countries in the Dry Corridor of Central America were particularly devastated. 3.5 million people required humanitarian assistance. [7]
Flooding and droughts are increasingly likely to occur in the same hotspots. Communities in Barranquilla, Colombia, reported that a combination of flash floods from intense rainfall events and prolonged drought periods have ravaged the soil and destroyed the production capacity of farmers.
References
United Nations Development Program (n.d.). After the Rain: The Lasting Effects of Storms in the Caribbean. (n.d.) Retrieved August 13, 2024. https://www.undp.org/latin-america/after-rain-lasting-effects-storms-caribbean
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (2018). Irma and Maria by the Numbers. FOCUS: ECLAC in the Caribbean. (1).
United Nations Development Program (n.d.). After the Rain: The Lasting Effects of Storms in the Caribbean. Retrieved October 16, 2024. https://www.undp.org/latin-america/after-rain-lasting-effects-storms-caribbean
Hsiang, S. M., & Jina, A. S. (2014). The causal effect of environmental catastrophe on long-run economic growth: Evidence from 6,700 cyclones (No. w20352). National Bureau of Economic Research.
CRED / UCLouvain (2024) EM-DAT. www.emdat.be. EM-DAT data for floods and droughts filtered for ACS Member States from 2000 to 2024..
United Nations Office For Disaster Risk Reduction (June, 2023) Overview of Disasters in the Caribbean 2000 - 2022 (34).
Castellanos, E. et. al, (2022). Central and South America. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA
References
United Nations Development Program (n.d.). After the Rain: The Lasting Effects of Storms in the Caribbean. (n.d.) Retrieved August 13, 2024. https://www.undp.org/latin-america/after-rain-lasting-effects-storms-caribbean
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (2018). Irma and Maria by the Numbers. FOCUS: ECLAC in the Caribbean. (1).
United Nations Development Program (n.d.). After the Rain: The Lasting Effects of Storms in the Caribbean. Retrieved October 16, 2024. https://www.undp.org/latin-america/after-rain-lasting-effects-storms-caribbean
Hsiang, S. M., & Jina, A. S. (2014). The causal effect of environmental catastrophe on long-run economic growth: Evidence from 6,700 cyclones (No. w20352). National Bureau of Economic Research.
CRED / UCLouvain (2024) EM-DAT. www.emdat.be. EM-DAT data for floods and droughts filtered for ACS Member States from 2000 to 2024..
United Nations Office For Disaster Risk Reduction (June, 2023) Overview of Disasters in the Caribbean 2000 - 2022 (34).
Castellanos, E. et. al, (2022). Central and South America. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA
References
United Nations Development Program (n.d.). After the Rain: The Lasting Effects of Storms in the Caribbean. (n.d.) Retrieved August 13, 2024. https://www.undp.org/latin-america/after-rain-lasting-effects-storms-caribbean
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (2018). Irma and Maria by the Numbers. FOCUS: ECLAC in the Caribbean. (1).
United Nations Development Program (n.d.). After the Rain: The Lasting Effects of Storms in the Caribbean. Retrieved October 16, 2024. https://www.undp.org/latin-america/after-rain-lasting-effects-storms-caribbean
Hsiang, S. M., & Jina, A. S. (2014). The causal effect of environmental catastrophe on long-run economic growth: Evidence from 6,700 cyclones (No. w20352). National Bureau of Economic Research.
CRED / UCLouvain (2024) EM-DAT. www.emdat.be. EM-DAT data for floods and droughts filtered for ACS Member States from 2000 to 2024..
United Nations Office For Disaster Risk Reduction (June, 2023) Overview of Disasters in the Caribbean 2000 - 2022 (34).
Castellanos, E. et. al, (2022). Central and South America. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New York, NY, USA
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