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| Bahamas | |
 | |
| This page is part of the Small Island Developing States Project | |
| Capital | Nassau |
| Population | 309,200 |
| Land Area | 13,940 sq km |
| GDP (US$) | $8.78 B |
| GDP Per Capita | $28,600 |
| CO2 Emissions | 2.1 megatons |
| CO2 Per Capita | 6.5 tons |
| NAPA† | none |
| Natl. Comm. to the UNFCCC | November 2001 |
| † = National Adaptation Program of Action Megaton = 1 million tons (1 billion kg / 2.205 billion lb) | |
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a small island developing state (SIDS) in the Caribbean, located southeast of Florida and northeast of Cuba. The natural resource base of the Bahamas is limited, but its proximity to the United States as well as its turquoise water and white sandy beaches makes it a popular destination for many tourists. Its economy mainly relies on the tourism sector, international banking, and investments. Like other small island states the Bahamas are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, primarily through sea level rise and coral reef decay.
Background
The Bahamas consists of 700 islands, of which only 30 are inhabited, and 2,400 cays. The capital Nassau lies on the island of New Providence. The total land area amounts to 13,940 sq km (5,382 sq miles) with a coastline of about 3,542 km (2,200 miles). The islands are generally low and flat coral formations with some low rounded hills: the highest point is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island at 63 m. The climate is sub-tropical, moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream. The rainy season is from May to June. Natural hazards include hurricanes and other tropical storms that cause extensive flood and wind damage. Hurricane season starts in June and lasts until November.1 The average temperature varies from 22°C (72°F) from September through May to 30°C (86°F) during the rest of the year.2
The population of the Bahamas is about 309,200 with a 0.54% current growth rate. 84% of residents live in urban areas. From 300 AD onwards, people from present-Cuba lived on the Islands. Between 900 and 1500 AD, Lucayan Indians settled there. The British started settlements in 1647 and colonized the Bahamas in 1783. During the late 1600s to early 1700s, the islands were a stronghold for pirates. Today, the population consists of about 85% West African descents whose ancestors were slaves on cotton plantations. The majority of the remaining residents are offspring of English settlers. The majority of the population are Christians.3
View The Commonwealth of the Bahamas in a larger map
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, which consists of 700 islands.
Although the official language is English, many people speak Bahamian English, which was influenced by African slaves, English Puritans and other settlers. It now represents a unique dialect with idioms exclusively used in the Bahamas. Creole is spoken among Haitian immigrants.4
After their independence from Britain in 1973, the Bahamas became a constitutional parliamentary democracy. As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the British royal family is still recognized as a figurehead. Elections take place every five years.5
The Bahamas have become one of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean through tourism, international banking, and investment management. As of 2005, half of the population worked for the tourism industry and about 40% in other services. Agriculture and industry each represented only 5% of the work force. Agricultural products include vegetables, citrus fruits and poultry. Industry comprises of cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals and spiral-welded steel pipes.6 The gross domestic product (GDP) for the Bahamas is US$8.78 billion, with a per capita GDP of US$28,600.7
One of the main environmental problems the Bahamas is facing is solid waste disposal, particularly because litter has been disposed of with little or no protection from parasites and scavengers. From 1999 until 2008, the Inter-American Development Bank funded a Solid Waste Management Program for the Bahamas,8 but refuse disposal remains an issue for the islands, especially for New Providence Island.9
Impact and threats
Similar to all SIDS, sea-level rise is a serious threat for the Bahamas. Since the islands are mostly flat (more than 80% of the land surface is only three feet or less above mean sea level), the residents do not have many options for seeking shelter in higher altitudes. Access to drinking water is also at risk because it is mostly extracted from shallow water lenses already close to to the ocean. Through rising sea-level, these freshwater reservoirs could be swallowed by salt-water.10
To some extent, islands of the Bahamas have been affected by hurricanes and other tropical storms in the past. An increase of storms is expected for the near future due to climate change. Repercussions can include storm surges and major floods. The region that is most endangered is Andros Island, south of Nassau.11
.jpg "Wikimedia Commons")
Aftermath of Hurricane Wilma, 2005
Source: Wikimedia Commons. Author: Iain Mill. Permission: Fair Use.Considering predicted emission levels of green house gases, a mean temperature rise of 1.7°C (3°F) in 50 years is predicted for the Bahamas. Models also predict that there will be more heavy rainfall as well as increased droughts elsewhere. This could impact human health as tropical deceases such as malaria and dengue disease will flourish under these circumstances.12
Most crops grown in the Bahamas are seasonal and therefore extremely sensitive to slight weather changes. Increased tropical storms will also aggravate the cultivation of grain. These storms as well as sea-level rise will also minimize the land available for agriculture.13
Biodiversity is vulnerable to climate change too. Damage to coastal wetlands and reefs as well as changes in water temperatures could reduce the diversity of fish species that are also used commercially.14 Coral bleaching has already started and due to changes in ocean temperatures and ocean acidification, the mortality of corals is very likely to increase in the upcoming years.15 This could have a considerable effect on tourist figures: According to a study from 2002 over 80% of tourists would not return to a Caribbean island for the same price in case of further coral bleaching and reduced beach areas.16 If tourists stay away, it will have serious repercussions on the country's economy since the Bahamas are not rich in natural resources and therefore highly dependent on tourism.
