Flooding & Climate Change

This book covers many aspects of global climate change and flooding within the Caribbean region and examines the impacts of these on the agricultural sector in the Caribbean, on coastal and wetland ecosystems, and on the health sector in Trinidad. It provides an account of and the vulnerability and successful adaptation measures of Jamaica. A report of a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) study provides a better understanding of the socio-economic impacts of flooding, people's role in exacerbating actual and potential flooding episodes and in evaluating their prevention measures. There are contributions on the cost of flooding, the role governments do and should play in flood prevention and backstopping, and the case is made for comprehensive law relating specifically to flooding. There are chapters on some hard and soft engineering tools that may be used for adaptation to flooding and other climate change events. Current climate modelling and projections are explained. This book is written for technical officers within ministries of government and both undergraduate and post graduate student's pursuing climate change courses and programs at Universities within small islands developing states and especially the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Mona and St. Augustine campuses. The various chapters are written by current academics from all three campuses, together with regional experts. This book, therefore, represents another example of Caribbean scientists/experts tackling Caribbean issues and developing adaptation measures relevant, not only to the region, but to the rest of the world.