The only way we can reduce the number of people on this island from being disaster affected is to build back better to a standard that can withstand the rainfall, wind intensity and degree of storm surge which we can now expect from tropical storms in the age of climate change.

In Dominica, we aim to become the world's first climate-resilient nation. We cannot do this alone. We need international cooperation.

We are among those countries which contribute least to climate change but over the last two years we have suffered the consequences of two devastating storms which have left us struggling to stay on the path of sustainable development.

More funding must be made available to vulnerable countries so that they can effectively mitigate the risks associated with such events.

Climate change is a hard reality for all of us here in the Caribbean.

On International Day for Disaster Reduction we ask that the world does not turn its back on this problem but starts to address it in a meaningful way through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and investing in climate action and disaster risk reduction for small island developing states where unique ways of life are in danger of extinction.

Date:

12 Oct 2017

Sources:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)

Themes:

Climate Change, Urban Risk & Planning, Governance, Disaster Risk Management, Structural Safety

Hazards:

Cyclone, Earthquake, Flood, Wild Fire

Countries:

Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands