Times of the Islands Summer 2022

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
TCI CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT
The Turks & Caicos Islands Climate Change Charter was signed on Earth Day, April 22, 2022. Shown here are (from left): Hon. Minister Vincent
Wheatley, British Virgin Islands; Hon. Walter Roban, Bermuda’s Deputy Premier; Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, Attorney General Turks
& Caicos Islands; Hon. Minister Josephine Connolly, Ministry for Tourism and the Environment; and Cherylann Jones, Permanent Secretary,
Ministry for Tourism and the Environment.
collective action can change the catastrophic trajectory
that we are currently on. We hear about and speak on
the devastating effects that climate change poses to the
social and economic fabric of the Turks & Caicos Islands,
however, the ill effects on our material and non-material
culture is not at the forefront of the discussion. This is
the general trend globally, as culture is largely absent
from most climate resilience and adaptation movements.
The consequences for TCI are severe as our entire
existence, knowledge systems, identity, heritage values,
and amenity services (i.e. recreation, spiritual fulfillment,
aesthetic enjoyment, etc.) are strongly influenced by our
marine ecosystems and coastal landscapes, and ecosystem
change can have significant impact on cultural
identity and social stability. These ecosystems are currently
threatened by rising sea levels, ocean acidification,
loss of biodiversity and intense weather events—all of
which are driven by climate change. What if culture could
be used as a resource for addressing both climate mitigation
and adaptation?
Culture is intertwined with lifestyles and the social
organisations that give rise to emissions of greenhouse
gases. The climate change impacts of these gases are
ascribed meaning through cultural interpretations of
science and risk. From this standpoint, culture and its
analysis is crucial in understanding the causes of, and
human responses to, climate change. Moreover, cultural
heritage, traditional knowledge, and natural heritage support
a community’s ability to respond to climate change
impacts. Intangible cultural heritage practices can also be
beneficial in assisting communities adapt to a changing
climate. This is seen in Bangladesh where rural communities
use inherited local knowledge of water management
to cope with increasing flooding incidents.
In spite of the complex relationship between culture
and climate change resilience, neither the Assessment
Reports of the IPPC nor the Paris Agreement systematically
include culture or cultural practices. Fortunately,
UNESCO is currently calling on countries to integrate culture
into their climate change policies and strategies.
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