Minister Roban Highlights Environmental Plans
Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs Walter Roban shared the Government’s environmental protection plans and support for green initiatives during the Youth Climate Summit today.
Minister Roban said, “Welcome to the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute and the fourth annual Youth Climate Summit. As the Minister of Home Affairs, I am passionate about using the resources at my disposal to protect our environment while encouraging the growth and development of green initiatives.
“As Bermuda’s future leaders, you must be knowledgeable and have a say in our chosen path. To that end, I wish to share with you our plans for the next twelve months.
Reduction of Single-Use Plastics
“At last year’s summit, I advised of the Government’s commitment to reducing single-use plastics in Bermuda.
“I spoke of how the Government will introduce a Bill to reduce single-use plastics. Whilst the aim is to make a positive impact on the environment and human health, we are aware of the need to avoid any adverse economic effects by:
- Ensuring the phase-out periods are realistic;
- Clearly communicating the requirements;
- Making allowances for some single-use plastic items that do not currently have alternatives; and,
- Allowing exemptions for medical and other uses.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Cabinet has now given the go-ahead for the Attorney General’s Chambers to draft the legislation. This is being done as we speak. As soon as they have produced a draft of the Bill, it will be publicised so everyone can provide feedback. Then, they will finalise the legislation and pass it into law to become an Act.
Cleaner Air
“In line with protecting our environment from single-use plastics, we will also work to ensure that the air we breathe is safe.
“Bermuda’s Clean Air Act was initially developed in 1993, using information available at that time on the known health effects of air contaminants on people, including respiratory and cardiovascular effects, such as asthma. In the thirty years since drafting these Regulations, our understanding of how air contaminants affect our health has grown significantly, and air quality standards in other jurisdictions have become more stringent. However, despite this improved understanding, you will be surprised to learn that the portion of the Bermuda’s Clean Air Regulations that set limits for contaminants in the outside air have never been updated.
“I am pleased to announce that this issue is being addressed. In the coming months, Bermuda’s air quality standards will be aligned with the air quality objectives and target levels of the UK and EU. This alignment will result in limits that are even more enforceable than in those countries. These limits are grounded in the latest health and safety data regarding human exposure to air contaminants.
Sustainable management of our Marine Exclusive Economic Zone
“Through my previous speaking engagements, including last year’s Youth Climate Summit, many here today may recall me sharing information about the work to protect our oceans. Such as taking significant measures to protect our shark species from fishing because protecting them will help rebalance and restore our entire marine ecosystem.
“We also recognise the importance of effectively managing our most significant resource, our marine EEZ or Economic Exclusive Zone. Bermuda is blessed with an extensive EEZ of some four hundred and sixty-four thousand [464,000] square kilometres. The Government is committed to sustainably managing this tremendous resource for current and future generations. We also recognise the global commitment to protect our oceans. With this in mind, we have committed to fully protecting 20 per cent of our EEZ.
“To accomplish this, we have embarked on an exciting project called the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Plan, also known as BOPP, in partnership with the non-profit Waitt Institute and BIOS, the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences.
“The BOPP continues to evolve and develop. You can visit www.bermudaoceanprosperity.org to learn more about our plans to protect our ocean while building a thriving “blue” economy.
“The BOPP is comprised of two complementary components. The first is a marine spatial plan, similar to the more well-known terrestrial plan, and the second is a blue economy strategy that is a guide for growing Bermuda’s ocean-related industries and attracting investment opportunities.
“Much work has been done over the last several years. Numerous reiterations of draft plans have been continually modified and refined using feedback from all of the many marine-related stakeholder groups and the public. These groups included those focused on conservation, economic development, education, fishing, tourism, and utilities, to name a few.
“We released a draft plan to the public in April of this year and invited public feedback. Then, I formed an independent review panel to review all the public feedback to guide us in refining the draft plan to achieve the social, economic, and environmental impacts that matter to the people of Bermuda.
“In support of BOPP, we are creating the Marine Development Act, which will provide the framework for managing the Marine Spatial Plan and the Blue Economy Fund.
