Jamaica has called on the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to take steps to ensure that populations across the world are educated about the link between climate changes and slow and gradual weather events.
“This body has the credibility and credentials to ensure that the world also understands slow onset events, which [are] often overseen and understated… people don’t necessarily appreciate what is climate change and that climate change is present,” said Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, as he addressed the WMO’s Regional Association IV conference on Tuesday.
Samuda said sea-level rise “is a clear and present danger” for countries such as Jamaica, where 70 percent of the population live within five kilometers of the sea, noting also that climate change can also affect the protection of Jamaica’s cultural heritage.
“The risks to these sites are extreme. This includes our libraries, monuments, historic buildings, works of art, protected areas and, indeed, all the cultural resources. This, for countries like Jamaica, represents a shared wealth. The WMO has a tremendous role to play.
“As such, my call to you and to this body is that we do not leave out the impact of gradual weather changes in how we discuss the weather with the public, “Samuda said, as he welcomed delegates to the four-day conference.
“I look forward to what, I am sure, will be critical discussions on the way forward in mitigating natural hazards and risks in the face of dangerous and continuous climate change while we learn to warn people earlier and better,” he added.
The WMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for promoting international cooperation on atmospheric science, climatology, hydrology, and geophysics.
The Regional Association IV Conference is being held under the theme ‘Increasing Weather, Water and Climate Resilience in North America, Central America and the Caribbean’.
More than 60 participants from 20 member countries are attending the conference in-person, while others are participating via online platforms.
Several panel discussions are to take place during various sessions over the duration of the conference focusing on, among other things, challenges, opportunities, observations, and building collaborations.
CMC/
 to take steps to ensure people are educated about climate changes){kind=link}