The media, artistes and young people are called to amplify the peculiar vulnerabilities, risks and devastating impacts of climate change on Small Island Developing States.
A clarion call is being made for media workers, young people and artistes to join a regional movement to amplify the peculiar vulnerabilities, risks and devastating impacts of climate change on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Saint Lucia.
On Thursday, Oct. 8, Saint Lucia launched a Regional Climate Justice Campaign titled “1pointfivetostayalive” which calls for a temperature increase allowance of no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.
If global temperatures continue to rise beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius, Saint Lucia and other Caribbean countries will be devastated by an increase in extreme weather events like hurricanes, intense heat and sea level rise, putting coastal communities at risk due to the flooding.
The regional campaign was developed with the intention to spur urgent action and advocate to the industrial capitals of the world - the main drivers of climate change - to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Saint Lucia`s Minister for Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology Sen. Hon. Dr. James Fletcher said history has chronicled the influential power of Caribbean artistes and musicians in communicating the climate justice message from the smallest villages to the widest global audience.
Local artiste and climate change advocate Kendall Hipployte said the time for action is now. He warned that the failure to speak out may result in a destructive future for younger generations.
The 1pointfivetostayalive campaign will provide support to artistes, young people and the media who support individual productions and linkages with global initiatives, via a dedicated website www.1point5.info, and grant funding provided by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP).
The website will include music videos, multimedia packs, media support, live blogging petitions and rallies with the goal of demanding a legally-binding climate change agreement at the 21st United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (UNFCCC COP 21) slated for Paris in December 2015.