Could Climate Change Be Good For Grenada?

IMAGINE a north pole without ice in the summer of 2040. This is the warning American scientists gave the world as they gathered for the Annual General Meeting for the Geophysics Union in San Diego California last week. Reuters reports that scientists have revealed evidence demonstrating a melting process that is speeding up, and that the melting of the arctic could happen quite suddenly over the next few decades, bringing catastrophic effects to the entire planet.

It is already happening. An article published by National Geographic in September this year reports that in the time between 2004 and 2005, the arctic lost a total of 14% of its perennial ice. And in the time between October 2005 and April 2006, the east arctic permafrost was reduced a further 70%. The melting is speeding up, and we are running out of time to adapt.

From a human perspective, conflicts are likely to emerge as countries compete and cope with the impacts of climate change, such as water shortages, financial losses, environmental refugees, disease, adapting to changed weather conditions and more. While most of the world will be facing catastrophe, Grenada is better positioned to survive than many other parts of the world.

This is because many elements that make Grenada vulnerable today could make the country stronger in the future. Grenada has a large “To-Do” list to get ready, but unlike its larger and industrialized neighbours, Grenada has very little that the country has to “Un-Do”, which is a tremendous logistical and cost saving asset. Because of Grenada’s small size and location, the country could to develop a combined wind and solar energy grid using existing technology that would ensure access to power regardless of what happens in the rest of the world. It could also provide limitless access to affordable power that could drive a profitable high-tech economy and increase the countries adaptability and resilience to changes to come.

With incentive based planning, Grenada can encourage the population to relocate business and residences on higher ground over time with far less National disruption and expense than would be caused by moving cities like New Orleans, Miami or Venice with millions of people in them.

Grenada’s small population also provides an opportunity to develop a National Food Security Policy that could ensure Grenada can always feed its own population no matter what happens. This would protect Grenada from shipping shortages, conflicts, quarantines or other challenges that could affect access to foreign food, aid and supplies.

Grenada can survive climate change only if the citizens insist that Climate Change becomes and remains a National Priority with all political parties. We will witness unprecedented change in our lifetimes, and if we all do our part – it could be for the better.

Jennifer Ellard-Deveney has worked as an environmentalist for over 20 years. She has a Specialized Honours Degree in Environmental Studies and Political Science from York University, and was a delegate in the United Nations Summit for Sustainable Development in 2002. She has been living in Grenada for nearly two years after coming here to assist with Hurricane Ivan recovery efforts and is a member of Grenada's Sustainable Development Council. Jennifer currently writes a weekly article for the Grenada Advocate on sustainable development issues.