Prof Clayton highlights stark realities of climate change

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I just came across the first part of Prof Anthony Clayton’s eight-series article on Jamaica 2050, titled ‘The turbulent years ahead’, in The Sunday Gleaner. I found it to be awe-inspiring and jaw-dropping. I am in agreement with Prof Clayton 100 per cent where he gave a full account of the consequences of climate change.

I also agree that coastal areas of cities will be inundated over time. For instance, Australia has been experiencing extreme wildfires for several years and coastal cities such as Melbourne and, in particular Sydney, (last year was the worst in recent history) have been affected like never before. Recall that millions of animals, including kangaroos, died in those wildfires.

My theory is that there will be plans to move those coastal cities to more inland areas (the outbacks) which are unpopulated but will face more risks because of uncertainties of the wildlife there.

The same concept can be applied to Jamaica and the Caribbean at large. Finally, I wish to add that the global emissions have been deteriorating the ozone for some time now, and it seems that the carbon monoflouride (CF4) has not been successful in repairing it because of the departure of some countries, including the United States, from the Paris Accord under the Donald Trump administration. Hence, we definitely face an existential threat.

I am looking forward to Prof Clayton’s next set of articles.

DANIEL MORGAN