Adaptation and mitigation strategies
Mitigation
The Bahamas National Climate Change Committee will organize and undertake a mitigation analysis based on the internationally recognized guidelines. A mitigation plan will build on the results of the mitigation analysis.17
Adaptation
The Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change (CPACC), implemented by the World Bank, lasted from 1997 until 2001. The Bahamas, as one of the participating countries, has been monitoring the sea level and conducted vulnerability assessments since then.18 Adaptation strategies will build on the results of the CPACC project's vulnerability assessments.19
The Bahamas are also part of the Caribbean Carbon Neutral Tourism Project of The Inter-American Development Bank which was approved in April 2009. The program aims to increase the climate resilience of the Caribbean region through developing new financial facilities for low-carbon investment in tourism on the one hand and for decreasing the sector's sensitivity to climate change.20
The Bahamas, as well as several other small island developing states, has invested in desalination plants to offset water shortages.21
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Wiki Project | |
| Small Island Developing States | |
| Click here for the template to begin a new country page | |
| Atlantic and Caribbean | Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; the Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; British Virgin Islands; Cape Verde; Cuba; Dominica; the Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Montserrat; Netherlands Antilles; Puerto Rico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; São Tomé and Principe; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. |
| Pacific Ocean | American Somoa; Commonwealth of Northern Marianas; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Nauru; New Caledonia; Niue; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Timor-Lesté; Tonga; Tuvalu; and Vanuatu. |
| Indian Ocean | Bahrain; Comoros; the Maldives; Mauritius; the Seychelles; and Singapore. |
| Initiatives and Sponsors | |
| Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); Asian Development Bank (ADB); Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA); Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC); Global Environment Facility (GEF); Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII); Inter-American Development Bank (IADB); Organization of American States (OAS); Pacific Islands Forum (PIF); Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre (RC/RCCC); Small Island Developing States Network (SIDSNet); South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); World Bank (WB) | |
| Related Topics | |
Footnotes
1. CIA. The World Factbook. Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
2. Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Website. About the Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
3. CIA. The World Factbook. Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
4. Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Website. About the Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
5. The Government of the Bahamas Official Website. Homepage.
6. CIA. The World Factbook. Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
7. CIA. The World Factbook. Bahamas. Retrieved on: 30 July 2009.
8. The Inter-American Development Bank. Projects. BH0008: Solid Waste Management.
9. CIA. The World Factbook. Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
10. Government of the Bahamas. First National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC. Submitted November 2001.
11. Caribbean Disaster Information Network. Profile: The Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
12. Government of the Bahamas. First National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC. Submitted November 2001.
13. Government of the Bahamas. First National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC. Submitted November 2001.
14. Government of the Bahamas. First National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC. Submitted November 2001.
15. CIA. The World Factbook. Bahamas. Retrieved on: 26 June 2009.
16. Uyarra et al. Island-specific preferences of tourists for environmental features: implications of climate change for tourism-dependent states. Environmental Conservation 32 (1): 11–19. 2005. p. 11.
17. Functions of the National Climate Change Committee,http://www.best.bs/climate/coord/function.htm. Retrieved on: 10 July 2009.
18. UNFCCC. Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice. Information on Economic Diversification. September 2007.
19. Functions of the National Climate Change Committee,http://www.best.bs/climate/coord/function.htm . Retrieved on: 10 July 2009.
20. The Inter-American Development Bank. Caribbean Carbon Neutral Tourism Program. Plan of Operations. 2008.
21. IPCC. 4th Assessment Report. Working Group II. Chapter 16: Small Islands. Retrieved on: 10 July 2009.
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