The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

CLIMATE change and its impact on health in The Bahamas due to threats such as the rising sea level and greenhouse gases was highlighted at this year’s World Health Day Symposium yesterday.

The Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) hosted a half-day hybrid symposium, in partnership with the University of The Bahamas and the Department of Environmental Planning & Protection.

In a recent publication, the World Health Organisation identified climate change as the single biggest health threat facing humanity, particularly as it relates to the world exceeding the crucial 1.5 Celsius degree climate threshold.

Basil McIntosh, State Minister in the Ministry for the Environment, said that there are some urgent issues that are cause for concern for the country.

He noted that water is becoming more acidic affecting marine life, sea level rise as a result of thermal expansion, in addition to melting ice sheets and glaciers are putting coastal areas at greater risk of erosion and storm surge.

Mr McIntosh said that climate change is leading to many changes in ecosystems, including the coral reefs’ ecosystems, which are home to thousands of species that rely on healthy coral reefs to survive.

“Warming waters lead to coastal bleaching and stronger hurricanes can destroy reefs and cause sea level rise,” he said. “Nearly 60 percent of the population in The Bahamas live in coastal areas, meaning hundreds of people will be impacted by sea-level rise.”

The state minister said some of our islands are predicted to possibly end up at or below sea level and many of our islands are not yet prepared to face climate-related strengths.

“Going forward it is important that we invest in resilient infrastructure that will be able to withstand future risks,” he said.

Rochelle Newbold, special policy advisor for climate change and environmental matters at the Office of the Prime Minister, spoke on the prioritisation of national climate action and the way forward.

She said there is focus on building a more resilient pathway forward.

“As we celebrate World Health Day, we cannot help but reflect on significant public health challenges that our country has experienced over the last three years due to the passage of Hurricane Dorian, and the ongoing COVID pandemic. Both events have resulted in major loss of lives and threaten to collapse our healthcare system and threatened our ability to access basic needs such as food, water and shelter.”

Ms Newbold said the Prime Minister has made it a priority to underscore the impacts of climate change on our vulnerable nation, while supporting the implementation of multi-sectoral approaches to climate action initiatives.

This includes building greater awareness amongst various sectors and industries, and the general population.

“Climate change is not just an environmental problem; it is a societal problem. Climate change impacts health on many levels, it contributes to respiratory issues, and longer dry periods that threaten food and water security,” she explained.

She said climate change influences forest fires and temperature extremes, which are linked to heat stroke. In addition, it also affects the frequency and intensity of hurricanes and their associated storm surges, which are influenced by sea level rise, she stated.

“As The Bahamas is generally characterised as having low elevations, this is a significant concern for the resiliency of our communities, public infrastructure, and existing and future development projects,” said Ms Newbold.

The government will host a regional youth climate conference from July 6 to 8 to provide targeted training that will focus on impacts climate change has on public health.

She stated that additional targeted training action includes greenhouse gas calculations and the sequestration capacities of our natural resources, such as seagrass, mangroves, and forest, which can capture and store greenhouse gases.

“The Office of the Prime Minister is also in support of the development of a national health adaptation plan project, which will specifically speak to vulnerability and the needs of the health sector, as well identification of actions to build greater resilience against climate change,” Ms Newbold said.

“Like this health specific adaptation plan, the government encourages the development of other sectors specific adaptation plans which will assist in building resiliency among all sectors so that no sector is left behind.”