Heat in the place

Climate Change & What We Can Do About It

Climate change is a phenomenon that affects the entire planet. Climate is not the short-term weather condition of a place but rather the long-term weather conditions averaged over a period of 30 years or more. Major precipitation and temperature changes that last for many decades contribute to climate change. Any significant variation in measures of climate extending over long periods of time is referred to as climate change.  

Human activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels (eg, coal, oil) have led to the climate change that is imminent. These activities have ushered in a new era of climate change characterised by global warming and sea level rise. Worldwide changes in average climatic conditions are not simply affecting distant places and wild species, such as the drowning of polar bears due to melting of the Arctic ice shelf. Climate change is already affecting us in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

How Does Climate Change Affect Us? The effects of climate change include:

• temperature increases; as cooler nighttime temperatures evanesce, both days and nights are now hot in the Caribbean
• changes in rainfall and river volumes; in Jamaica the intensity and frequency of rainfall is changing more flooding and droughts; the Caribbean is presently experiencing more extremes in weather patterns

What Can We Do? Here are a few things that we can do in Jamaica to help reduce climate change:

• reduce population growth rates
• reuse, recycle and reduce garbage output
• drive fuel-efficient vehicles
• sequester carbon dioxide by planting trees
• expand solar and wind technology training to all levels of the renewable energy sector in order to create jobs
• increase the use of solar energy
• cut fossil fuel use
• minimise urban sprawl
• tax each unit of fossil fuel  consumed and use 1/3 of the revenue from this tax to engage the services of farmers to plant native trees

​In order to reduce the effects of climate change we need to act now, to prevent future regrets. We can each play a role at the individual, community or national level. Some of these efforts will require lifestyle or political changes. However, these changes will result in long-term financial savings, business profitability, job creation, protection of biodiversity and a healthier human populace.

 - - - Chandra Degia, PhD, is an Environmental Consultant

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