Cuba USA

¨Man, a species in danger of extinction.“

Has Cuba evaluated strategies to mitigate the climate change?

By: Mayte María Jiménez

Source: Juventud Reblede

Cuba confronts challenges regarding the environment and does so not only through policies designed in the sector but through economic and social strategies for a sustainable development and a process for adapting to a climate change that can no longer be put off, explained doctor Gisela Alonso Domínguez, president of the Agency for the Environment of Cuba.

Perhaps 2050 seems far away but dealing with the environment we refer to an immediate reality. Making a rapid account we find that by this date the young people will be on aging, while the children or unborn will spend their youths or childhood in that period. Then, from now on we will be living in the most complex planet ever, with high temperatures, rise in sea level and increase of hydro-meteorological events and vulnerabilities of human health.

In Cuba the situation will not be different. Forecasts indicate that by 2050 there will be a rise of 27 centimeters in sea level with a loss of 2,31 percent of raised surface (lands above sea level) and by 2100 it is probable that the average sea level may be increased 80 centimeters with a loss of 5.44 percent of raised land and more than 120 human coastal settlements will suffer these effects.

In face of these forecasts the largest island of the Antilles confronts large challenges that are already assumed, not only regarding the environment but also related to economic and social strategies employed towards a sustainable development and a process of adaptation to an unstoppable climate change.

Referring these problems and the current environment policy, supported by the Cuban Agency for the Environment, JR spoke to Doctor Gisela Alonso Domínguez, president of this organization that received this year the National Prize of the Environment and has dedicated her entire life in scientific research in this sector.

Graduate in Chemical Sciences of the University of Havana and PhD in Biological Sciences, she is honor member of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and presides over AMA since 1998. She is a tireless researcher with a great sense of belonging; she has undertaken many actions in

the implementation of environmental policy of the country and boosted national scientific projects with other institutions of the country.

In her work in the agency she integrates the coordination with the Institute of Meteorology; the Institute of Ecology and Taxonomy; the Institute of Geography, Oceanography, Geophysics and Astronomy; the Center of Marine Bio actives; the National Aquarium of Cuba and the

Museum of Natural History. “It is not simple work – she confesses – but is achievable since we count on the integration of multi-disciplinary teams that supply the best they have every day”.

Among its functions the agency is in charge of coordinating the studies of danger, vulnerability and risks during extreme natural events. What are the dangers of most impact in the future of Cuba?

“Let us begin by defining the world phenomenon of climate change that has its origin in the increase of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as a result of burning fossil fuels, methane released by changes in the use of land, cattle farming and nitrous oxide from industrial processes.

"In this context, our condition of being an archipelago and geographic location in the Caribbean Sea makes us highly vulnerable to natural dangers of hydro meteorological origin that occur and will occur.

“For Cuba, most dangerous are the increase of temperature, the rise in the sea level, extreme hydro meteorological events, season changes in rain rates and processes of droughts and intense rains.

“We speak of the impacts foreseen for 2050 of increased 27 centimeters in sea level and loss of 2,31 percent of risen land: meantime in 2100 could seriously affect more than 120 coastal settlements.

“However, work is ongoing in what is known as a macro project that precisely evaluates the impact of a rise in sea level on the coastal zone with 12 research projects with the participation of 13 research institutions and scientific and technological services that gather 300 experts.

“Future scenarios have been modeled, improved in new systems of early alert implemented. Since the last decade, disaster risk studies are integrated with the risk management in coordination with the National System of Civil Defense”.

- You commented that human health was becoming more vulnerable, given the climate changes and seasonal patterns. What are these risks? Is it an increased vulnerability of human health, as a direct result of the climate and seasonal patterns? In these circumstances are there more respiratory affectations or heart disease seen and an increase of vector transmitted diseases.

“With alterations of the ecosystems, also foreseen are a reappearance of diseases and the increase of viruses and microorganisms that do not exist today and that can mutate.”

-What strategies has the agency evaluated to mitigate these effects in Cuba?

“First it is important to offer information to the decision makers and specialists and increase the work of education and training in the country.

“Work is being developed in a scientific and technical program nationally that include basic research on the climate, modeling and large range impacts, studies of health and improvement of the systems of climate alert, not only weather forecasts but alerts of droughts, agricultural and meteorological events and their impact on the production of food, tourism and from a social point of view.

“It is important that all these results and knowledge be taken into account in the evaluation of new investments and be applied in the works of environment and territorial order.”

-How is the program conceived to confront climate change and adoption of measures?

