News item | 11-23-2022 | 2:15 pm
Climate change has an effect worldwide, but certainly in the Caribbean Netherlands the impact of climate change is large and immediately tangible. At the same time, the islands also offer great opportunities to show how we can cope with climate change. With that ambition, the climate table Bonaire is established. Mr EHTM (Ed) Nijpels has been selected in view of his extensive experience as former chairman of the Energy Agreement and Progress Consultation Climate Agreement to help set up this climate table.
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Small islands such as Bonaire are often the first to notice the consequences of climate change. It is therefore extra important that the islands in the Caribbean Netherlands become more sustainable and more resilient to the changing climate. There is a need for a central platform where all relevant knowledge and policy aimed at adaptation and mitigation can be brought together and from which policy choices can be prepared. This need has led the Executive Council of Bonaire to decide to start a climate table Bonaire.
Ed Nijpels quartermaster
The cabinet has asked Mr Nijpels to facilitate the setting up of the climate table as a quartermaster. He will look at how and in what form the climate table Bonaire can be set up. These activities are initiated together with a local project leader, with support from, among others, the public entity and the national government. The intention is that after 6 months there will be a proposal for an organization plan and strategic agenda. The quartermaster will also investigate the possibilities for a climate table on Saba and Sint Eustatius.
Minister Jetten: “We must not forget that the Caribbean Netherlands is already on the frontline of climate change. In good cooperation with Mr. Nijpels and the Executive Council of Bonaire, I want to ensure that we now really take steps to make the islands in the Caribbean part of our Kingdom more sustainable and more resilient to the consequences of climate change. With Dutch knowledge and expertise, we can make the Caribbean Netherlands an example for vulnerable island states from all over the world.”
Deputy Crown: “Recent studies once again underline the vulnerability of islands such as Bonaire and the need and urgency to take measures now. We are very pleased with the arrival of Ed Nijpels to help us set up a climate table to achieve a coordinated approach.”