St Ann businessman and philanthropist Joe Issa, who misses few chances to raise awareness of the harsh reality of global warming, is upbeat about the recent wave of International testimonies, stating that perchance the Caribbean will get well deserved attention, in terms of building resiliance to climate change.
Cool Group chairman Joe Issa IMF managing director Christine Lagarde
“I am not a scientist and I don’t think you need to be one to accept that global warming is impacting the kinds of disasters we are seeing today the world over and here in the Caribbean; the information is all over, and I mean from credible sources.
“I am glad the scientific, economic and social development communities are turning up their belief that climate change is impacting all countries and are raising awareness of the critical importance of disaster mitigation nitiatives for greater resiliance.
“Some times what is said is not half as important as who said it. Either way I think with so many scientists coming on board and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) supporting their claims, funding agencies will be more willing to listen and support disaster mitigation projects around the world especially in the Caribbean.
“As for our own advocasy I don’t think we make enough of the fact that the Caribbean islands are not only in the line of fire of weather systems from the Atlantic, but as a basin it is also the first line of defense for the US (United States) mainland and its Caribbean territories, as well as the UK (United Kingdom) territories in the region.
“I think the Caribbean basin can argue the case for more funding support from the major doner countries in light of the fact that it actually shields the US mainland from hurricanes. Many of them die out by the time they have wrecked the islands,” said Issa, in an interview, as he puts his own spin on the region’s strategic value.
Issa was commenting on utterances by heads of the world association of scientists and IMF about the reality of global warming and the need to take it seriously and mitigate its impact.
A recent Independent UK article reported that 15,000 scientists from around the world have given catastrophic warning about the fate of the world in a new ‘letter to humanity’, stating “time is running out.” The message is said to be an update of the 25-year-old original warning sent from the Union of Concerned Scientists that was backed by 1,700 signatures.
More recently, managing director of the IMF Christine Lagarde has come out with a call for funding agencies to support reconstruction and disaster management and mitigation efforts in the Caribbean especially those ravished by recent hurricanes, citing that global warming is at play.
Just earlier, while blaming climate change head of the United Nations called for the removal of impediments to the Caribbean islands’ access to aid funding, in light of the recent destruction.
Joseph Issa goes Global! 