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Caribbean nations seek UN court’s help to escape climate disaster debt
Caribbean countries are turning to the International Court of Justice to clarify the financial responsibilities of major polluters for climate-related damages, hoping to break the cycle of debt caused by increasingly destructive hurricanes.
In short:
- Caribbean islands are pressing the ICJ to issue an opinion that could hold major polluting nations financially accountable for climate damage.
- The region faces escalating debts due to frequent, severe storms, with some countries attributing up to 40% of their debt to climate disasters.
- The ICJ’s decision could pave the way for debt relief and financial contributions from developed nations to assist in recovery efforts.
Key quote:
“As we can see, that has gotten very little traction and the results are minimal. The temperature rise continues. The effects of severe storms in our region continue.”
— Ryan Pinder, attorney general of the Bahamas
Why this matters:
Caribbean nations are on the front lines of climate change, with severe storms crippling their economies. Legal clarity on financial responsibility could shift the burden from vulnerable nations to those historically responsible for emissions.
For more: Growing debt payments hinder climate action in vulnerable countries
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Credit: Naja Bertolt Jensen/Unsplash
Caribbean corals suffer extensive bleaching from unprecedented heat
Corals in the Caribbean struggle to recover months after a severe marine heatwave caused widespread bleaching and death, posing a threat to the region's biodiversity.
In short:
- During the record-breaking summer heat of 2023, the Caribbean corals experienced severe bleaching due to prolonged and intense marine heatwaves.
- Some corals are beginning to show signs of recovery, with patches of color returning, yet many remain bleached, indicating ongoing stress and potential long-term damage.
- Despite significant losses, certain areas like Mexico’s Limones Reef and parts of The Bahamas reported higher survival rates, suggesting localized factors or coral resilience.
Key quote:
"There are some corals that have energy and are resistant. We need to keep working for them."
— Valeria Pizarro, marine biologist at the Perry Institute for Marine Science
Why this matters:
Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet, providing habitat, breeding, and nursery grounds for numerous marine species. The loss of coral through bleaching can lead to declines in reef fish populations, changes in species composition, and the loss of biodiversity. This disrupts the balance of the marine ecosystem, affecting predator-prey relationships and the health of the reef system as a whole.
As warming waters and acidification threaten corals around the world, scientists are gathering clues to save the charismatic colonies and bolster biodiversity.
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Credit: Fabio Piccini/Pixabay
Sponges in the Caribbean reveal underestimated global warming
Caribbean sea sponges offer new insights into the history of climate change, suggesting a higher rate of global warming than previously thought.
In short:
- Caribbean sea sponges, living for centuries, have been studied for climate change insights, revealing a higher global temperature increase than previously estimated.
- The sponges' chemical composition indicates a 1.7 degrees Celsius rise since the industrial age, surpassing the commonly cited 1.2 degrees.
- This new data suggests that the effects of climate change could be closer than anticipated, potentially accelerating the timeline for significant environmental impacts.
Key quote:
“Some of the impacts of climate change that we’re seeing today are quite surprising."
— Gabi Hegerl, a climate scientist at the University of Edinburgh
Why this matters:
This research connects to a larger narrative of underestimating climate change's pace and intensity.
Under assault from climate change, acidification, and a plastics barrage, the oceans get a boost from the marine reserve movement.
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Caribbean sea sponges suggest higher global warming levels
A recent study using ancient sea sponges indicates the Earth may have warmed more than previously estimated.
In short:
- Researchers used Caribbean sea sponges to reconstruct past ocean temperatures, suggesting a 1.7C increase since the Industrial Revolution.
- The study, published in Nature Climate Change, challenges the current United Nations climate panel estimates.
- Critics urge caution, highlighting the need for broader data before revising global warming assessments.
Key quote:
"We will experience more serious impacts from global warming sooner than we had anticipated."
— Malcolm McCulloch, University of Western Australia
Why this matters:
This research highlights the need for swift action in environmental policy, reflecting a critical juncture in our understanding of global warming's progression.
Ocean heat waves, which can push out fish, plankton and other aquatic life, are happening far more frequently than previously thought.
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Photo by Yves Alarie on Unsplash
Jamaica battles relentless plastic pollution in quest to restore mangroves
Currently there are several efforts to restore mangroves in the island country, as experts recognize the many ecosystem services they provide, including the protection and stabilization of coastlines as human-induced climate change worsens. However, restoration efforts face numerous challenges.
Photo by Heather Suggitt on Unsplash
Caribbean looks to Trudeau to put quest for climate change funding on the world's agenda
Caribbean leaders are meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week, hoping Canada will place its concerns on the international agenda– among them climate change and Haiti.
Image by Richard Todd from Pixabay
The Caribbean island of Dominica is adapting its food systems to climate change
For Dominica, cassava is more than a local staple. The humble root vegetable is part of the country’s strategy for enhancing food security, promoting its culture, and adapting to climate change.
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