EDITOR, The Tribune.
Until I read the letter in Tuesday’s column written by one Porcupine, I was beginning to think that I was alone in being both embarrassed and amused by Rochelle Newbold, our government’s special advisor on climate change, “calling out” (ie begging) “developed countries” (ie white ones) for their supposedly lopsided contribution to global warming.
The “developed” country that Ms Newbold was referring to in this instance was Denmark, which has been ranked as having the highest achievement in terms of climate change policies on earth, followed by Sweden.
In The Bahamas, by contrast, home solar systems were, until very recently, prohibited to protect the monopoly of our gas-guzzling state electricity producer, while successive governments continue to extend the cruise industry (where each vessel accounts for the carbon emissions of 12,000 automobiles) into the remotest parts of our archipelago.
Naturally, then, Denmark’s Carbon Dioxide emissions per capita for 2019 were 5.11 metric tons, while The Bahamas’ for the same year were 7.29 metric tons.
In fact, per capita, Bahamians are worse contributors to climate change than any major western European country apart from Germany, an industrial powerhouse which only slightly edges us out (at 7.91 metric tons per person).
It never ceases to amaze me how ready black governments are to adopt an essentially white supremacist narrative that sees blacks and their societies solely as subjects or victims of events, incapable of responsibility for their condition, while only white people and societies are capable of agency.
It is time we started to take responsibility for ourselves and our own lifestyles on climate change, rather than just jumping on the blame-whitey bandwagon that these empty talking shops have become.
After all, every major study of the effects of climate change has warned that low lying states like The Bahamas will be the first to disappear as polar ice dwindles and seas rise. If that isn’t enough reason to begin practising what we preach on carbon emissions, then we are truly beyond redemption.
ANDREW ALLEN
Nassau,
November 2, 2022.
Comments
themessenger 1 year, 5 months ago
It is not often that I agree with much of what Mr. Allen espouses, however, on this particular subject I concur wholeheartedly.
joeblow 1 year, 5 months ago
... people continue to draw false equivalencies between "rising" CO2 levels and so called climate change, choosing to overlook earths geological record of changing climates. One has nothing to do with the other. Rising CO2 leves are a results of interrupting the normal cycle of CO2 capture by deforestation. The interglacial period we are in is being misinterpreted as something it is not.
Let the negative comments begin!
Porcupine 1 year, 5 months ago
Do you believe that sea level is rising and accelerating? Yes or no? Are the rivers of the world drying up? Yes or no? Will hundreds of millions of people need to move, become migrants, due to flooding, drought and desertification in the next few years? Yes or no? Are these negative comments, or a reality that you refuse to acknowledge?
joeblow 1 year, 5 months ago
... I believe in costal erosion and new island formation from subaquatic volcanic eruptions. I also believe in increased subaquatic volcanic eruptions from tectonic plate movements, some of which are responsible for melting of polar ice. Desertification of places like the Sahara occurred long before there could ever be a claim of "man-made climate change". And that supports the point that earth goes through cycles. Planting more trees will help with the CO2 problem, but man cannot affect the climate. Historical fact! We are still both free to believe what we will based on the evidence we choose to believe!
Porcupine 1 year, 5 months ago
Sorry, Belief and knowledge are two completely different things. I find this everywhere now. Poor education and critical thinking skills have taken over. Can I posit you are religious too?
sheeprunner12 1 year, 5 months ago
Brave has latched on to the belief that climate change will earn the Bahamas "easy money". This is a mistaken idea that he will use to create a narrative to give the citizens false hope of future prosperity .................. Much in the same way that crypto-currency is being peddled as the next great hope.
Much of what Andrew Allen has said about the Bahamas' disingenuous approach to the issue of climate change is true .............. why is it that there are as many cars lined up at every residence as persons who live in that house? On a 21x7 island???????
The Government and the citizens are just paying lip service to changing our lifestyles when it comes to carbon emissions.
DJBarr 1 year, 5 months ago
Just curious, I have lived in a canalfront home for 20 years and I haven't seen any noticeable rise in water level. Where are all these rising sea levels that everyone is talking about?
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