CLIMATE change has been on the international agenda for several years now. But just what is it? The term refers to the variation in the average state of climate which may persist for an extended period of time, usually over decades or longer.

Climate change has several elements, notably an increase in ambient temperatures (also called global warming); alterations in precipitation patterns (drought periods or increased rainfall); the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (storms and hurricanes); and sea-level rise (resulting form the melting of polar ice caps).

The increase in ambient temperatures or global warming is considered the main factor that triggers the many aspects of climate change. Incoming radiation from the sun hits the earth’s surface where some is absorbed and some is reflected. The reflected radiation does not all exit the earth’s atmosphere but some of it is trapped and reflected downwards, back to the earth. This phenomenon is also called the Greenhouse Effect because this principle is used to warm greenhouses in temperate climates. The Greenhouse Effect is a result of certain gases in the atmosphere which help to trap the radiation from the sun. These gases include water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane. Without these gases the heat from the sun’s rays would escape back into space.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is defined as the variation of life forms within ecosystems or biomes and is very often used as a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity found on earth today consists of many millions of distinct biological species in both the terrestrial and marine environments, in the tropical, temperate and arctic zones. Rainforests and coral reefs are known to be ecosystems of high biodiversity.

Jamaica

Jamaica is recognised internationally for its biodiversity and its high levels of endemism. Endemism refers to species, plants or animals, that are found nowhere else in the world. The island is a part of the Caribbean Biodiversity Hotspot, which recognises high biodiversity areas. Several areas of Jamaica are known for their rich biodiversity, including the wet limestone forests of the John Crow Mountains in the east, the dry limestone forests of Hellshire in the south and the moist forests of the Cockpit Country to the west. The island’s endemic species include more than 800 flowering plants, over 500 land snails, more than 50 amphibians and reptiles, five bats, 28 birds, and 19 butterflies. Jamaica’s biodiversity is important not just for eco-tourism activities, but also for livelihoods such as fishing and major economic sectors such as tourism and agriculture.

Climate change and biodiversity

Some of the most immediate effects of climate change are becoming apparent through impact on biodiversity, globally. The life cycles of many plants and animals are closely linked to the changing seasons in temperate countries, to the amount of precipitation in tropical countries, and to sea surface temperatures which directly impact coral reef cycles. In fact, the effects of rising sea temperatures have resulted in reports of associated coral bleaching and death of corals which can ultimately destroy the habitat for hundreds of marine species.

Associated with the impact of climate change are other detrimental effects such as destructive fishing methods, over-fishing, coastal pollution and population growth which cumulatively have a negative impact on biodiversity. The increase in the intensity and frequency of storm events can result in physical damage to forested areas, as a result of excessive winds and high levels of precipitation which can damage trees and forest structure, and remove valuable topsoil.

Other effects of climate change

A real fear for the marine environment from global warming is not just the impact on the biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems but the sea-level rise which is expected to inundate low-lying coastal areas. For Jamaica, this means that tourism – a major industry and foreign-exchange earner – would be directly impacted by loss of land. In order to secure capital investments set-back regulations must be adhered to, and this will minimise the risk to loss of property through sea-level rise and associated coastal erosion.

Jamaica now needs to properly assess the potential impact of climate change on our biodiversity, and implement adaptation strategies that will minimise the negative impact over time and ensure that our biodiversity is preserved, as it is essential to many aspects of our economy.

Dr Margaret Jones Williams has more than 18 years of experience in environmental management. She is a director and principal consultant of Environmental Solutions Ltd, a Caribbean environmental management services company.