Caribbean Islands: Pollution's Impact On Paradise

The Caribbean Sea and its beaches are under serious threat from pollution, with the region's marine ecosystems being degraded by marine pollution, acidification, and rising sea temperatures. The Caribbean is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of pollution due to its people's dependence on natural resources and its vast exposed coastlines. Marine pollution in the region includes plastics, sewage, agricultural runoff, gas, oil, and chemicals, which impact the value of the goods and services provided by the oceans, including fisheries and the marine environment that is highly valued by the tourism sector. With the number of tourists projected to rise, this issue could have major economic effects on the Caribbean.

Cruise ship pollution

The impact of cruise ship pollution on the Caribbean is particularly concerning due to the region's dependence on natural resources and its vast exposed coastlines. The Caribbean's economy is heavily reliant on tourism, with pristine marine environments and beaches attracting visitors from around the world. However, pollution from cruise ships, including air emissions and waste dumping, poses a threat to the region's natural capital and the health and well-being of its residents and tourists.

To address this issue, there have been efforts to implement more sustainable practices in the cruise industry. Some cruise lines have adopted shore power, also known as "cold ironing," during docking, which involves using electricity from the shore instead of burning fuel. However, this practice has met resistance from cruise lines and requires significant financial investment in infrastructure. Additionally, the installation of catalytic converters or scrubbers has been proposed to reduce emissions, but it has been noted that many of these scrubbers are "open-loop," discharging contaminated sulfur extract into the sea rather than disposing of it safely on land.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) plays a crucial role in regulating the environmental impact of shipping. While the IMO has set standards for sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions and prohibited dumping within three nautical miles of coastlines, enforcement and assigning responsibility remain challenging due to the international nature of the cruise industry.

Overall, cruise ship pollution is a pressing issue for the Caribbean, and a combination of regulations, industry initiatives, and technological advancements will be necessary to mitigate its environmental and health impacts.

Agricultural runoff

The improper use of fertilisers and pesticides also contributes to agricultural runoff. In many cases, agrochemicals are applied without firm agronomic recommendations and soil tests, leading to their presence in streams and rivers. These chemicals can destroy aquatic flora and fauna and limit downstream use of water. Additionally, eroded sediment, which is often contaminated with chemicals such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticides, can increase turbidity and stimulate eutrophication in water bodies, leading to the creation of algal blooms.

The Caribbean region is characterised by its archipelago of islands, with varying topography, soil types, and rainfall patterns. These factors, along with improper agricultural practices, contribute to soil erosion and deforestation, further exacerbating the issue of agricultural runoff. The lack of sound land use policies and proper waste disposal methods in the region leads to the contamination of rivers and the destruction of aquatic ecosystems and offshore habitats.

To address the issue of agricultural runoff, the Caribbean region needs to adopt a more coordinated and unified approach to land and water resources management. This includes implementing soil and water conservation practices, establishing national water policies, and encouraging stakeholder involvement and participation from the private sector and NGOs.

Climate change

The Caribbean Sea supports 37 distinct economies, which are among the most tourism-dependent in the world. Tourists are drawn to the region for its beauty, biodiversity, and rich marine ecosystems. Coral reefs, beaches, and mangroves are critical for the sustainability of many economic activities, jobs, and inclusive growth.

The Caribbean's marine ecosystems are being degraded by marine pollution, acidification, and rising sea temperatures. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to degradation, with an estimated annual revenue loss of between $350 million and $870 million. Climate change is also causing more frequent and severe storms, which bring voluminous waves of plastic waste to the shores of Caribbean islands.

The region's exposure to the impacts of climate change is heightened by its vast exposed coastlines and the dependence of its people on natural resources. As a result, understanding and addressing the effects of climate change are economic, social, and environmental priorities.

To enhance the region's resilience to climate change, countries are weighing policy shifts to protect their valuable coastal and marine natural capital. This includes a transition to a blue economy, which involves sustainably managing and using ocean and marine resources while increasing growth.

