Dominica’s Environment Minister, Hon. Dr. Kenneth Darroux says in spite of several challenges Dominica continues to demonstrate strong leadership in the area of climate change.
The Minister made reference to a number of accomplishments made in Dominica when he addressed the nation on the United Nation’s observance of World Environment day on Tuesday June 05, 2012.
The Hon. Minister noted that significant progress has been made in the areas of the protection of biodiversity, preservation of our rain forest, and strategies for promoting renewable energy.
He said, “Other significant works being undertaken by the government would be our National Land Use Plan and Policy, which would seek to rationalize the use of our lands here in the Nature Isle”.
Environment Minister Dr. Darroux also highlighted plans by Government to amend important pieces of legislation.
“We are also in the process of modernizing, harmonizing and strengthening our environmnental legislation in an effort to ensure that the natural resources we now enjoy will still be here for coming generations to enjoy.
"A brand new Quarrying Act is now in the final stages of preparation...and this is again to ensure that land-based activities such as quarrying are regularized and therefore reduce the impact both on our terrestial and marine environment. New Fisheries regulations are also in the pipeline to ensure our national food security and of course the livelihood of the future generations of fisherfolk”.
Hon. Dr. Darroux said climate change has become a major threat to the ability of developing countries like Dominica to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
He noted that here in Dominica climate change have had severe impacts on the country’s agriculture, tourism, water, physical and coastal infrastructures.
This he said has led to an increasingly high cost for adaptation, resulting in the diversion of funds which otherwise would have been used for social and economic development.
The Minister expressed regret that to date, no consensus has been reached by the international community on the best way to deal with climate change concerns.