June 24, 2024
Thousands of miles of sapphire blue waters embrace the over 700 islands, cays, and islets of The Bahamas. The most beautiful country on Earth; as described by its Prime Minister, Phillip Davis, is also one of the most climate vulnerable. This small island nation is spread across 100,000 mi2 of the Atlantic Ocean and lies within the Atlantic Hurricane Belt.
Don’t let the perceivable small size of this CARICOM member state fool you. The Bahamas is a leader in the fight against climate change. Despite continually being impacted by storms leaving behind billions of dollars in damage, the people of Lucayan Archipelago continue to thrive. The country’s vulnerability to severe weather events caused by hydro-meteorological disasters is pronounced. The devastation left behind by Hurricane Dorian in 2019 and recently by Tropical Storm Nicole (2022) is clear evidence of this reality.
As the country nears 51 years of independence, it continues its efforts to adapt to our increasingly warming plant, remaining on the frontline of the climate crisis.
Approximately 80% of The Bahamas’ landmass is situated less than 1 to 1.5 meters above sea level, making the country highly susceptible to flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise. Hurricane Dorian devastated 73% of the mangrove cover on the island of Grand Bahama and around 40% on the Abacos.
Mangrove ecosystems offer a wide array of vital services to the nation. In addition to providing crucial coastal protection from flooding and storm surges, mangroves stabilize coastlines, thereby safeguarding coastal communities from erosion. These ecosystems serve as biodiversity hotspots, offering habitat and breeding grounds for numerous marine species. Furthermore, mangroves play a significant role in carbon sequestration, capturing carbon from the atmosphere and helping mitigate climate change. They also act as natural water filters, improving water quality by trapping sediments and pollutants. Through these multifaceted contributions, mangrove ecosystems are indispensable to the health and resilience of both the environment and local communities.
Over 70,000 mangrove trees have been planted between Grand Bahama, and the Abacos since the start of the recovery. The goal is to replant 100,000 in the hardest hit areas of the hurricane. Bahamians from all walks of life have participated in the mangrove restoration of the country.
This CARICOM member state is among the leaders of nations worldwide now juggling to adapt to the climate reality while rebuilding from the devastating impact. This can also be observed in its work to roll out renewable sources of energy.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) is also supporting The Bahamas in meeting its climate resilience and renewable energy goals through the Intra ACP – GCCA+ Project. To enhance the country’s forecasting ability to detect threats to coral reef ecosystems, the CCCCC spearheaded the deployment of Coral Reef Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Stations.
The Andros Barrier Reef, located in The Bahamas, is the third largest in the barrier reef and third largest living organism on the planet. It houses a wide range of marine life, over 164 species of fish and coral. The ecosystem is susceptible to heat stress being experienced across the Atlantic. This leads to coral bleaching.
Bleached corals are essentially starving. The life-sustaining algae, residing within their tissues, depart from the coral when ocean temperature rise just 1 – 2 °C above the maximum monthly average. The algae is a primary source of nutrition. The damage corals sustain from marine heat waves depends on the heat’s duration and intensity.
The CREWS stations rolled out in The Bahamas is equipping the nation with essential monitoring tools for the coral reef. CREWS empowers them to step up risk planning, management, and crucial actions to safeguard these vital ecosystems.
Also, under this protect, steps to determine the feasibility of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversation Technology (OTEC) and retrofit solar photovoltaic systems to existing Saltwater Reverse Osmosis Facilities (SWRO) is underway. Currently, the SWRO facility provides more than 50% of the potable water supply to the Bahamian population. This project seeks to reduce The Bahamas’ dependence on fossil fuels and jointly build climate resilience within the water and energy sector.
Rolling out 30% renewable energy sources to the grid is a part of the 2030 goal of the country. The Ministry of Housing has developed plans to make it mandatory to incorporate renewable energy within housing and development projects. Developments will be required to incorporate Solar Water Heaters, Solar PV Systems, and other energy-efficient technology during the construction phase.
Decarbonizing its electrical grid is in line with the country’s goals laid out in its Nationally Determined Contributions 2021. The government has worked with partners like Rocky Mountain Institute to develop stormproof solar installations.
Over the recent years, The Bahamas has become a model for small islands. Microgrids installed across islands have increased their resilience and reduced energy generation costs.
As The Bahamas celebrates its 51st Independence, the nation exemplifies resilience and perseverance for all small island nations. Despite facing numerous challenges owing to climate change, The Bahamas continues to demonstrate unwavering strength and adaptability. Its ability to navigate and overcome these obstacles serves as an inspiration and a model of hope and determination for small island communities globally.
Happy Independence Day The Bahamas!
