🌍 February 2024 set to be the warmest on record, leaving climate policy in limbo

Global temperatures for February 2024 are expected to be the highest on record, marking the ninth consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures. This comes after spring-like conditions across the Northern Hemisphere caused early blooming from Japan to Mexico, left Europe's ski slopes without snow, and Texas experiencing temperatures of 100°F. Despite enjoying cooler weather, the Cayman Islands are not immune to the effects of climate change and remain vulnerable to sea level rise due to melting glaciers such as the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. 🌡️

A climate policy developed to help the Cayman Islands navigate the challenges of climate change remains in limbo. The 2012 climate policy was updated and championed by former premier and climate minister, Wayne Panton, but has been left untouched since his removal from office. The revised draft was presented to the caucus in October and was due to go before the Cabinet, but six months later, it has not been on the agenda for any Cabinet meeting. The new minister for the Sustainability and Climate Resiliency portfolio, Kathy Ebanks-Wilks, has reportedly edited the policy document, but it is unclear if the changes have been reviewed by the Department of Environment scientists or the ministry’s technical staff. 📝

Despite the policy's stagnation, the ministry continues to raise public awareness of the severe risks climate change poses to the islands. However, the new UPM administration has been slow to update the development plan, which many see as crucial in the face of coastal erosion and the need to halt beachfront development. Public opinion supports curtailing development and implementing the policy, but the developer lobby appears to be blocking any proposals to mitigate against rising sea levels. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a 22% chance that 2024 will break 2023’s record as the hottest year since records began. 🌊