Hanley urges climate action, saying small islands cannot adapt forever to a crisis others drive

BASSETERRE, St Kitts. Dr Geoffrey Hanley, acting prime minister of St Kitts and Nevis, has urged the international community to take immediate action on climate change, warning that small island developing states (SIDS) cannot keep dealing with the effects of a crisis they did little to create.

Dr Hanley noted that severe drought had affected St Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean, with rainfall 44 per cent below average by the end of May.

"We are investing in resilient infrastructure, but no Small Island Developing State can adapt indefinitely to a crisis the world continues to intensify," he said. "Adaptation cannot excuse inaction elsewhere."

He warned that rising temperatures and sea levels threaten island communities, as well as their sovereignty and statehood.

Finance and emissions

Dr Hanley called for reduced emissions, improved adaptation, delivery on climate-finance commitments and support for the countries most affected by climate change.

"Those who contributed least must not pay the greatest price," he said.

He also called for greater support for small island states in protecting marine biodiversity and in gaining access to capacity-building, marine technology, scientific expertise and financing.

Measuring vulnerability

Dr Hanley urged international financial institutions to take account of the vulnerability of SIDS to disasters and economic shocks by using the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index in development-financing decisions.

"We are not asking that Gross National Income be discarded; we are asking that it stop being expected to tell a story it was never designed to tell," he said.

"If vulnerability can be measured, it must be considered."