Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness delivered a televised speech on Tuesday, emphasizing the devastating impact of Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic. Holness highlighted how developing nations, despite contributing minimally to carbon emissions, are disproportionately affected by the severe consequences of climate change, including more frequent and extreme natural disasters.
During his speech, Holness underscored the urgent need for global climate action and targeted support to bolster resilience against the escalating threats posed by climate change. He pointed out that while developed nations like the US and China bear a greater historical responsibility for the human-induced climate crisis, it is the developing nations and small-island states that are bearing the brunt of its impacts.
A recent study conducted in 2022 revealed that 55 of the world's most vulnerable economies have already incurred losses and damages exceeding $500 billion over the past two decades due to the climate crisis. Holness emphasized the importance of building resilience as a government and as a people to navigate through the current era of overlapping crises and unforeseeable external shocks.
The Jamaican Prime Minister's call for global climate action comes at a critical juncture when the world is grappling with the pressing need to address climate change and its far-reaching consequences. Holness's plea for enhanced resilience and support for vulnerable nations underscores the necessity for concerted efforts on a global scale to mitigate the impacts of climate change and safeguard the most vulnerable populations.
