“Now more than ever, events and scientific evidence are making clear that, yes, 1.5 degrees is a critical threshold with respect to future Caribbean viability. The time to act to achieve 1.5 is fast running out,” said Professor Michael Taylor, a physicist who was a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC’s) special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius. That report painted a clear picture of the raft of challenges that would face regions such as the Caribbean should global warming exceed 1.5. “This Conference of the Parties (COP) represents one of the few remaining opportunities to get global commitment to actions and emissions compatible with the 1.5 goal. The COP is appropriately focused, but will require bold global leadership if it is to make a difference. That leadership must not only come from developed countries, but must also come from the Caribbean and other developing nations,” added Taylor, who is also dean of the faculty of science and technology at The University of the West Indies.

Debris from a house lies next to a road after strong winds of Hurricane Elsa passed St. Michael, Barbados, July 2, 2021. (Reuters Photo)