|
Substantive responses received by the Small Islands Voice global forum to the posting on the theme ‘Climate change – how serious is it ?’, an article adapted from the San Juan Star and written by Charles J. Hanley, http://www.sivglobal.org/?read=70 25th August 2004 List of contents
Your issue is quite interesting. From the perspective that now our islands are faced with very similar great demands caused by the natural destruction by hurricanes. Since the intitial opening of this year’s hurricane season we have seen a much more active hurricane season. I also attribute to global warming, similar conditions that you are faced with in the Maldives and the Marshall Islands. A different effect but nevertheless caused by the same source. My first response to you would be to accept these occurences and take the contemporary, temporary solutions needed to combat the ever rising tide. There is little we can do at this juncture to reverse these conditions. To turn these global warming effects around requires much study by the multilevel industrial think tanks and companies in each region of the world. This effort needs to be coordinated and some incentive program put in place to drive this think tank operation. Their findings and the ability to come up with a plan to reverse global warming directly with a long term approach is at the heart of turning this unfortunate incident around. Of course the first world governments have to be on board and agree with this process. The Caribbean like the Pacific islands have much of their future at stake due to global warming. We cannot afford another major development and an increase of the onslaught of hurricanes each year. We will soon not be able to keep up with the cost of rebuilding and the restarting of our local economies each time. Our primary industry, tourism will soon be permantly, adversely affected by the increase in hurrican activity in the Caribbean region. I understand the panic and the damages caused primarily by first world countries and their direct contribution to the issue of global warming. Cool heads must prevail here and some incentive sought out to become the impetus for the top level inclusion of first world major industry in this catastrophe. We must not loose our focus for a solution in this regard. The result might be a back lash and a continued elevation of agression toward first world nations should they not immediately comply with our necessary demands in these vulnerable tropical islands We
are NOT panicking about global climate change. While all low lying islands are threatened by global sea level rise in the coming decades, their vulnerability is in fact greatly increased on much shorter time scales by global warming phenomena. These show up clearly on the Global Coral Reef Alliance's (GCRA) global coral reef sea surface temperature database, which will be shortly available to all island nations from the author on request. First, severe coral bleaching caused by high temperatures has killed over 90% of corals in the Maldives and also affected all other low lying island nations. Our data shows that bleaching and temperature follow global warming patterns, influenced locally by El Nino at a few locations. It shows that almost all remaining reef areas will pass the threshold for severe coral mortality in just a few years, not decades to centuries as is widely imagined by those who have not seen the actual data. Because living, growing, self-repairing healthy coral reefs are essential for shore protection from waves, the loss of reef corals will greatly increase the rate of shore erosion, and amplify the effects of sea level rise much earlier than expected. We have been able to predict when, where, and how bad bleaching will be before beaching can be seen in the reef, using satellite data alone, since 1990, but governments have failed to act to save our reefs from global warming. The Kyoto protocol is irrelevant, even if it were observed by governments, as it is only a formula to stabilize the rate of increase of greenhouse gases, not their concentrations. Since even a total stop to all coal and oil use NOW would result in warming that would continue for many centuries, it is effectively a death sentence for coral reefs and low lying islands. Second are clearly marked multi-year regional oscillations in sea temperatures and winds that cause shorter periods of much more intense sea level rise that will cause devastation long before long term global rise. These are coupled to changes in ocean currents that threaten the food chains on which fisheries are based, even if there were no over-fishing. The strategies currently being followed are pathetically inadequate to deal with the situation. A strategy based on large scale coral reef restoration, using GCRA's Biorock technology, is critically needed. This has already been proven in island nations around the world to produce corals with faster growth (3-5 times), greater survival from high temperature and other stresses (16-50 times), and greatly increased fish and shellfish populations. Sadly, effective large-scale restoration is not now supported by any government, international funding agency, research institutions, or NGO except for the Global Coral Reef Alliance, which works with virtually no funding. No other method works to preserve corals from lethal stress, or restore them rapidly where natural recovery is impossible. Its application would allow island nations to use their untapped sustainable energy resources to grow living reefs that could keep up with sea level rise, protect islands from erosion, and turn fisherfolk from hunters and reef destroyers into farmers who grow reefs in order to greatly increase their fish catches. These methods have already been used to turn eroding beaches in the Maldives into growing ones in a few years, and we have recently done a large pilot project with the people of Hatohobei (Tobi) and Hatsororie (Helen) Atolls in Palau as the first step to save their islands from disappearing. For illustrated results of the Maldives project see: http://globalcoral.org/MALDIVES%20SHORELINES.