The times are a changing and so is the climate. After a long debate with scientists on both sides defending their arguments, it seems as if those supporting climate change are winning.

Not only are powerful nations such as the United States increasingly making provision for the effects of the changing climate, but others such as Jamaica are gearing up to take advantage of the green money developed nations have identified to assist other nations in making the adjustments.

In Jamaica, for the first time ever, there will be a separation of Climate Change from the Environment with a Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change being established. This is said to be a strategy to focus more attention on the climate-change phenomenon. The Climate Change Unit in the Meteorological Unit is also to be strengthened.

pattern of weather

So what exactly is this climate change thing? Well, climate is the pattern of weather over an extended period of time. Countries, especially islands, are increasingly exposed to problems such as tsunamis, loss of coastline, sea erosion and other difficulties. Overall, the earth is also displaying changes in weather patterns with violent storms becoming more frequent and economies losing billions of dollars owing to environmental damage from these weather events. The impact is felt heaviest on road networks, other infrastructure, as well as the lives lost and the misery experienced by a number of persons.

You may ask, if nature is so powerful, can we fight back? Clearly, scientists, environmentalists and others believe we can. This has led to an increasing focus on the ways and means to lessen the negative impact of human actions on the environment. Some of the most dramatic effects of climate change have been identified as the disappearance of whole or parts of islands under the sea, the loss of glaciers or large sections of ice, changes in weather patterns with large areas experiencing unusual droughts or floods and other unusual weather phenomenon.

Should we take climate change seriously? We should. Apart from the threat of the loss of property, lives, and income, Jamaica needs to position herself to take advantage of the opportunities to benefit from the funds and technical assistance pledged by developed countries to help developing countries deal with the adverse impact of climate change. We should all get on-board.

Ann Marie Rodriques

PeaceWater Services

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