Cost of a friend’s act

In 2015, the US agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 as part of the Paris deal.

The Rhodium Group estimates that under Trump’s policies, US emissions will now most likely fall just 15 to 19 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. In addition, the US promised $3 billion in aid to poorer countries to assist them increase clean energy and adjust to droughts, sea-level rise, and other global warming disasters. The Obama administration contributed $1 billion thus far, as have other wealthy nations. But Trump has promised to terminate all future payments; one possible result is for developing nations in Africa and Asia to be less enthusiastic to deal with their emissions.

It has to be admitted that before President Trump’s announcement, those efforts of curbing emissions and strengthening those pledges with the expectations of escaping catastrophic warming were not being met. In fact, the total current pledges place the earth on track to warm three degrees Celsius or more above pre-industrial levels, an outcome with a far greater risk of destabilising ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, higher sea-level rise, more destructive heat waves and droughts, and the loss of vital ecosystems like coral reefs.

Global warming, brought on by the release of carbon dioxide, methane, soot, and other pollutants into the atmosphere act like a blanket, trapping the sun’s heat and causing the planet to warm.

Data reveals that 2000 to 2009 was hotter than any other decade in the past 1,300 years. Higher temperatures are worsening many types of disasters, including storms, heat waves, floods, and droughts, events with which we in the Caribbean are all too familiar.

The increasing occurrence of droughts, intense storms, and floods we’re seeing as our warming atmosphere holds — and then dumps — more moisture, poses risks to public health and safety, too. Heavier rains cause streams, rivers, and lakes to overflow, which damages life and property, contaminates drinking water, creates hazardous-material spills, and promotes mould infestation and unhealthy air. A warmer, wetter world is also a boon for foodborne and waterborne illnesses and disease-carrying insects such as mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks.

All these have costs which have afflicted us in the Caribbean, from Zika to powerful hurricanes.

The Government of Guyana has projected that improved sea and river defenses and drainage systems costs could exceed US$1 billion.

This figure includes the costs of activities ranging from building and reinforcing levées and seawalls to flood-proofing health clinics.

In damages alone the Caribbean suffered just under US$2 billion dollars in damage from selected natural disasters between 2000 and 2012.

The Caribbean needs to first understand what the potential costs are from this one decision by the US. In addition, they need to cost what is required to upgrade their infrastructure and buildings to address more severe natural disasters: all this as the most indebted countries in the world.

One act from a “friend” – the US - will affect every facet of life and impose huge costs on us.