Caring in Crisis: Climate Change
Photo of Playa Mar Verde by Daniela Muñoz Barroso, published in Periodismo de Barrio
July 17, 2020
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
While the pandemic may be the most immediate and urgent challenge of the day, it is not the only looming crisis. This week in the U.S., presidential candidate Joe Biden announced his plan to combat climate change, bringing some attention back to environmental debates. As Cuba continues to move farther and farther ahead of its neighbors in North and Latin America on containing the virus, it too is facing pressing concerns around climate change. Below, we share the weekly updates on COVID-19 in Cuba, international collaboration, and news on Cuban efforts to mitigate and prepare for climatic instability. Plus – keep scrolling for an invitation to tune into a concern from Havana this weekend!
Take Care – Sarah, Justine, Mariakarla
Cuba and COVID-19
Cuba has reported no COVID-19 patients in serious or critical condition for 20 consecutive days. As of Thursday night, the Ministry of Public Health reported 213 hospitalized patients, another 213 patients attended to in primary care, and 4 new cases, three of them asymptomatic. The island continues to conduct over 3,000 PCR (rapid diagnostic) tests a day, and while most of the island “normalizes,” various Havana communities, including Los Sitios, Amistad, Pilar-Atarés and Lawton, have moved back into shut down. On the research front, the municipality of Holguín moved into the third of phase of a population study designed to detect in real time the presence of the virus in groups of apparently healthy people that have not reported previous contact with COVID-19 patients.
International Collaboration
Cuban officials formally thanked the African Union this week for their collaboration and cooperation in the fight against the coronavirus. The European Union is also engaged in several cooperative projects with Cuba, including one to accelerate production of short cycle crops, one to care for the elderly in times of COVID-19, and another to improve availability of ventilators and personal protective equipment in hospitals. In India, biopharmaceutical company has recently received approval to commercialize Cuban drug Itolizumab for treatment of COVID-19 patients.
Environment and Climate Change
A recent study conducted by Cuban scientists indicates rising sea levels could cause the disappearance of 14 settled communities in Cuba by 2050 and damage 100 others, leading to a loss of more than 14,100 coastal homes and displacing 41,300 people.
Just in time for an impending hurricane season, specialists in the central and eastern regions of the island have developed a methodology for the climatic study of coastal floods in order to more accurately predict disasters. The National Civil Defense announced this week its plan of action to ensure the reduction of risks in case of disasters caused by meteorological events. Cuba’s emergency preparedness and evacuation plans have historically been successful in limiting injury and death resulting from hurricanes and tropical storms, but this year, planning is particularly complex as evacuation must also take into account the need for physical distancing.
Four years ago, the United Nations and Cuban government launched Tarea Vida, an intensive environmental plan. Good news is coming out of the project’s efforts to rehabilitate and restore mangrove areas: mangroves are sprouting, shrimp and fish populations are increasing, and flooding is more controlled.
Many other environmental and conservation efforts are also underway on the island and in the news this week, including the Costa Viva project of the University of Granma, Cuba (which received the National Energy Globe 2020 award); new reef studies using photogrammetry tests with 3D technology; and a competition for children, teenagers and people under the age of 35 to contribute ideas and concrete actions for water conservation.