CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Cuba a Leader in Addressing Climate Change

The Eighth International Conference on Disaster and the Fourth International Conference of Fire-fighters concluded on Thursday at Havana’s Convention Center. During a presentation on global climate change, the Cuban first vice minister of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), Fernando González said that Cuba is highly vulnerable to climate change because it is a small insular state, located in the tropical region of the planet.

CUBA, June 21, 2010.- The Eighth International Conference on Disaster and the Fourth International Conference of Fire-fighters concluded on Thursday at Havana’s Convention Center.

During a presentation on global climate change, the Cuban first vice minister of Science, Technology and the Environment (CITMA), Fernando González said that Cuba is highly vulnerable to climate change because it is a small insular state, located in the tropical region of the planet.

González said that the increase of the average sea level is considered as the main threat to Cuba and added that it may not alarm many people due to the gradual nature of land loss and salinization of aquifers, however it is extremely damaging.  

The CITMA vice minister stressed that the main current and future danger in Cuba is the increase in sea levels from surge and swells during extreme events.

González announced that the second version of the Early Warning Map of the Cuban Archipelago was concluded in 2009, paying special attention to the increase of the average sea level for the years 2050-2100. He added that sand beaches, mangrove swamps and coral reefs are being assessed, as well their role in the protection of our coasts and the need to implement new measures.

Regarding temperature, González said that there has been an increase of 0.60C in the average annual temperature compared to 1951; in addition, the summer season is longer, and the winter shorter. 

González explained that there have also been significant variations in the Cuban climate from the mid 1970s. In the last 40 years the sea level has raised 2.14 mm per year and drought has increased remarkably, especially in the eastern provinces.

The CITMA first vice minister said that Cuba’s current national environmental strategy prioritizes reversing soil degradation, impact on the forest cover, contamination, loss of biological diversity and drought.  

In October 2007, Cuba approved the Program to Address Climate Change and is today a leader in mitigating its effects. (Cubaminrex-Juventud Rebelde)