Thursday, September 23 – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour and the Conservation and Fisheries Department in collaboration with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) has wrapped up their third two-day Climate Change Stakeholder Consultation at Treasure Isle Hotel under the Enhancing Capacity for Adaptation to Climate Change in the UK Caribbean Overseas Territories (ECACC) Project.
Speaking during Tuesday’s opening, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Mr. Clyde Lettsome, welcomed participants, “Your presence is much appreciated and it speaks of your commitment and demonstrates foresight and dedication to the well being of this country.”
“The ECACC Project is very significant for the Virgin Islands because for the first time it has turned our attention to the issue of climate change in a very direct and focused way,” said Mr. Lettsome.
“When the Project wraps up, we should have a Climate Change Adaptation Policy and Strategy which will be the key step in guaranteeing our security in a changing climate,” the Permanent Secretary further said.
Environmental Officer and Climate Change Coordinator and one of the Consultation’s presenters, Ms. Angela Burnett Penn, speaking at the opening said that, “The objectives of the consultation are to review stakeholder comments on the Virgin Islands Climate Change Green Paper; identify and prioritise viable policy options to minimise the local impacts of climate change; identify key steps in the policy development process; review ongoing Public Education and Outreach (PEO) activities under the ECACC Project and plan appropriate PEO activities targeted at the Executive to support the development and eventual adoption of the proposed Virgin Islands Climate Change Policy (White Paper) and to initiate its drafting.”
The Stakeholder Consultation was facilitated and featured presentations by adaptation strategy and vulnerability assessment specialists Mr. George de Berdt Romilly and Mr. Ottis Joslyn of the CCCCC.
Over 30 stakeholders represented a cross-section of public, private, civil, and social entities with expertise in the environment, tourism, agriculture, health, energy, critical infrastructure, disaster management, and insurance and banking. Topics explored during the Consultation included predicted changes in climate, including temperature rise, more frequent floods, stronger hurricanes and sea level rise, the associated local impacts, policy interventions for priority impacts, options for funding responses to climate change, and the proposed Overseas Territories Declaration on Climate Change.
On Monday September 20, 2010 a public meeting was held at the Central Administration Complex Breezeway to discuss the same issues.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is the government arm responsible for the sustainable management of the Territory’s natural resources and the environment. It endeavours to design, develop and deliver programmes that will protect and conserve the unique ecological features of environment.