%20GROWING%20A%20BEACH.htm For just the latest of many articles on GCRA's dramatic reef restoration projects now underway in over 15 countries in the Caribbean, Pacific, and Indian Ocean, featuring the world's largest and most successful coral reef restoration project, see: For a long term survival strategy for island nations to grow our way out of global climate change, presented at the UN Expert Meeting on Ocean Management in Small Island developing States, see: It is critically urgent that governments ACT on this agenda at the January Summit of Island Nations in Mauritius, instead of wasting more precious time with talking. Otherwise they will certainly make abandonment the only remaining option for Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Maldives, the Marshal Islands, and thousands of other low lying islands and shore communities. Asking the leaders of the rich countries to please reverse their rape of the world's non-renewable resources, which is killing our reefs and islands, is futile. We can't stop global climate change now, so our only hope is build our sustainable resources to outgrow it. For much more information on all of these issues see: http://www.globalcoral.org I do not agree with Tebaki Temano's input. How is it possible not to be concerned about the extraordinary scientific consensus about global warming and the fact that it is largely anthropogenic? If even the most modest projections of sea level rise are met, many small islands will be severely affected. We have already seen many dangerous hurricanes in the Caribbean this season. While I agree we are already committed to some warming and many other actions need to be taken, such as those outlined by Tom Goreau et al, it is extraordinarily short-sighted to play down the very real danger of global warming. I am very familiar with the plight of Tuvulu. I have been there several times. You neglected to mention the large amount of money they get for leasing their international telecommunication lines to companies in New Zealand and Australia for phone sex or the 50 million dollars they got for selling the domain names .tv. With this amount of money they could haul in materials to build up the island. Perhaps they could sacrifice some of the smaller islands (crush the materials and bring to the main island). They have at least 50 years to do this. A project of this magnitude could provide employment for a lot of people.
I personally believe that an increase in the sea level will have a disastrous effect on the marine fauna and flora on small islands' surface area but more importantly it will affect the people of these regions economically. As you all know, if they are affected economically, their whole lives will be affected. I think to talk about climate change is the same as to make life in Mars. Let’s talk about the serious things - poverty. I believe most of the residents of these islands are poor. If somebody is hungry and you give him clothes do you think you have helped him? It is better to deal with the things that the people need. I want the rich country to care more about this rather than talking about the sea level.
Global warming (if any) is just one problem, add to that reducing availability/increasing cost of fossil fuels, pollution, terrorism, overfishing and waste disposal (and probably more!) and we have plenty to keep us busy! Too often we tend to focus on one issue and ignore all the other things that are going on (leading to a solution that causes even more problems) when a wider view may solve several problems simultaneously. Rising sea level is indeed a core concern for the Pacific island countries. It is, as I would imagine, equivalent to or even more threatening then the terrorist threat posing the great almighty. I would imagine that putting a sudden stop to the greenhouse gas emission would not immediately eliminate the problem nor would it be possible. If, through a great miracle, greenhouse gas is stopped, I think the effect of the already present gases in the atmosphere will continue to tick the thermometer for a couple of decades until the levels go back to the natural level. Therefore, keeping this in mind I would expect that the main strategy for the Pacific island countries would not be how to stop greenhouse emissions but how to deal with the creeping tide mark. Tuvalu's Prime Ministers reasoning of creating a 21st century Noah’s ark is welcoming and very practical. The low-lying islands should be now concerned about where to go from here. It is really excellent to see that someone has taken the first step to creating a ‘plan B’ to this ever impending doom for the Pacific island countries. I think we are panicking unnecessarily about sea level rise and global warming. There’s so much to be learnt from the