Solid waste

The Caribbean's solid waste problem has roots in the region's transition from traditional agriculture and maritime economies to more developed ones. For centuries, the Caribbean produced very little inorganic waste, with recycling and reusing being a way of life. Today, however, the types of solid waste generated in the Caribbean include construction and demolition waste, biohazardous medical material, trashed appliances, consumer electronics, automotive parts, tires, and other consumer goods.

The primary methods of solid waste disposal in the Caribbean are landfills and waste-to-energy facilities. Landfills, or garbage dumps, are the oldest and most common form of waste disposal. However, they pose significant challenges in the Caribbean due to limited land availability. Many landfills in the region are already overfilled, leading to frequent fires and other environmental and health hazards.

The waste-to-energy approach involves incinerating non-hazardous waste to generate energy for homes, businesses, and industrial purposes. This method also helps reduce methane gas emissions by diverting trash from landfills. Transfer stations, which process and sort waste for recycling, disposal, or transfer to landfills or incinerators, are another important component of solid waste management in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean's solid waste problem is closely linked to economic activity, with wealthier economies tending to produce more waste. Population growth, increasing tourism, and the import of polluting and hazardous substances further contribute to the region's waste management challenges.

The environmental, social, and economic impacts of solid waste, particularly plastics, in the Caribbean are significant. Plastic waste clogs waterways, increasing the frequency of flooding, and enters the food chain through contaminated soil and water. It also negatively impacts tourism and recreational activities due to visual pollution.

To address the solid waste problem, Caribbean governments have taken several measures. Many territories have banned or are considering bans on single-use plastics and Styrofoam products. Awareness campaigns, such as the UN Environment's Clean Seas campaign, have also been launched to engage governments, the public, civil society, and the private sector in the fight against marine plastic litter.

The Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution Protocol and the Caribbean Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter (RAPMaLI). This includes supporting national and regional marine litter projects and promoting policy and legal reforms.

Overall, solid waste, especially plastics, is a critical issue for the Caribbean, and addressing it requires collective action, innovative solutions, and a shift towards a more sustainable and circular economy.

Sewage

Untreated sewage contains a range of harmful contaminants, including water, nutrients, solids, pathogens, oils, greases, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals. When released into rivers and oceans, sewage poses a threat to both human health and the environment. Sewage contamination in coastal waters leads to a significant increase in infectious diseases linked to bathing, swimming, and seafood consumption. Sewage can also cause harmful algal blooms, which can be toxic and harm or kill marine mammals, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to commercial fisheries.

In many Caribbean countries, wastewater treatment facilities are absent or insufficient. For example, in Saint Lucia, only 13% of the population is connected to a sewage system, and in the Bahamas, 15.6% of the population has access to sewage collection services. Haiti, in particular, faces urgent problems with human waste disposal, with no sewage collection services and only 40% of the population using latrines and septic tanks.

The inadequate management of sewage and wastewater in the Caribbean has led to outbreaks of diseases, fish kills, and beach closures. Eutrophication, caused by excess nutrients from sewage, fertilizers, and fossil fuel burning, has resulted in the degradation of coral reefs, swamp ecosystems, and seagrass beds. It has also led to biological diversity loss and red tides, which have killed marine organisms.

The economic and social impacts of sewage pollution are significant. The Caribbean is highly dependent on tourism, with coastal tourism bringing in USD $57 billion in revenue annually. Sewage pollution not only threatens the health and well-being of residents and tourists but also undermines the region's natural assets, including coral reefs, beaches, and mangroves, which are critical for economic activities and inclusive growth.

To address the issue of sewage pollution, the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) has been promoting the accession and ratification of the Protocol Concerning Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution (LBS). This protocol sets out general obligations, promotes regional cooperation, and provides a list of priority source categories and associated pollutants. The CEP has also facilitated the development and implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPAs) for the prevention of pollution from land-based sources.

While there are challenges, such as the high costs of building and maintaining traditional sewage treatment plants, there are biological methods of treatment available that are suitable for the tropical Caribbean region.

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