Page 24 - The Caribbean Examiner 1-2020

THE CARIBBEAN EXAMINER

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

The Caribbean Region faces increasing environmental
resources, inadequate management of urbanization proliferation Environmental
challenges arising primarily from the exploitation of natural
and adverse impacts of climate change. These issues are
They influence the economic, physical and social dimensions of Behaviour
increasing in complexity and impact on virtually every sector.

a country, diminish the quality of life of its citizens and impede
sustainable development of the Region. Additionally, the global By Dr Samantha Chadee
slowdown in economic growth has reinforced itself in reduced Assistant Professor, Environmental Studies,
The University of Trinidad and Tobago
prices of energy products produced in the Region and has
contributed to serious revenue constraints which will inevitably
impact Governments’ abilities to foster development in the way
they have been doing over the past decades.
The post-2015 development agenda, which promotes
equality; conservation of land, air and water; energy efficiency;
and responsible consumption and production, as impressive as it
is, requires significant resources.
These factors necessitate the optimisation of the approach
towards development in an environmentally sustainable manner,
to make better use of resources and to rethink and reengineer
the paradigms of developmental approaches.
Improved development outcomes have always been
associated with an increase in generation and transmission of
innovations and technology. These have greatly contributed
to enhancements in quality of life: improving access to critical
services and facilities including food, choice of different
goods and services, improving mobility, improved sanitary
conditions, clean water, improved health care and a multitude of
entertainment and recreational services. However, in the pursuit
to improve quality of life, the impacts of anthropogenic activities
on the physical environment – within which the boundaries of
vital ecosystems are found have been historically ignored.
There is the need for a more holistic perspective on
environmental challenges which recognizes that an increase in
human population and activities with the concomitant complexity
of its possible positive and adverse impacts, has made it no
longer feasible to view human beings along with their built and
social environments, as separate entities from nature.

PROMOTE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR

24 VOLUME 19 • ISSUE NO. 1 • 2020 www.cxc.org VOLUME 19 • ISSUE NO. 1 • 2020 www.cxc.org
24