icebergs and the deep ocean, search the internet for both sides of the story and do not get glued to one side. Let us not be fooled by those who just want to make money out of people's fear. They talk but cannot do anything. They keep changing their figures, meaning they do not know what they are doing, just guess work. Lots of them, roaming the world. Balanced information is what we need, not a one sided 'story'. Thank you for your mail, yes it is true that we do have a need to protect our resources. (2) Chris Harries, New Britain Island The recent email circular from Small Islands Voice is disturbing. One concerned person writes that 'climate change, like terrorism, is a global problem requiring a superhuman commitment...' The truth is, climate change is not like terrorism, it is terrorism. The more we know, the more we understand that the people who will be mostly affected by climate change are the poorer peoples of the world. Those who are responsible for it are as guilty of human carnage as are the terrorists, except on a much, much bigger scale. (Many thousands of people are already victims of storm damage and many suffer and die from diseases that are affected by changes in weather patterns, particularly malaria. The victims from sea level rise will come later on.) The truth is, climate change has causes, as does terrorism. It is a totally useless exercise to combat terrorism without understanding the factors that are causing it. Fighting terrorism as if it came from nowhere, is a strategy guaranteed to fail. It is a strategy of escalation. That is why terrorism is growing out of hand. The truth is, climate change, likewise, cannot be combated without honing in on the root causes. To deny this reality will simply allow the problem to escalate. Fatalism is understandable, because the powers that be who determine world energy policy are so huge and they are digging their heels in. But we cannot and must not fall prey to hopelessness. At the end of the day these people will be up before the world courts as international criminals. The pressure has to stay on them to reform global energy policy and be accountable for what they do. Having said all that, yes, it is very important for affected communities to try to adapt and 'get on top’ of' climate change. There is no point in fiddling while Rome burns. Just as Tasmanian and Chilean schoolchildren now have to wear sun hats and sunblock to prevent skin cancers resulting from the Ozone Hole, people from island communities will need to alter their lives dramatically and creatively to offset the worst effects of climate change. But this must be done in parallel with political action. I live across the water from a small set of low lying islands, the Duke of Yorks, in the Solomon Sea. The thousands of people who live there are very poor, subsistence village people. They cannot combat sea level rise, if it happens. They can only retreat. There is nowhere to retreat to. There is no escaping the causes. There is only so much amelioration that can be done. This is why, whilst we learn to adapt to environmental breakdown, we have to steadfastly maintain a resolve for global justice. Let’s put our energies along both streams of action. There is no need for denial. Global warming and rising sea level like terrorism are global problems requiring a superhuman global commitment from every nation right to the last individual inhabitant on this planet. It’s an overwhelming challenge which requires resources far, far beyond human capacity to muster. Where we get the resources to raise humanity up to a higher level of motivation consonant with this rising challenge is the question of today? Climate change is happening, sea level is rising and people are suffering. We don't need scientific evidence to prove this, talk to the old people in your community and they will tell all. Most small islands are panicking and they should be. The impact of climate change and sea level rise is overwhelming and already felt by all small island states. That is why we have a strong voice in the negotiation arena, fighting for our right to be saved and our right to survive. The impact is not limited to loosing land and identity, but the livelihoods of the people and everyday life is affected one way or the other. The decrease in fish stock due to coral bleaching, unavailability of quality water sources during droughts, outbreak of new diseases due to high temperature, salinisation of coastal springs due to high seas and storm surges, not forgetting flooding due to sporadic intense rainfall. I think Fiji was the last victim in the Pacific region and the list goes on. I think we should not compare Venice to small islands’ situation. Venice is a country that has always been underwater and is getting worse, Venice can migrate to Milan or Rome and they have the resources to do something about their situation but for a small nation like Tuvalu it is a different story, they have limited resources and nowhere else to migrate. The European Union Countries and others are very much aware with our situation, that if they read our National Communications to the Conference of the Parties where most small island nations have already reported their urgent and prioritised needs to adapt to climate change and their call for help. I totally agree, that whatever we try to do under the Kyoto Protocol we cannot stop climate change and sea level rise right away. It’s already happening and