Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis speaks at Climate Week NYC 2024 on September 22.
By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis warned that the world can no longer afford “business as usual” on climate action, as global temperatures have now exceeded the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold for an entire year, putting both humanity and vulnerable nations like The Bahamas at risk.
Experts say failing to remain below the 1.5 degrees threshold significantly increases the risks of severe climate impacts, including more frequent and intense heatwaves, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels.
Speaking at Climate Week NYC 2024 on Sunday, Mr Davis expressed alarm that the global temperature threshold had been exceeded for the first time over a full year. He urged world leaders to take bold action, reframing climate action as an opportunity rather than a sacrifice.
“I understand that tackling climate change presents a unique challenge. It requires us to make decisions today that may not yield immediate benefits,” he said, noting that leaders often face pressure from election cycles and short-term results. “But we, as global leaders, need to reframe the narrative. Climate action is about creating new industries, new jobs, and new pathways to prosperity and security.”
Mr Davis highlighted the devastating impact of climate change on The Bahamas, where hurricanes like Dorian and Matthew have led to an ongoing cycle of borrowing to rebuild. He warned that the country’s vulnerability to climate crises makes sustained development difficult and contributes to escalating debt.
“After Hurricane Matthew, The Bahamas faced significant recovery costs, compounded by Hurricane Dorian just three years later,” he said. “This recurring pattern of destruction and recovery creates a perpetual state of vulnerability.”
He also emphasised the threat climate change poses to biodiversity, mentioning that the Bahama Warbler has not been seen in Abaco since Hurricane Dorian.
Calling for a radical shift in how the world tackles the climate crisis, Prime Minister Davis urged fossil fuel companies to be held accountable for the cost of their actions. He reaffirmed The Bahamas’ commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent and transitioning to 30 percent renewable energy by 2030, with plans to install solar farms in the capital, build hybrid grids on the Family Islands, and harness Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) for clean energy.
Additionally, he noted the government’s efforts to protect seagrass meadows, which serve as significant carbon sinks, and to develop a blue carbon methodology to leverage carbon credits. A coral gene bank is also being established to preserve ecosystems for future generations.
Comments
Dawes 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Need to start this concern at home. There is construction on Athol island which should never have been touched and which is destroying its environment. Not sure if the PM knows who is doing it but maybe he can find out and stop it. Then there are multiple marinas being built throughout the country which is destroying the environment. I wish that someone at these meetings would say to the PM that saving the Enviromint starts at home.
bahamianson 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Srop talking foolishness!!!!! You so not believe in campaign finance laws , but you believe that countries should send billions to politicians , so they can have more sweethearts, more friends and family connection. The bahamian people will never feel the effects of that money. Politicians will just have more money to waste. Get our finances in order before you ask for billions. This is disgusting.
moncurcool 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Anyone believe that in the next 6 years our government can even get to 5%?
ExposedU2C 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Doesn't seem to bother him that many Bahamians can no longer afford food, water, medicines, electricity, gasoline, etc., etc., etc.
You can just see the shiit oozing out of every orifice of his stumpy body as he chants the climate mantra whenever his foreign masters tell him to do so.
ThisIsOurs 1 month, 2 weeks ago
The goal is to get speaking engagements. All well and good. But what's supremely baffling is that these scientists are choosing him as a beacon for climate action while we pouring concrete in wetlands and cutting down hills in the face of flooding
ExposedU2C 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Yup, corrupt stumpy Davis and his wife just love their shopping trips to NYC to attend climate change events at the expense of Bahamian taxpayers.
AnObserver 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Can't afford business as usual, yet you, as the govt of this country, burn diesel fuel 24x7 running generators. If a country like Germany, with very little sun can be primarily powered by solar, what the hell are we doing burning diesel?
ExposedU2C 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Solar power to meet our country's electrification needs would require vast land fields of solar panels, literally hundreds and hundreds of acres as far as the eye can see. And our small nation certainly does not have an abundance of land.
trueBahamian 1 month, 2 weeks ago
The PM likes his talking points. He looks serious and always sounds like he's hard at it working for the people. Lol. This man is a joke. He's pretty much in party mode all the time. The million dollar question is who is actually running this country. Another million dollar question is, can we hire a bunch of forensic accountants yo go through the books of all the government ministries and corporations? Then hire a foreign legal team to indict, judge and sentence all of these thieves. This PM is vybfarvtge worse we've had and that's saying a lot given the terrible line up we've had over our entire history. We Need to be like the French, the US, etc wginactually send their politicians and other senior government officials to prison for corruption.
ExposedU2C 1 month, 2 weeks ago
The US government is well aware that the ChiComs have provided our most corrupt current and former political leaders with bank accounts and other banking facilities in places like Hong Kong.
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