Conservation law still up in the air

By: Basia McGuire Pioro
The Observer

The state of conservation in the Cayman Islands has been in flux in recent years, as government after government has made promises to enact a comprehensive conservation law that would protect Cayman’s natural areas.

In the most recent development, MLA Ellio Solomon announced on January 14 that the minister responsible for the Environment portfolio, Mark Scotland, hoped to revive the law and get it passed as soon as possible.

The Minister explained that he hopes to set in motion a process that will allow him to table a new version of the bill in the June session of the Legislative Assembly.

“Right now, we intend to start a public consultation process with key stakeholders like the tourism association, real estate association, and the National Trust, then move on to coordinating meetings with the general public.”

Read the full story...

How High Will Seas Rise? Get Ready for Seven Feet

by Rob Young and Orrin Pilkey
Yale 360

As governments, businesses, and homeowners plan for the future, they should assume that the world’s oceans will rise by at least two meters — roughly seven feet — this century. But far too few agencies or individuals are preparing for the inevitable increase in sea level that will take place as polar ice sheets melt. Read whole story here.

After Copenhagen - the Tactics and the Treaty

In the wake of the COP-15 summit in Copenhagen, the first Earthcast of 2010 is scheduled for Wednesday, January 27th (17:00 GMT, 12:00 EST, 9:00 PST). This live interactive web event will examine the treaty that emerged, the negotiating tactics behind it, and what the next steps are likely to be.

Experts Michael Grubb, David Satterthwaite and Richard Smith will be dissecting the agreement and asking whether future negotiations can establish a binding treaty that sets ambitious limits for the large emitters while supporting developing nations financially and technologically.

To register, go to the following link.

A law to preserve Cayman’s environment is a must

The Observer

If Fred Burton’s dire predictions are correct, we are leaving our children and grandchildren a barren land.

He has intensely analysed satellite imagery of the vegetation on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

What he found was that by the end of this century there will be no natural environment left because of over population, which will naturally lead to over development.

Some people don’t really care about the future of the Cayman Islands, but we at the Observer on Sunday certainly do.

That’s why we are imploring our lawmakers, once again, to enact a thorough conservation law...read full story.

Blazing the Green Trail

By Basia Pioro McGuire
The Observer

When an English graduate research assistant named Fred Burton, stepped off a plane in Grand Cayman in 1979 looking for a bit of adventure, neither he nor the Island could have had an inkling of the significance the event would have.

Today, the former mosquito researcher has managed to help bring back Grand Cayman’s Blue Iguanas from the brink of extinction, been awarded an MBE for services in conservation of endangered species, and become the inaugural recipient of the Blue Turtle Award for nature conservation in the Overseas Territories and Crown Territories...read full story.

Environment Break: DOE on Daybreak in December and January

In the weeks following the international climate conference in Copenhagen, Donna Bush of "Daybreak" spoke with Lisa-Ann Hurlstone-McKenzie of the Sustainable Development Unit in the Cayman Islands Department of Environment about climate change and issues facing the Cayman Islands:
http://www.cayman27.com.ky./news/item/3745
http://www.cayman27.com.ky./news/item/3875

Floating bar protest burns Bernie Bush

By Joe Shooman, joe@cfp.ky

The licensee of the planned floating restaurant and bar at Stingray City said he would make objectors to his project “swallow their words” when they see the high standards of the facility.

Bernie Bush told the Caymanian Compass he had gone “way beyond the call” in complying with the stringent standards required by the Liquor Licensing Board of Grand Cayman to obtain the provisionally granted retail and music and dancing liquor license.

“The board did its job,” he said. “I feel, in fact, it went beyond it and was very, very strict with me. I don’t see that strictness with other boats, but such is life. If I have to set the bar, I have no problem setting the bar with quality, service, quality of product and quality in all other standards.” Read full story here.

Try living No Impact for a week

The No Impact Experiment, brought to you by the No Impact Project, is a one-week carbon cleanse. It is a chance for you to see what a difference no-impact living can have on your quality of life. It’s not about giving up creature comforts but an opportunity for you to test whether the modern “conveniences” you take for granted are actually making you happier or just eating away at your time and money.

