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Climate Change and Energy in Civil Society: Addressing Vulnerability on Small Islands

Explore the impacts of climate change on small islands, with rising sea levels, extreme weather, and consequences for coastal, marine, and built environments. Learn how collective efforts in sustainable practices and citizen empowerment can mitigate these challenges. Jacqueline McGlade emphasizes citizen engagement for environmental protection and building sustainable neighborhoods. Discover strategies for energy-saving, sustainable design, and nature conservation in business and natural areas, emphasizing the need for a common effort involving government, businesses, and civil society. Professionals play a crucial role in advocating for sustainable development, social justice, and ethical practices in the context of climate change. Take action now to address the urgent issues of climate change and secure a sustainable future for small islands and the planet.

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Climate Change and Energy in Civil Society: Addressing Vulnerability on Small Islands

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  1. Climate ChangeEnergyCivil Society Lloyd Narain October 7 2009

  2. micro micro small island extremely vulnerable

  3. vulnerability • The sea is everywhere around us • Sea level rises • (under)currents change • Higher temperature, stronger hurricanes, heavy wheater conditions • Social and economic conditions

  4. Consequences for management of: • Coastal zones • Marine environment • Built environment • Agricultural areas • Nature conservation • Energy sovereignty • Livelyhoods (soc.&econ.conditions)

  5. Small island development • Extra vulnerability • No place to hide • No room for error • Sustainability as a natural course • Climate change makes this much more difficult • Better act now than in future (costs)

  6. Greenhouse gases (GHG) cause climate change (CC) • Established knowledge • Intergovernmental Panel on CC • EU • US • G8 • Copenhagen December 2009

  7. Consequences CC • Sea water expands • Ice caps both on North and South Pole melting down • Glaciers melting down • Sea level rise • Heavy rainfall in short period of time • Climate changes everywhere on planet

  8. How to deal with consequences? • Combine efforts to keep them in check • In a sustainable context • Prepare for bad weather, droughts, sea level rise • Stop oil addiction

  9. Jacqueline McGlade, head of the European Environment Agency: • The key to protecting and enhancing our environment is in the hands of many, not the few. • To adapt efectively to challenges of CC.. means empowering citizens to engage actively in improving their own environment, using..new observation techniques and innovative economic ideas…

  10. Sustainable neighbourhoods • Organize neighbourhood for this purpose • Create cool areas like parks, streets, spots • Allow rainwater to penetrate into the soil • Water catchments + collective cisterns • Energy saving at home, in shops etc. • Safe bicycle lanes and sidewalks • Free, clean, effective public transport

  11. buildings/houses • Climate friendly designs • Existing buildings:adapt to climate (change) • Design in context of built environment and nature in neighbourhood • Anchor roofs • Cisterns • Gardens with local flora (shade and cooling)

  12. Business areas • Firms in these areas join to: • Save energy • Generate clean energy • Manage waste: re-use, recycle, composting and prevention programs • Joint use of parking lots

  13. Nature areas • Coral reefs (absorb 30% of CO2) • Mangroves • Reforestation (local flora) • Stop deforestation (trees absorb 20%) • They all play their part in reducing CO2 and check consequences of CC as well

  14. Common effort • Government • Business • Civil society • Technologists and other professionals do their part but also need to reflect on their role in society

  15. Professionals act: • People centered + empower people • Small island scale • In context of sustainable development: balancing sustainable social, cultural and economic development plus environmental care • Social-economic justice for all, now and in future

  16. Elements professional code • Ethical code in context of sustainable development, people centered, small island limitations and opportunities • Overcoming limits of purely business approach • All with the urgency to keep CC causes and consequences in check

  17. Professional contributions among others: • Decentralization of energy generation • End oil addiction • Prevent urban sprawl • Working with civil society to improve quality of life and of environment • Affordable but effective adaptations for low income groups

  18. Small islands urgency • Reduce impacts of CC • Sustainable livelyhoods always on the agenda • And keep remembering: there is no place to hide and there is no room for error

  19. Climate Change:adaptation and prevention makes us real dwellers of this planet and this island

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