During the second term of the 2024/2025 Academic Year, Cari-Bois partnered with the Scotiabank Foundation to empower ten (10) students with climate journalism skills as part of the third edition of Cari-Bois’ Youth Journalism Project. For their second assignment, students wrote an article about the relationship between climate change and natural disasters. This story was written by Ashada Durante of Fyzabad Secondary School.
A 2014 report by the Inter-American Development Bank stated that Trinidad and Tobago has a heightened vulnerability to effects of climate change, including increased coastal flooding, increased rainfall, sea level rise and intense droughts.
In a 2024 publication, UNDP TT Programme Officer Rosemary Call is also quoted as saying that 2023 was one of the hottest years on record and the earth’s average surface temperature has risen.
Over the past several years, like in the years 2018 and 2022, Trinidad and Tobago experienced historic floods which had an effect on lives and livelihoods.
During those floods, a substantial number of people lost their homes, furniture, appliances and personal belongings.
A report by the United Nations Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which analysed the 2018 floods, estimated that as much of 80 percent of Trinidad’s land area was affected by the floods with close to 150,000 people affected in total.
Communities like La Horquetta, Matelot, St. Helena, and Caroni, were hardest hit by the floods.
The severe floods of 2022 claimed the life of a 44 year old woman from Surrey, Lopinot.
Beyond the danger and damage people can, these floods can also spread waterborne diseases.
A report by the Trinidad and Tobago Weather Centre (TTWC) said stagnant flood waters provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes which can result in an increase in vector-borne disease.
The TTWC report added, “Waterborne diseases such as cholera and leptospirosis may be spread through contaminated floodwaters.”
The ease by which some communities in Trinidad and Tobago are easily affected by floods show the nation’s vulnerability to extreme natural disasters.
But the effects of climate change on Trinidad and Tobago isn’t only limited to floods.
In several 2024 media reports, WASA’s CEO Kelvin Romain said that 2024 recorded some of the country’s most intense droughts and water volumes in several dams were low.
The Meteorological Office had predicted a drier-than-normal condition, with minimal rainfall between January and March 2024.
Droughts negatively affect agriculture as it leads to a decrease in soil moisture, reduction in water, and dehydration of crops by stunting growth.
Extreme weather events caused by climate change can be very detrimental to ecosystems, livelihood and economy.
It is up to the individuals in Trinidad and Tobago to work together to reduce the effects of climate change on the country and reduce their harmful actions that may contribute to climate change.
A very special thank you to the Scotiabank Foundation for supporting the development of young people through initiatives like the Cari-Bois Youth Journalism Project.
