The earth’s atmosphere has changed significantly. In the course of the 20th century, the temperature increased by 0.74 degrees centigrade. The sea level also rose by 17 cm. Flora and fauna are affected: 20 to 30% of plants and animals are in danger of extinction. And of particular concern is the melting of the polar glaciers at an accelerated rate, which increases the heat of the atmosphere. This has also changed rainfall patterns. In temperate zones, out of season snowfalls and unexpected precipitation have become common, causing flooding sometimes. Concurrently in the tropical zones rainfall is declining, giving way to drought and famine. In these tropical regions access to water has become a question of daily survival, public security, and in many situations, this question has strong political implications, considering that agriculture is compromised and that the food security of many millions of people is at stake. 

The situation of the Caribbean islands is as delicate as in the rest of the world. The rise in sea levels remains the major worry. Global warming, which causes violent weather, hurricanes and cyclones, against which they cannot always do much alone, increases their physical vulnerability and consequently, their economic and financial substantiality. Since the 1970s, hurricanes have become very frequent in the region. They find favourable conditions to grow and spread and often leave behind them a trail of death and destruction.

Global warming is a growing phenomenon, on the planetary scale and over several years, of the average temperature of the oceans and the atmosphere.  This phenomenon is the result jointly of oceanic expansion and of the uncontrolled action of mankind on its environment. The Earth is heating up with the expulsion of the gases it holds. If in the first days of the Earth, warming was necessary for life to flourish (500 millions years of this), today’s warming is excessive. The last ten years have been the hottest of the last 2000 years. This warming is due to the strong increase in the atmosphere of several greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane and nitrogen dioxide.

In general terms, global warming is explained by two types of problems: 1) The hole in the ozone layer; the sun’s rays are not adequately filtered. 2) The excess in carbon dioxide (CO2) In normal doses, CO2 is vital, when there is too much, it heats up the earth with all the pollution that comes with it. When we recognise that the levels of CO2 have increased from 1990 to today, we can imagine the rate of increase in global warming!

Global warming causes the melting of polar glaciers, rises in sea levels, absolute humidity, droughts, precipitations, uncontrolled snow cover, an excess in tornadoes, frequent floods, the disappearance of animal and plant species, the continued increase in temperature and even the complete disappearance of certain terrains in certain countries. In the future we will speak of climate refugees, if the estimated increases in temperatures for the 21st century (an increase of 1.8 to 3.4° C) come to pass.

Today, it is the time for action, considering the extent of the damage already registered and the calamities to come. Fortunately we have begun to become aware of the situation and to take action accordingly. Thus on 24th September 2007, the Secretary General of the United Nations called all the political leaders of the world, Heads of State and of government, to New York, to a high–level meeting, to debate the question. The address by Mr. Ban Ki-moon at the meeting was an emergency call. Basing his speech on the results of scientific research and the observation that we should do all we can with regard to the most dramatically changing ecological phenomena, he then invited the leaders to accept their historical responsibility  asking them to take measures in their sphere of action and influence and to propose solutions to remedy the situation.

Also the Nobel Peace Prize awarded jointly on 12th October to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Climate Change— a Secretariat formed by experts from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) —is another decision of the Nobel Prize Committee at Oslo which incites reflection and action. To link current environmental problems to peace in the world is quite innovative. More than that, the awarding of this prize to Gore and the climate group is a clear indication that global warming is a serious and universal problem, and it could compromise, now or in the future, world peace.

While recognising that global warming today is not a new phenomenon, that it has happened before—in effect, climate experts agree that the Earth has known many warm and cold cycles over the last 400,000 years—it is imperative that we act quickly, to lessen, at least, the consequences and the potential damage. If nothing is done, global warming will be an even more dramatic reality in the decades to come. In our global village, it has become a matter of action, choice and responsibility.

If everyone, the governments and institutions responsible, work towards the resolution of the problem, we are sure that we will achieve quite satisfactory results. In this sense, we can make a case for Adaptation (the stabilisation of the concentration of the greenhouse gases which are the main cause of the problem) for 2015, and Mitigation (in terms of positive action for energy security, environmental protection and sustainable development). This is an environmental, political, economic, and security project, that concerns every one of us to some extent and which will set out the way forward in a less uncertain direction for future generations. In this light, all the partners of the cause and the participants of the UN Conference on Climate Change will convene in Bali, Indonesia next December, to adopt a satisfactory multilateral framework agreement which could contribute to making life on earth more clement.

Dr Watson Denis is the Political Advisor at the Secretariat of the Association of Caribbean States. The opinions expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Comments and reactions can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org

October 15, 2007