Cuba creates
climate change task force
A National Climate Change Group,
including a variety of state bodies and institutions,
has been created to evaluate measures designed to
mitigate the effects of climate change, and make
adaptations, according to Gisela Alonso Domínguez,
president of the Environmental Agency (AMA).
Represented on the task force are
the ministries of Science, Technology and
Environment; Agriculture; Education; Higher
Education; Industry; Transportation, and
Construction; in addition to the Institute of
Meteorology; the Water Resources Institute; the
World Economy Research Center, and the University of
Havana, among others.
An inventory of the most important
steps taken over the last 15 years has been made,
compiling experiences in a variety of economic
sectors and social arenas in relation to adaptive
measures being taken, she reported.
Alonso announced the Havana
presentation of a book on the impact of climate
change, and adaptive measures in Cuba, which will
serve as a reference given the vulnerability of the
Cuban archipelago to rising sea levels, changing
patterns of precipitation, and extreme weather
phenomena.
She also reported that research is
underway on marine and coastal biodiversity in
protected areas along the island’s southern shore;
on environmental health; the management of exotic
and invasive species; taxonomic issues; and the use
of marine organisms by the biomedical industry.
The country is moving forward,
Alonso said, in waste treatment, addressing the
specific needs of different sectors, and
additionally highlighted the development of an Eolic
Atlas of the island, identifying locations which
could serve as sites for the generation of
electricity with wind power. Also concluded is a
study of the varying strength of solar radiation
across the island, she said. (AIN)
