Social Impact with Emma » Small Island Developing States : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Tackling Climate Change on Several Fronts

March 1st, 2017

Despite what the new President of the United States says, climate change is real. It is with us, here and now. I believe developing countries such as ours have fully acknowledged this fact (as well as ninety-something per cent of scientists). After all, we are already feeling the effects. Jamaicans may not look at regular […]

Reggae Music Sustains Caribbean Climate Change Campaign

March 1st, 2016

Remember the slogan: One Point Five to Stay Alive? Well, the Caribbean campaign to keep global temperatures to a maximum 1.5 degree rise had an extraordinary impact on the COP21 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris last December. And musicians helped to amplify the message, guided and encouraged by the dedicated team at Panos Caribbean. […]

The Cliffhanger of Climate Change: Where Are the Citizens’ Voices?

June 10th, 2015

The French do love the word “citizen” (“citoyen” in French) and I like it, too. It signifies strength and purpose; someone who has a positive role to play in their nation. So on Monday morning, I was pleased to attend a “citizens’ debate” organized by the French Embassy in Jamaica, to discuss the broad issue of […]

Making The Case, Over and Over: On The Pathway to a Green Economy

February 24th, 2015

It was Kermit the Frog who sang, in that lugubrious voice of his: “It’s not easy being green…” For the Caribbean, it appears, it has not been easy so far to persuade regional governments and private sectors that greening our economies is the way to go. Speaking at the Caribbean Green Economy Conference 2015 in Kingston […]

Caribbean Journalists in Lima: Making Climate Change Real

November 12th, 2014

When the term “climate change” is mentioned, some people’s eyes glaze over. Others suppress a sigh. The truth is, many of us in the Caribbean and beyond still find the topic obscure and confusing. It is science – and not particularly straight forward science, either. There are uncertainties and contradictions, different theories and perspectives. Some […]

Islands on the Edge – Together

September 2nd, 2014

A few weeks ago, I attended the annual meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for a day. It was a celebration of the ISA’s twentieth anniversary, and the meeting was in celebratory mood. As I stepped into the conference room, I was immediately fascinated by a representative from the Asia-Pacific Group, standing by the […]

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