JAMAICA is among six Caribbean countries which have endorsed the controversial Copenhagen Accord, a key outcome of the 15th United Nations climate change conference held in Denmark last December.

The others are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica.

The Caribbean countries join some 131 other countries in endorsing the accord, a non-legally binding agreement that critics say is woefully inadequate if the planet is to win the battle against global climate change.

Climate change threatens rising sea levels and the loss of coastal livelihoods, increase sea levels and the loss of certain marine species, as well as an increase in extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and droughts.

The accord, among other things, makes allowances for an increase in global temperatures to two degrees Celsius, while providing for fast-track funding for developing countries to adapt to climate change. The agreement, which critics add did not go far enough to safeguard the world's most vulnerable to climate change, also makes provisions for developed countries to provide US$30 billion for the period 2010 to 2012 for adaptation and mitigation efforts in the developing world. Beyond that, developed countries committed to mobilising jointly US$100 billion annually by 2020 to address the climate change needs of developing countries.

"This funding will come from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources of finance," the agreement noted.

Still, it is not without reservations that Caribbean countries have given their stamp of approval to the accord, which in the end was essentially decided on by a few countries, notably the US, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa.

"It is not that they (Caribbean countries) agree with the accord, but that there are things in the accord that the region can take advantage of," said Ulric Trotz, science adviser to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre. "Our official position really is, accept the accord in the sense that you write to the UNFCCC, but at the same time you should mention reservations."

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