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- Permanent Link:
- http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/FI13022716/00001
Notes
- Summary:
- This document discusses the particular vulnerabilities that tourism-dependent small island economies in the Caribbean face as the adverse affects of climate change become increasingly evident. The authors provide a preliminary to what will become a more extensive analysis of this situation in order to foster evidence-based adaptation strategies. Caribbean island nations are particularly vulnerable to climate change and its associated hazards, sea level rise and extreme weather. Some factors exacerbating vulnerability include the physical nature of these islands: relatively isolated with small land masses. Others relate to the nature of their development. Assets and people are typically concentration in highly vulnerable coasts, there is an over dependence on tourism, and small size usually equates to a limited economic base. These variables also mean these countries often lack the financial, technical, and institutional capacity for adaptation. In this document, the authors focus mostly on the relationship between climate change and tourism in the region. According to the document, 14.8% of the Caribbean’s gross domestic product, and 15.5% of employment is associated with the sector. What makes climate change particularly problematic for this region and tourism is its impact on the length and quality of the tourism season and on the natural environment that attracts tourists. Weather impacts include much warmer temperatures, increased frequency and intensity of tropical storms, reduced rainfall in some nations and thus water shortages and wild fires, and sea level rise. Climate change affects the Caribbean’s natural assets. Besides beach erosion, the changing climate is destroying the extensive coral reefs of the region, a central tourist attraction. Current weather trends are likely to increase the costs incurred by the tourist industry as it deals with insurance, heating and cooling, pest management, and water needs. Investors, banks, and insurance companies are increasingly voicing concerns regarding the risks that climate change poses to the economic viability of Caribbean tourism. The authors thus argue that it is imperative that the Caribbean tourism sector address adaptation to climate change strategically. Climate change adaptation must be integrated into government planning and decision-making, which means that questions regarding the use of coastal zones, coastal protection, management and support of marine protected areas, and committing limited resources and capacities need to be central components of the national development dialogue. ( English,English,English )
- Subject:
- Climate Change
- Scope and Content:
- Climate Change Trends and Projections p. 2; Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge p. 2; Natural Assets p. 3; Climate and Destination Choice p. 4; Potential Costs of Climate Change to Caribbean Tourism p. 4; Some Political Responses to Climate Change in the Caribbean p. 6; Conclusion and Recommendations p. 6; References p. 9
- Citation/Reference:
- Simpson, M., Scott, D., Trotz, U. (2011). Climate change’s impact on the Caribbean’s ability to sustain tourism, natural assets, and livelihoods. Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
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