Caribbean Countries Forced to Adapt to Rising Seas

Rising seas are an ongoing climate concern for Caribbean countries. As carbon emissions persist and climate disasters heighten, these climate challenges pose imminent health and socio-economic risks for coastal communities.

Cane Garden Bay. Credit: Freeman Rogers via BVI Beacon

The Caribbean is exceedingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Such vulnerability is due to the proximity of coastlines, the geographical structure of low-lying islands, and susceptibility to weather events such as tropical storms and hurricanes. Limited adaptation and mitigation strategies, inaccessibility to resources, and the lack of adequate educational campaigns on climate change also contribute to the region’s vulnerability. 

As the Caribbean remains prone to severe climate disasters, increasing temperatures also lead to hazardous conditions for land and marine spaces. Excessive heat creates thermal expansion which contributes to increased frequency and strength of weather events. As more than 90 percent of trapped heat is absorbed by oceans, this is a leading factor in rising sea levels and its associated risks. One country at extreme risk is The Bahamas.

Sea walk in The Bahamas. Credit: Desmond Brown via Informed Comment.

In The Bahamas, the majority of the population resides in Nassau, a city that is no more than 10m above sea level. With accelerating rising sea levels in the city and neighboring areas, the island is at increased risk of flooding, damage to coral reefs, infrastructural damage, and displacement of communities.

Ashawnté Russell, a Bahamian resident and active environmentalist, shared that citizens have borne witness to how coastline erosion has increased climate vulnerability due to unfiltered waves. She said, “The rise in sea level has caused a ripple effect in our ecosystems. Coastlines are protected by the presence of coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves, all of which have been impacted by a spike in ocean levels.” 

These natural habitats protect coastal communities against the impacts of waves and storms. Increased sea levels result in significant loss and degradation of these barriers due to to the intensity of waves, limited access to light, rising water temperatures, and ocean acidification. 

Navigating life on an island that is predicted to be underwater in a few decades brings forth a grave sense of urgency to develop adaptation and monitoring strategies.

Land projected to be below the annual flood level by 2100 due to annual flooding and sea-level rise (shown in red) in the Bahamas. Credit: Science Direct

One proposed strategy is to develop web-based tools to monitor the impact of sea level rise, as stated by the Bahamas’ Prime Minister, Philip “Brave” Davis. In emphasizing the need for global collective effort, he added, “Our country will not be able to manage the impacts of climate change without significant collaboration and assistance from global partners.”

Many other Caribbean nations are working towards strategies for rising sea levels. In Grenada, the implementation of a National Cooling Action Plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry.

For The Bahamas, Ashawnté shared that Coral Vita, a research organization on the island of Grand Bahama, strives to address the challenges coral reefs face, from climate change to anthropogenic challenges. In Dominica, through their climate resilience initiatives, they have erected several sea and river walls for community protection. The Cayman Islands have implemented tide gauges to measure tidal waves and sea levels.

Tide gauge to measure sea activity in the Cayman Islands. Credit: Cayman News

Caribbean countries are collectively learning from each other’s plights and strategies in the journey toward climate justice and resilience. It is imperative that we strengthen regional networks for collaboration on adaptation strategies to build climate-resilient communities across the region. Through consistent hazard identification, monitoring systems, and adaptation measures, countries impacted by sea-level rise will be equipped with the necessary resources and measures for protection.

Princess Avianne Charles is a Trinidadian writer and blogger with articles in the fields of human rights, climate and environmental justice, and occupational safety and health. She is an advocate for labor rights, mental health, disability rights, and climate justice. With a degree in Occupational Safety and Health, she centers her work on providing safer spaces and risk-reduction strategies for communities and the environment.

Image Source: Abaco island in The Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian, Credit: Alison Harding, USAID