The climate change adaptation program for the U.S. Virgin Islands, launched by Governor Kenneth Mapp in 2015, continues to move forward and the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Hurricane Maria has focused greater attention on local efforts to reduce the risks associated with the world\u2019s changing weather patterns, Government House announced Thursday.<\/p>\n
The program was officially established by Mr. Mapp\u2019s Executive Order No. 474-2015 to ensure that that climate change adaptation policy and planning is conducted in a coordinated and collaborative manner, said Program Consultant Lloyd Gardner. He said planning is now underway for the first major meeting of the U.S. Virgin Islands Climate Change Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernor Mapp acted to establish the program as he understands the vulnerability of the U.S. Virgin Islands to climate change in the form of potential adverse impacts on ecological systems, human health, the economy, and the community at large,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Acknowledging the necessity for all groups to work together to build a resilient community, the executive order provides for “coordinated planning by the public agencies and other instrumentalities of the government, and facilitates cooperation between and among the public sector, private sector, non-profit sector, and various stakeholder groups.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat cooperation has thus far resulted in a number of projects and capacity development activities coordinated by local government agencies, local nonprofits, and federal agencies,\u201d Mr. Gardner said.<\/p>\n
Local initiatives underway or completed in regard to climate change include:<\/p>\n
Climate change and resiliency were also a major focus of the Hurricane Recovery Task Force\u2019s research and report, the final draft of which is near completion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The climate change adaptation program for the U.S. Virgin Islands, launched by Governor Kenneth Mapp in 2015, continues to move forward and the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Hurricane Maria has focused greater attention on local efforts to reduce the risks associated with the world\u2019s changing weather patterns, Government House announced Thursday. The program […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":66671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191,147],"tags":[4838,68],"yoast_head":"\n