“The program is controlled directly by the higher authorities of the country and include actions of mitigation that go from the implementation of an Energy Revolution, directed to achieve more energy efficiency to the assimilation of renewable sources emphasizing the eolic and solar.

“Added to this are actions of adaptation that include studies of danger, vulnerability and risks; impacts of the increased sea level on the coastal area of Cuba (current and future scenario); environment and risk management as well as programs and sector research projects and territorial order.

“Prepared are materials for education and environment culture and revision of current legislation on the environment, in correspondence with the updating of the Cuban economic model.”

-It has been demonstrated that 122 coastal settlements will be affected by the rise in sea level. How much time do we have to prepare for this situation?

“Several possible scenarios have been studied and evaluated.

Undoubtedly, human settlements in the coast are more vulnerable. As a result these are the most important in territorial plans. It is necessary to maintain work in all municipalities. All these studies and results are being used for decisions today, especially regarding those coastal settlements and also for future projects not only by the Government at a central level but also by local authorities.

“Although it is impossible to have a precise date when these territories will be affected, precautions should be taken that go from investments and constructions in localities that have been affected to a constant work to explain and make persons aware of risks”.

-Intensification of droughts is another problem to confront…

“The situation of water reserves is analyzed by the National Institute of Water reserves giving international forecasts that point to a 30% reduction of reserves for 2100 as well as problems of salinization of the aquifer as a result of the increased sea level. This is the reason for an insistence in saving and rational use of water since it is vital for the life of the population and the production of food”.

-Economic activities such as tourism will be affected by the climate change. In face of a situation that is not reversible, is it possible to adapt to new scenarios?

“Of course, every solution has an alternative. In the case of tourism, integral studies have been made and measures taken that include the protection of the coasts, the rehabilitation of the beaches, analyses of the construction projects and preservation of coastal lagoons and mangrove swamps.

“Also work is being done to reuse water and plants of treatment. Ecological tourism is promoted because it has less of an impact on the environment and the use of renewable energies, such as solar”.

-The country is undergoing a large process of updating and reorganization at different levels. How are these changes structured as a function of the agency?

“The entire process of re organization responds to guideline 133 approved in the 6th Congress of the Party that sets down the development of integral research to protect, conserve and rehabilitate the environment and adjust the environment policy to new projections of economic and social environment.

“As part of the regulations established is a priority for studies directed to confronting the climate change and, in general, the sustainability of development of the country as well as emphasizing the conservation and rational use of natural resources such as the soil, water, beaches, atmosphere, forests and biodiversity as well as promoting environmental education.”

-How is our country inserted in the dynamics of studies and international agreements?

“Cuba has had an important collaboration and complies with agreements by different nations as part of the Convention of the Framework of Climate Change.

“We maintain positions of principle. Our focus internationally has been denouncing irrational patterns of production and consumption of developed nations requiring more responsibility in the issue of environment contamination. Current models of development should be modified.

“Developing nations cannot be submitted to the same strategy of reduction of gasses since they have not equally influenced this process. The principle R92 agreed should be maintained regarding common responsibilities but differing among the States. The country should maintain a solidarity attitude especially with South-South cooperation in our region of Latin America and the Caribbean with joint research on the climate change”.

-Recently she was awarded the National Environment Prize for her life dedicated to research and study in this field. How do you evaluate development in this sector in the country and its implication with society?

-I believe that there is knowledge in Cuba that has been of key importance to boost the science of social and economic development. Through the policies designed since the triumph of the Revolution, several environment problems have been confronted in the past decades.

“The creation of research centers and the role of the universities in the country respond to a model that boosts development of science for the society with the incorporation of young people, from higher grade teaching in science.

“Thanks to the strategic though of Fidel our country has a valuable human potential that has allowed us, as a difference with other nations, to study, learn and manage our natural resources, our ecosystems and main environmental problems.”

-We have new generations of scientists. What would professor Gisela tell these new researchers?

-First they must have ethical and moral values and a marked commitment. Scientists must have a sense of belonging to their country and be motivated to search for new solutions for the welfare and quality of life for mankind and society.

“We must assume science as a social phenomenon. It is true there are many limitations but formulas must be sought. There is one truth: without knowledge and science there is no development”.

-If I have to define the importance of the environment for human existence, how would you do it?

-I think that the words of Fidel in the International Conference on the Environment called by the UN in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 are fundamental: “An important biological species is at risk of disappearing because of the rapid and progressive elimination of its natural conditions for life: man”

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