ADDRESS by ADDRESS by Minister for Works Minister for Works and Public Utilities, and Public Utilities, Hon. Joseph Gilbert Hon. Joseph Gilbert at the Opening of at the Opening of CWWA Conference CWWA Conference

and Exhibition on 4and Exhibition on 4thth October, 2010, St. October, 2010, St. George’s, Grenada,George’s, Grenada,

Water, Waste and Climate Water, Waste and Climate Change”Change”

Your theme “Water, Waste and Climate Your theme “Water, Waste and Climate Change” provides an excellent opportunity to Change” provides an excellent opportunity to specifically focus on the implicit specifically focus on the implicit challenges....to us as Small Island challenges....to us as Small Island Developing States, as well as the opportunity Developing States, as well as the opportunity to address mitigation and to adopt and to address mitigation and to adopt and initiate appropriate adaptation measures to initiate appropriate adaptation measures to deal with these challenges. deal with these challenges.

  

SIDS- WATER PROBLEMSSIDS- WATER PROBLEMS

Today SIDS are faced with water problems of Today SIDS are faced with water problems of multiple kinds.multiple kinds.Increasing water scarcity including reduced Increasing water scarcity including reduced access to drinking water and sanitation. access to drinking water and sanitation.

Increasing incidences of flooding. Increasing incidences of flooding.

Increasing challenges of pollution, higher Increasing challenges of pollution, higher demands on water supply – infrastructure demands on water supply – infrastructure development and maintenance, resource development and maintenance, resource protection, water services provision and protection, water services provision and climate change impact, etc.climate change impact, etc.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IS ONE OF THE MOST URGENT ISSUES THE MOST URGENT ISSUES

FACING HUMANITY.FACING HUMANITY.

Left unchecked, the potential consequences Left unchecked, the potential consequences would be catastrophic particularly for Small would be catastrophic particularly for Small Island Developing States.Island Developing States.

Over the past five decades, the planet has Over the past five decades, the planet has heated up and that ninety three percent of heated up and that ninety three percent of this warming impacts our oceans. this warming impacts our oceans.

The region is experiencing an ocean The region is experiencing an ocean warming trend with significant coral warming trend with significant coral reefs bleaching impacts. reefs bleaching impacts.

The rise in sea level is already affecting The rise in sea level is already affecting us, especially the low lying countries in us, especially the low lying countries in the Caribbean and beyond and is the Caribbean and beyond and is undermining small island economiesundermining small island economies

CLIMATE CHANGE –WATER CLIMATE CHANGE –WATER CYCLECYCLE

Climate change is also having an impact Climate change is also having an impact on the global water cycle.on the global water cycle.

Rising Carbon Dioxide levels will increase Rising Carbon Dioxide levels will increase river levels.  river levels. 

Rising Carbon dioxide levels will cause Rising Carbon dioxide levels will cause plants to extract less water from soil leaving plants to extract less water from soil leaving greater runoffs. greater runoffs. 

Increasing frequency and intensity of Increasing frequency and intensity of hurricanes, cyclones and monsoonshurricanes, cyclones and monsoons

CLIMATE CHANGE –WATER CLIMATE CHANGE –WATER CYCLE CYCLE cont’dcont’d

Global water resources will be significantly impacted Global water resources will be significantly impacted with respect to the frequency and severity of with respect to the frequency and severity of extreme events of drought and flooding, e.g. in extreme events of drought and flooding, e.g. in Pakistan, China, India and Bangladesh and more Pakistan, China, India and Bangladesh and more recently Mexico.recently Mexico.

Right now our negotiators are engaged in battle in Right now our negotiators are engaged in battle in Tianjin, China in the lead up to the Cancun meeting. Tianjin, China in the lead up to the Cancun meeting. Next month right here in Grenada a major Ministerial Next month right here in Grenada a major Ministerial meeting will be convened to address the key meeting will be convened to address the key concerns and to agree on the desired outcome – in concerns and to agree on the desired outcome – in mitigation, in adaptation, in finance, in technology mitigation, in adaptation, in finance, in technology and in capacity building.   and in capacity building.   

In Grenada, the impacts of climate In Grenada, the impacts of climate change are already being experienced.change are already being experienced.

This year we experienced the worst This year we experienced the worst drought in decades. Earlier this year we drought in decades. Earlier this year we had an 80 percent deficit in rainfall had an 80 percent deficit in rainfall levels. levels.

CLIMATE CHANGE - CLIMATE CHANGE - GRENADA EXPERIENCEGRENADA EXPERIENCE

Grenada Experience cont’dGrenada Experience cont’d

Graveyards are disappearing in our sister-isle of Graveyards are disappearing in our sister-isle of Carriacou. Carriacou.

Loss of agricultural land and land productivity, reduction Loss of agricultural land and land productivity, reduction in fish catch and spawning, destruction of coral reefs in fish catch and spawning, destruction of coral reefs and mangroves and our coastal areas are becoming and mangroves and our coastal areas are becoming more susceptible to flooding – all in a country that is more susceptible to flooding – all in a country that is highly dependent on agriculture and tourism.highly dependent on agriculture and tourism.

Hurricane Ivan in 2004 destroyed 90 percent Hurricane Ivan in 2004 destroyed 90 percent of our built infrastructure and natural of our built infrastructure and natural ecosystems and amounted to damage ecosystems and amounted to damage estimated to the tune of 200 percent of the estimated to the tune of 200 percent of the annual gross domestic productannual gross domestic product. .

Hurricane Emily in 2005.Hurricane Emily in 2005.

Grenada in its role as Chairman of Grenada in its role as Chairman of the Alliance of Small Island States the Alliance of Small Island States

(AOSIS)(AOSIS)

Will continue to lead the charge in the call for Will continue to lead the charge in the call for global average temperature increases to be global average temperature increases to be limited to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius limited to well below 1.5 degrees Celsius

And for the global community to fulfill its And for the global community to fulfill its commitment and disburse the 30 billion US commitment and disburse the 30 billion US dollars Fast Start Climate Change Funding dollars Fast Start Climate Change Funding for the period 2010 to 2012for the period 2010 to 2012

I WISH YOU…………….I WISH YOU…………….

A successful conference and exhibition A successful conference and exhibition that will bring:that will bring:

Firm commitments and resolutionsFirm commitments and resolutions

New knowledge and experienceNew knowledge and experience

Greater partnerships among all Greater partnerships among all stakeholdersstakeholders

THANK YOUTHANK YOU