Caribbean Tourism Organization member countries have only 1% of the world’s population but attracts 3% of global tourism arrivals and expenditure. TCI tourism product is largely based on the country’s natural assets of sea, sand, sun and its marine biodiversity. Most of the country’s tourism plant is in its coastal habitat, making the product extremely vulnerable to the impacts of Climate Change. The impacts of Climate Change can impact the country’s famed Queen Conch and the Spiny Lobster.

There is no argument – the world’s climate is changing. The earth’s climate is changing, because human activities have increased the amount of Green House Gases (GHGs) in our atmosphere. We burn GHGs producing fossil fuels for our homes, businesses, hotels, and for our transportation needs. Excess GHGs in the atmosphere makes the earth warmer; thus resulting in climate change.  2014 was ranked as the warmest year on record, with global temperatures 0.68C (1.24F) above the long term average, according to NASA and NOAA researchers.

Increases in temperatures will manifest itself with extremes in temperature, increases in the frequency and intensity of tropical storms, droughts and floods, making tourism dependent destinations, such as TCI, more vulnerable to the adverse impacts of these types of natural disasters.

While Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), including TCI, contributes less than 1% to Global Green House Gas Emissions, they bear the greatest burden to the multiple impacts of Climate Change. For example, Hurricane Ivan in 2004 resulted in estimated direct losses of US$900 Million in Grenada, more than twice the country’s GDP, with over 90% of hotel stock damaged or destroyed. 

Given that Caribbean Islands are small in size, in particular small multiple island states such as TCI, any disaster can potentially destroy decades of public/private sector capital investments and development, often followed by a slow and costly recovery process.

The evidence is clear, our earth is warming and the implications are significant. Climate Change is happening!

In the last century the global climate average temperature has increased by 1.4 °F; with projected rise of 2-11.5 °F in the next 100 years. Although these changes in temperature may appear to be small and insignificant, it translate to significant changes in climate, weather and sea level rise.

In recent years many places have experienced more floods, droughts, and intense storms due to changes in precipitation. Ice caps are melting, sea levels are rising and oceans are becoming more acidic due to the warming caused by climate change.

When we look at the increasing frequency and intensity of meteorological changes that are occurring, we can not refuse to recognize the current and future challenges faced by our society, economy and environment. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (2013) “a warming climate will bring changes that can affect our water supplies, agriculture, power and transportation systems, the natural environment and our health and safety”. Ultimately our global economy is therefore at risk.

The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), although may play a very small contributing role to global climate change, is one of the most vulnerable. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), small, low-lying developing states are the most vulnerable to global climate change and sea level rise. Rise in sea level will: inundate wetlands and lowlands, erode shorelines, exacerbate coastal flooding, increase salinity of aquifers thereby impairing water quality.

The prospects are daunting as small island states within in the Caribbean, remain in a state of increased vulnerability.

With a population in access of 40 million people, “higher temperatures, rises in sea level, and increased hurricane intensity threaten lives, property and livelihoods throughout the Caribbean region”.

In addition to this, like the rest of the Caribbean, the TCI’s beautiful beaches, coral reefs, mangroves, fisheries, bird life, and essentially the tourism products and the livelihoods which are focused on the coast are all threatened by climate change.

It is therefore essential that the TCI and its stakeholders take the necessary response (adaptation) measures to combat climate change in the Turks and Caicos Islands.