The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

Scientists have said they are “most concerned” about Disney Cruise Line’s failure to-date to address climate change and Marine Protected Area (MOA) issues relating to its south Eleuthera project.

Dr David Philipp, chair of the board of directors for the Fisheries Conservation Foundation, told his Disney counterpart that he and 23 other scientists had accepted the cruise line’s offer to discuss the environmental review underway for its Lighthouse Point project.

Yet his December 10 letter to Dr Mark Penning, Disney’s vice-president of animal science and environment, said: “We also want to express our disappointment with the lack of your acknowledgement of two of our most fundamental concerns: climate change, particularly after Hurricane Dorian, and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs.)

“A recent study using new models finds that the risks of sea level rise are greater than earlier predicted, with The Bahamas being the most vulnerable country in the Caribbean... Perhaps most concerning is that your response chose to ignore climate change and Marine Protected Areas.​

“Climate change poses serious and intensifying threats to The Bahamas, and Marine Protected Areas such as the one proposed at Lighthouse Point serve a critical role in the mitigation of its impacts. MPAs in general, and Lighthouse Point in particular, are essential to the resiliency of our oceans already under immense pressure.”

Dr Philipp also urged his Disney counterpart to specify “the wildly speculative and misinformed rhetoric being shared by those who oppose the project”, which he had “seemed to imply” that the 24 scientists had relied upon in their previous letter.

“We are eager to review with you ways to assure that we and other concerned scientists and citizens are not misled by any misinformation (from whatever the source) in weighing decisions on the future of such an important area,” he added.

“We assume that Disney’s environmental review of the proposed project will take into account sea level rise and other climate change impacts. How will the potential for more intense hurricanes and storm surges be factored into the decision as to whether this is an appropriate site for a cruise ship port?

“Will the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) consider whether or not the proposed cruise port will exacerbate climate change or decrease ocean resiliency? How does the prospect of more sea level rise affect the economics of the project and the consideration of alternative sites? All of these are critical questions that must be addressed by the EIA,” Dr Philipp continued.

“The world and Disney can no longer afford to deny or ignore the realities of a changing climate and a deteriorating ocean. Disney has an opportunity to change course here and to work with us and the Bahamian environmental community to chart a route to a more sustainable future.”

Bahamian members of the Last Chance for Lighthouse Point group, which is aiming to halt a project already approved by the government, also weighed in.

Sam Dumcombe, executive director of reEarth, said: “An environmental review that was truly up to international standards would have included the input of all stakeholders, especially the environmental community, from the start. That being said, we still welcome the opportunity to have a productive conversation about the future of Lighthouse Point and potential sustainable alternatives.”

Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, executive director of BREEF, added: “​There is still no publicly available information about the scope of the EIA, and this is of great concern. As part of the process, we would expect to see full and transparent consultations with the groups and experts who have decades of experience with environments across The Bahamas and at Lighthouse Point.”

Marc Yaggi, executive director, Waterkeeper Alliance, said: “​Disney needs to stop ignoring climate change at Lighthouse Point. Disney has an opportunity to change course here and to work with the scientists and with the Bahamian environmental community to chart a new course to a more sustainable future for Eleuthera and The Bahamas.”