As the world increasingly faces the effects of climate change, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has warned of the negative impact of the changing weather pattern on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Speaking on Tuesday on behalf of CARICOM, at a meeting of the Group of 77 (G77) developing countries and China, this country’s UN Ambassador, Rhonda King, lamented that many UN-member states are “still not aware” of the “devastating effects of the worst flash floods in recent history caused by unprecedented and torrential rain” in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dominica, and St. Lucia.
Ambassador King said early estimates of the resulting infrastructural damage to St. Vincent and the Grenadines alone are expected to exceed 160 million US dollars.
The envoy said it is “important to note that in 2010 and 2011 unseasonal weather systems wreaked havoc in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and caused millions in damage.
She expressed hope that, under the leadership of Bolivia, which has taken over the chair of the G77 from Fiji, “they will continue to shine a bright light on this issue, which threatens the viability of some of our small island states.”
For its part, Bolivia drew attention to the upcoming Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for Japan in March next.
Bolivia said negotiations on the issue would begin during its chairmanship.
