Washington D.C. (Tuesday May 28, 2024) In her capacity of Chair of the Inter American Committee for Integral Development (CIDI) of the OAS, Ambassador Jacinth Henry-Martin, the Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to this hemispheric body convened the 5th Regular Meeting of CIDI to address the
topic “The Role of Connectivity and Technology in Confronting the Climate Crisis.”
As the federation begins preparations for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the Permanent Mission of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the OAS facilitated an avenue for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to pose critical questions on the use of technology in developing strategic actions to counter the effects of climatic events. NEMA’s progressive efforts in incorporating various technologies in disaster preparedness and mitigation were also spotlighted in the intervention by Saint Kitts and Nevis, as delivered by the Mission’s Alternate Representative to the OAS, Shanelle Simmonds. The delegation of Saint Kitts and Nevis capitalized on the opportunity to share the government’s bold vision of becoming a sustainable island state, to further enhance the federation’s resilience to the climate crisis while protecting its people, economy, and environment.
The session explored the role of connectivity and technology in helping OAS member states navigate the profound challenges posed by climate change, emphasizing the imperative to bridge digital divides and technological gaps for more widespread climate resilience, and featured expert panelists drawn from the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) of the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Center of Excellence on Innovation and Transformative Technologies for the Circular Economy in Cordoba Argentina, and the Inter-American Institute for Global Research in Uruguay.
Insightful presentations and discussions afforded the member states, including Saint Kitts and Nevis, the opportunity to gain a better understanding on how leveraging advancements in technology can help in building resilience and in responding to extreme climate events. Innovative solutions such as geographical information systems mapping, development of spatial data infrastructure, drone technology as useful to community efforts, and the use of generative AI were explored and considered as effective tools to inform policy decisions on climate and build a regenerative approach to climate resilience and responding to the rapidly evolving climate crisis.
The climate crisis, as a multifaceted global challenge, requires urgent and coordinated efforts across all levels of society, and the OAS plays a pivotal role in leveraging its convening power to foster collaboration and coordination among its member states to effectively tackle such challenges. Saint Kitts and Nevis has, likewise, leveraged its chairmanship of the Inter-American Committee for Integral Development to advance discussions on technology and connectivity, and how these tools can be used to support development, growth, and empowerment of our human capital in the Americas.
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