What is climate change?
“…a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels…” Yes. This is part of climate change. This is an actual definition of what climate change entails directly from the internet. What this definition doesn’t tell you is that climate change is a dynamic process that has begun to happen since the beginning of time. Yes. Humans are catalyzing the reaction but there is nothing unusual about the climate changing. Climate change is a natural process that the earth goes through over and over again. While climate change might be a natural phenomenon, human impact also has its role to play in it. Human impacts do not only speed up the process of climate change but we also pollute the ocean and deface the coast. Yes, we do affect the coast. Without realizing it, we are changing the shape and the natural structures that the coast holds. While at North east pint on a field trip during the two-week internship, it was clearly pointed out how the road that seems harmless and helpful is a cause for coastal erosion in those parts. At North East point, it is quite clear that there are what we would refer to as corals on the beach (those huge rock structures that cannot be moved) these are called beach rock and this is evidence that the coast has eroded and that the water level or water course is not as it used to be. Constructing over rivers, and preventing it to take its natural course therefore affecting the structures close to it or further down the mouth. A domino effect could also be created by reclaiming an island without the proper geological data. Sand move from one place to another, retreating from its usual course, it can also affect the wave direction thus changing the wave action and creating a large impact somewhere else. Yes. We are humans. Yes, we need to live and yes life is made easier with smooth accessible road and more land to build on, but the proper data should be collected before any mass development takes place. Data from years and years of study from Geologist and field specific scientists. After all this is our islands and whatever happens to it impacts all of our lives. You may not see the difference today but it might take root in the future. The concept of the Blue Economy should also apply when it comes to development because we can’t expect resources from the ocean if we are destroying its ecosystem one brick at a time. Not managing storm waters and not building houses to standards may affect the ocean. In what way, you ask. Think about this. The rain falls hard, you have no planned way of managing water that falls on your roof, it falls in the soil just below your house and the weight from said water causes the soil to move downhill. Downhill it eventually reaches the ocean. Yes, a right amount of debris provides some minerals for the sea but too much debris might reduce the clarity and react in excess to corals in the sea or any other species. Too much of anything is not good!!! Seychelles is too delicate to be tempered with. That’s why my message is to encourage everyone. Starting from the youth to the elderly, to gain knowledge or choose any career in the blue economy or that has any slight relations to the concept. “The ocean has no limits” (none that I know of at least) Cheers!!! Joshua Sofola
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AuthorThe interns of the Prosperity & Environment: Promoting sustainable development opportunities for youth in the Blue Economy sector. Archives
January 2018
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