it’s on the news everyday. It's not too late to respond. For Samoa we are doing our best to adapt to these new changes. Helping communities to help themselves. We need assistance from the developed countries and they should be obligated to assist us, providing financial means to enable the most vulnerable to adapt. However, our only hope is ourselves, we cannot depend on those who cause the problem and turn their back. We should utilize our own resources and our expertise, be well prepared and ready, maybe then there will be less panicking. I am writing to give you my opinion on the issue of the sea water level rising, i.e. to some place in Tuvalu and maybe in Kiribati. It is a headache issue, I believe, faced by those island countries. To escape from or to stay at the lands of one’s ancestors could result in many different directions of thinking. The points of the strength and weakness consequently will also be involved. Why don't we take the instance of the situation where similar things have already happened and are happening, such as in the City of Venice, Italy and the Netherlands in Europe. I believe these two places, or countries have fought with the similar problems for more than ten centuries. While the other writer Mr. Jame Ward said, the greenhouse problem could take fifty years to be felt, I think that the way the people use the fuel oil from petroleum, it won't last for long. The price of this fuel oil is rising due to the resources became less and less. Just fifty years later, most common people would not affort to buy fuel oil because its price would be like gold. But before that situation arises, why don't those islands states send a letter to the United Nations for assistance from the experts in Venice City and the Netherland and even make some promotion in Venice or Amsterdam to get their opinions or even ask that tourists from the two countries visit in Tuvalu and Kiribati. Curently Vanuatu has a company that actually process acrued coconut oil and refines it to 100% diesel fuel. We have few cars and buses all (diesel engines) are running on coconut. There are no modications made to the engine whatsoever. Vanuatu Meteorological Service, a government instituition, has taken a lead to using this coconut fuel.This is seen to be very good to the engine as a lubricating substance and moves the truck extra miles as a result of total burn out of the fuel and cheaper (80vtper litre) compare to the 120vt/litre on diesel fuel. It is climate friendly and a step forward to ratification of the Kyoto convention. We have been using it for over 5 months and have not experienced any implications.
(1) Edward Beggs, Neoteric Biofuels Inc One thing we can do is run our cars, trucks, generators, boats, tractors, when we need to use them, and using the fuel efficient ones we have available, on SVO (straight vegetable oil) and biodiesel. Those coconut and palm, and jatropha, moringa, honge, and many other plants make good plant oil for running diesels! Little is required in terms of investment in conversion kits (on the engine, no chemical processing needed) or processors to make biodiesel using simple techniques and some methanol and lye. With 220 million plus diesels in the world, and about 20 million new ones being added each year, and people needing to make jobs locally and stop importing fossil fuel from far away, it's one of our best immediate options. Renewable oil fuels are CO2-neutral on a life cycle basis (some studies suggest they're net positive...and actually reduce CO2 levels more than the burning of the oil from the seeds re-contributes. There is no sulphur in the fuel, and very little PAH, nitrogen oxide increases are negligible, and particulates (soot, black smoke) levels are reduced usually somewhere around 30-50%. Blending in some 9% ethanol has been found to cut particulates in half once again, if used in combination with preheating of the fuel, as is done with SVO system techniques. The techniques that we and others have developed to use used cooking oil as SVO in colder climates (sometimes its fairly high viscosity, since it is partly hydrogenated from being heated in the fryers, and has a high cloud point) translate well into using something like coconut oil (which has a very high cloud point) in other countries with warmer climates. If you have a local oil that tends to go solid almost at room temperature, it's the same as us here in Canada and parts of the US having to deal with very cold winter temperatures and used cooking oil (or even new soy or Canola oils, for that matter, when the temperatures get really cold!) We do not have to wait for Kyoto, politicians, better batteries, cheaper PV panels, or Hydrogen fuel cells, nor large scale commercial biodiesel imports to the region, nor pumps at the corner gas station. We can do this now, the techniques are well established, thousands are running pure plant oil and biodiesel of their own making, and more every day, and some have been doing this for years now. Presses are available for all scales and budgets for cold pressing of various seed oils, and there are also specialized presses available for cold pressing coconut locally, versus export of copra and import of diesel fuel. I understand that climate change has some contact with the changes in the sun (sunspot and CME). If any one of you are interested in the project ‘Sun-earth Environment connection’ please contact me dr.saumitramukherjee@usa.net |