A new World Bank report is warning Antigua & Barbuda and other Caribbean countries to plan for “catastrophic” climate change consequences. The study said the poorest will be the worst affected.
The research said if the sea continues to rise at the current rate, salt-water erosion and coastal flooding will be major concerns.
It notes that 70 per cent of the Caribbean population lives on the coast, which is also of vital importance for the region’s economy. The report noted, to begin with, there is more flooding to come.
World Bank Climate Change expert Jerry Meier told the international body that in the region, there is a lack of knowledge about floodplains and a lack of exclusion zones.
“There is a lack of knowledge about the floodplains and there aren’t any exclusion zones, so the situation will stay the same,” Meier warns.
Another grave challenge highlighted is coastal erosion. The report said, given that the majority of the region’s capital cities, ports and airports are to be found on the coast, this is a serious threat for the development for a region with deep ties to the sea.
Coastal erosion caused by rising sea levels is also listed as a real threat for the tourist industry.
The World Bank adds the Caribbean faces the problem of salt-water infiltration into its freshwater.
