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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Bahamas Information Services Updates
Press Statement March 14th, 2014 Bahamas Ministry of the Environment and Housing Los Cabos, Mexico - Minister of the Environment and Housing, Hon. Kenred Dorsett, traveled to Los Cabos, Mexico this week to attend the 19th Forum for Environmental Ministers in Latin America and the Caribbean. While there Minister Dorsett addressed those assembled Thursday urging the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) to appreciate that the vulnerabilities of Latin America is different from the Caribbean, his intervention was made during the Ministerial talks. Minister Dorsett expressed the need for ECLAC to have "a balanced approach" to their ongoing efforts. He said "All of the attention cannot be on Latin America to the detriment of the Caribbean". He further told the gathering that "approximately 80% of the Bahamas is within one meter of mean sea level. Therefore, the adverse impacts of Climate Change and sea level rise is real for The Bahamas. Action must be taken now as it not only affects our way of life but will impact lives in our country." On the issue of national political will to address Climate Change, Minister Dorsett said, "the political will to change exists. We are advancing Forestry, the protection of our near shore environment by establishing Marine Protected Areas, renewable energy and the protection of our bio-diversity and Eco-systems, but financing is critically important to implementation". He further stated the Bahamas is not a "global polluter". He issued a call to greater action for the developed world and said "the developed world must provide the financial mechanisms to assist The Bahamas with adaptation and mitigation efforts. Our vulnerability should determine our ability to access international funding, not our per capita income!" The meetings are expected to wrap up today and the minister is expected back in the capital this weekend.
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