Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - Delegates from the Virgin Islands are in St. Vincent and the Grenadines attending the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States’ (OECS) Fourth Climate Change seminar.
Joseph Smith-Abbott of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Christopher Williams from the Department of Disaster Management and Feliza Fenty of the Department of Information and Public Relations are attending the seminar from September 15 to 18, and is focusing on ‘Approaches to Managing Disaster Risks and Building Resilience.’
Mr. Smith said that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour takes Climate Change very seriously and has worked with the OECS to come together to identify the best options and practices for resilience, adaptation and mitigation.
“Climate Change continues to be an issue that science is showing will worsen and negatively impact the region’s main economical and developmental sectors. It is important that the Virgin Islands’ team gathers as much information as possible to share with our colleagues at home on not only how to prepare and adapt but how to keep members of the public informed and aware of the changes that are slated to take place.” He stated
A major output, which is expected out of the seminar, is a portfolio of new ideas for strategies and approaches in managing disaster risks and vulnerabilities, as well as recommendations that will inform policies, plans and programmes for building resilience to extreme events related to climate change.
The seminar is organised around a number of sessions, which will address a myriad of topics such as:
1. Vulnerability of the region to extreme events that may be brought on by climate change;
2. Economic, Social and Psychological Impacts of Extreme Events
3. Enhancing resilience to natural hazards and climate change;
4. Mainstreaming climate change into national planning and development processes;
The above mentioned topics will be delivered by selected experts from around the region. The OECS Secretariat estimates that some 80 participants will be in attendance at the two-day seminar representing private entities, and government agencies who work in climate sensitive sectors, as well as international and regional bodies who are leading research on climate change.
The seminar is being held as part of the OECS/USAID RRACC Project - a five-year developmental project which was launched in 2011 to assist OECS governments with building resilience through the implementation of climate change adaptation measures.
Specifically, RRACC will build an enabling environment in support of policies and laws to reduce vulnerability; address information gaps that constrain issues related to climate vulnerabilities; make interventions in freshwater and coastal management to build resilience; increase awareness on issues related to climate change and improve capacities for climate change adaptation.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Government of the Virgin Islands aims to administer the Territory’s natural resources in a manner that ensures long-term sustainability.
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