Climate Change
"Climate change is an issue that is now firmly on the world stage, and is believed by many to be one of the greatest challenges humans will face this century and beyond."
The report "The Impact of Climate Change on Bermuda", written by Dr. Anne Glasspool and commissioned by the Bermuda National Trust (BNT) with the support of Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd., addresses significant social, economic and environmental implications associated with forecasted climate change effects.
This report brings home, the major messages and projects the potential social, economic and environmental threats facing Bermuda. The key findings and forecasted threats to Bermuda outlined in the report include:
a) Internationally, current fuel consumption patterns and the production of harmful greenhouse gases will consistently and increasingly drive climate change which will contribute to rising sea levels;
b) About 14% of Bermuda’s land area could be at risk of flooding during high tides;
c) Increasing storm intensity poses a real and present danger of serious temporary flooding, which will be exacerbated by sea level rise;
d) Forecasted sea level rise threatens critical infrastructure including the airport;
e) Local agriculture will suffer, but rising temperatures may benefit local fisheries;
f) Important local habitats and wildlife species will be threatened;
g) Bermuda is better placed than many small islands to mitigate the risks; and
h) The basic framework to respond to climate change is already in place with the Sustainable Development Plan.
It is expected that this report will also serve as a framework for developing a coordinated approach to climate change, which broadens the range of solutions and increases our capacity for mitigation and adaptation.
By addressing anticipated climate change effects head on, Bermuda will have an opportunity to build resilience, improve management of our natural resources and protect the well-being of our community.
A youth-friendly version "Climate Change on the Rock: what it all means" has also be written by Dr. Anne Glasspool and released by the BNT. Covering the same issues for Bermuda, it presents the information in a more simplified manner.