Click here for more details...

Try living No Impact for a week

The No Impact Experiment, brought to you by the No Impact Project, is a one-week carbon cleanse. It is a chance for you to see what a difference no-impact living can have on your quality of life. It’s not about giving up creature comforts but an opportunity for you to test whether the modern “conveniences” you take for granted are actually making you happier or just eating away at your time and money.

Click here for more details...

The Next Decade's Top Sustainability Trends

By Warren Karlenzig
WorldChanging Team

What trends are likely the next ten years? One thing for sure, 2010 through 2019 will be one day looked at as 1) the turning point for addressing climate change by using effective urban management strategies, or it will be remembered as 2) the time when we collectively fumbled the Big Blue Ball...read full story.

Focus on sustainable tourism

By Joe Shooman, joe@cfp.ky
Caymanian Compass

The head of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation has said that 2010 presents some challenges and will see an increase in focus of the effects of climate change and sustainable tourism.

In a New Year message, John Maginley, chairman of the organisation, said that its responsibility was to sustain the purity and beauty of the region and grow the tourism sector to its full potential.

An upcoming Sustainable Tourism Conference is due to be announced in which renewable energy strategies and new ideas to support Caribbean–wide sustainable tourism would be discussed, he said.

“The global landscape has changed and the Caribbean has an opportunity to contribute fresh, forward–thinking ideas while demonstrating leadership in the quest for a green economy,” he said. “We know that the coming year will not be without challenge; but let’s be thankful for the positive signs we’ve experienced in our tourism industry.”

Read full story...

Apocalypse Fatigue: Losing the Public on Climate Change

by Ted Nordhaus and Michael Shellenberger
Yale Environment 360

Last month, the Pew Research Center released its latest poll of public attitudes on global warming. On its face, the news was not good: Belief that global warming is occurring had declined from 71 percent in April of 2008 to 56 percent in October — an astonishing drop in just 18 months. The belief that global warming is human-caused declined from 47 percent to 36 percent.

While some pollsters questioned these numbers, the Pew statistics are consistent with the findings by Gallup in March that public concern about global warming had declined, that the number of Americans who believed that news about global warming was exaggerated had increased, and that the number of Americans who believed that the effects of global warming had already begun had declined...Read full story

Beach erosion, reef & fish decline cited as priority

Cayman News Service
Posted on Wed, 12/09/2009

(CNS): While world leaders are still convening in Copenhagen to decide how humanity can address the problem of climate change on a global scale, the local national climate change strategy workshop has come to a close. According to a release from government, at the end of the three day event, beach erosion, reef and fisheries decline, rising energy, food and water costs, and higher insurance premiums were cited as the issues requiring priority attention in Cayman’s climate change strategy, which was described as a “big leap forward” by the environment minister.

Addressing participants at the end of the workshop, Minister of Environment Mark Scotland said much more work needed to be done but Cayman that had “taken a big leap forward in arriving at a climate change plan that lists priorities as well as possible mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies.”...read full story.

Editorial: In 2010, let's set a goal to become green

Cayman Net News

As we start the New Year, one resolution that should be made by all stakeholders, both public and private, is to make a determined and effective effort to tackle a number of environmental issues, in particular, the longstanding problem of Mount Trashmore … the unsightly, smelly and environmentally unsafe (well over three decades in the making) garbage dump.

Previous governments have promised much but delivered little, especially when it came to the environment in general and the garbage dump in particular – which have been the target on many money-grabbing schemes by wily local businessmen.

In fact, generally speaking, over the years politicians in the Cayman Islands have paid scant regard to and have not put sufficient emphasis on preserving either our national heritage or environment...read full story.

Stingray City bar protest planned

By Joe Shooman, joe@cfp.ky
Caymanian Compass

A protest against the new Stingray City ‘floating bar’ boat is to take place in Heroes’ Square, George Town on Monday. A bar boat facility was granted a retail liquor licence and a music and dancing licence at the 10 December Liquor Licensing Board meeting.

The vessel will sail out to anchor and operate in the area of Stingray City, contingent on passing other legal requirements from Department of Environmental Health, Port Authority, Liquor Inspector and the Commissioner of Police...read full story.