La Habana, Cuba. Photo source: ©© Potomo
Excerpts;
One of the major challenges facing Cuba as it designs climate change adaptation policies is the preservation of its coastal ecosystems against the predicted rise in sea level and increasingly catastrophic extreme weather events.
With the country’s 5,500 km of coastline and 4,000 cays and islets, almost everyone on the Cuban archipelago feels their life is tied to the sea in one way or another. “It’s lovely, but it is also dangerous,” said 78-year-old Teresa Marcial, who lives on the coast in Santa Fé, in the northern outskirts of Havana…”
For decades, Marcial has lived with the ocean practically lapping her patio. In 2005, floods caused by hurricane Wilma left her family and neighbours virtually on the street. “Huge waves swept everything away. We were taken by surprise. The water took away an extremely heavy wardrobe, which simply disappeared,” she told IPS.
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Building With the Next Hurricane in Mind: in Cuba
Excerpts;
The main challenge that climate change poses for architecture in Cuba is that local residents should be able to adapt and prepare their homes for the difficulties faced in this hurricane-prone island nation, said Dania González, a professor of architecture.
Climate change exposes Cuba not only to more destructive hurricanes, but also to higher temperatures, recurrent drought and intense rains, while the projected rise in the sea level will endanger coastal areas…
Cuba: Sea levels to rise more than 30 in. by 2100
Cuban scientists warn that right now it is urgent to preserve mangroves, coral reefs, sea grass and sand beaches. Each of these ecosystems is a natural barrier to defend the coasts from the impact of climate change and sea level rise. Most of the 400 beaches of Cuba’s territory are affected by erosion with a receding coastline estimated at 1.2 meters per year.
Cuban Coastlines Retreat up to 2.5 meters
“Train to Atlantis”. Santa Lucia Beach, Camagüey province, Cuba. Photo by: ©© Innoxiuss
