THE CASE FOR STOPPING CLIMATE CHANGE

Prime Minister Philip Davis pictured with Secretary General Patricia Scotland and High Commissioners of the Commonwealth on 10 May 2022 in London.

Philip Davis, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas, spoke at the Marlborough House Dialogues on Tuesday 10 May 2022.  This was a set piece designed so the Prime Minister who leads a small island developing state (SIDS) could make the case for the SIDS for more vigorous efforts to counteract climate change.

Mr. Davis has been leading the charge on this issue since he came to office.  He said that he is not satisfied that the case is being taken sufficiently seriously by those who are the emitters. Translation: the United States and China must do more to combat climate change.

Mr. Davis recounted personal stories of the tragedies that occurred in The Bahamas following Hurricane Dorian.  Some 1200 Bahamian residents are still missing from that storm which hit in 2019. The damage was in the billions.  He said that if you count the cost of the hurricanes alone, fully half of the National Debt of  The Bahamas is due to the cost of hurricanes and trying to rebuild.

Mr. Davis said there was a lot of talk about the Climate Fund to assist with mitigation and adaption but the pledges have not been fulfilled. He said that he and other countries have pledge fatigue.

The House was full in London. 

Mr. Davis said that in Cats Island, when he was boy, there were spots that were land which  have now disappeared below the sea.  Climate change is real.

It is our hope that the developed world begins to take this mater seriously.  In Minnesota, which is in the middle of the United States, on 12 May when it is normally still snow type weather, on 12 May 2022 it was 96 degrees.

This is real folks.