U.S. Navy Secretary, Carlos del Toro, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to supporting Caribbean countries in their struggle against what he called the “existential threat” of climate change.
“The United States stands by you, with you, combatting this threat,” Del Toro said during a meeting with officials, students, and professors at Nassau’s University of the Bahamas. “Time is not on our side. We are in a critical decade to make meaningful progress so we can avoid the worst climate scenarios. We must act now. We view the climate crisis the same way we view damage control on a sinking ship: All hands on deck.”
Del Toro, the second Hispanic to lead the U.S. Department of the Navy, stated that he went to the Bahamas to hear about the “challenges and stories” the area was facing as a result of the climate emergency.
He acknowledged that “the increasing severity of those consequences are already being felt in the Caribbean and also in the United States,” pointing to the dozen catastrophic storms that have hit the area in the past ten years.
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In the Caribbean, climate change has caused sea levels to rise, and islands to be devastated by flooding and extreme temperatures while the salinization of farmland endangers ecosystems and makes it harder for residents to make a living in an area mainly sustained by tourism.
The Navy secretary said the U.S. is cooperating on several projects with universities and governments in the region, including a multimillion-dollar fund for disaster relief infrastructure, as well as aid to cope with health emergencies and epidemic outbreaks.
Del Toro added that work is also underway on energy-efficiency programs to lower carbon emissions at U.S. bases and on ships, and financing scientific research on soil and marine life, especially on the Caribbean’s coral reefs.
“No one can fight climate change alone,” he said. “We want to share and trade information, resources and expertise with allies, governments, and NGOs. Everywhere from Vietnam, Ghana, or right here in the Caribbean, we are collaborating on projects and enabling best practices.”
The Cuban-born Del Toro, who said the Navy launched the 2030 Climate Action Plan last May, said he still feels a part of the Caribbean community and has made the “threat of climate change a priority,” since taking office 18 months ago.
“To remain the world’s dominant maritime force, the Department of the Navy must adapt to climate change: We must build resilience and reduce the threat,” he said.
Story adapted from VOA