Better marine enforcement
“To strengthen Bermuda’s marine enforcement and compliance, the Government has been working with the UK through the Blue Belt Ocean Shield Programme and the US Coast Guard. Enforcement is also supported by the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard, which provides assistance to our fisheries wardens. A Marine Resources Enforcement Action Plan has been drafted as part of the BOPP and is in the process of being modified and strengthened. When fully implemented, it will continue to help coordinate these efforts.
Better protection of our water resources
“Clean water is fundamental to public health and the sustainability of our natural ecosystems. Ensuring the purity of this essential resource protects our community’s health and our island’s economy and preserves Bermuda’s natural beauty for future generations. Monitoring groundwater quality and the status of the freshwater lenses is crucial to managing the island’s water resources. With this in mind, the Government updated the water legislation to increase the protection of our groundwater resources and limit pollution to the ocean. New measures put in place include extension of pollution to groundwater to also include pollution to the ground, increased enforcement and investigative powers to prevent local boats and outfalls from dumping sewage and contaminants into the sea.
Striving for energy efficiency
“The Government is committed to reducing the use of fossil fuels by eighty-five per cent [85%] in the production of electricity by 2035, which is reflected in the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan [IRP]. Work continues to promote the reduction and consumption of fossil fuels. We are also promoting the use and installation of domestic and utility-sized solar generation across the island. The Government and the Regulatory Authority are also actively investigating other means of renewable energy generation, such as wind and wave.
Beginning the work of adaptation to climate change
“Finally, I would like to turn to one of the Government’s most critical projects. In 2021, I stated that Bermuda needed to embark on a comprehensive climate change assessment to better understand the threats we face and set priorities for action in the short, medium, and long term. I am glad to say that, with the assistance of the UK Government, the study has been completed, and the Government has started reviewing it.
“We are in the process of forming a Climate Task Force to help us guide Bermuda’s adaptation process, which must begin soon to prepare for the climate changes we expect to see in the coming years—some of which have already begun.
Conclusion
“The successful implementation of these initiatives will create economic opportunities, improve living standards, and, most importantly, protect and preserve our environment for future generations. As the saying goes, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Thank you.”
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Category: All, Environment, News
“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” – President Ronald Reagan
Besides the fact that no one, not one person, in the Bermuda Government can define “climate change,” let us look at the FACTS about green government policies:
In the first major study of its kind, researchers from several European institutions analyzed 1,500 climate policies implemented (between 1998 and 2022) across 41 countries since the turn of the century. ONLY 63 WERE FOUND TO BE EFFECTIVE.
THAT MEANS 1,437 POLICIES (95.8%) WERE FUTILE & FAILED. A meager 4.2% success rate would put most companies or organizations out of business or get someone fired. Such low rates of return are troublesome, but somehow, governments can get away with it. – RealClear Energy, “Most Climate Policies Are Pointless But Costly” by Kristen Walker, September 23, 2024
Alphabetically: Observed Results of policies:
Brownouts/blackouts
>>> Child labor for mining <<>> Environmental damages mining rare earths <<>> Loss of agricultural land <<>> Loss of forests <<>> Wildlife deaths – birds, bats, whales, dolphins, etc. <<<
Minister Roban
May we ask from reading your comprehensive, well written selection of promises and hope for economic , protrection of our water sources, and environment, is that, something that the Government should have been doing 20 years ago or more ?
That is if we get our economy back, then and only then we can be confident that we can acomplish all those wonderful things and more.
Please no more Legislation ! We are all grown up !
All we need is the see the sun rise on better Bermuda for glimpse into a brighter future for all .
Unfortunately we do not see much hope .
There ia a program on TV that is all about the universe well worth watching.
Apparently planet Earth appears to be the only celestial body with in billions of light years possibility to the point of infinity with life forms , and that is debatable.
Earth wil go on living for say a few more bilion years.
Asteroid are our constant threat .
Some facts
Global warming is a big fat political lie with the excuse to promote a few fancy cars did you know that Earth rotates at 24,000 MPH.
Speed of light travels at 186,000 miles per second.
There is several bodies of light only, traveling in space, it source died year ago
There are the suns many time biger than ours which smash into one another.
There are black holes billions off light years across that swallow entire suns.
There is no word in the english language that i icaposible conceive if i lever 300 year to describe the enormity our this universe t has to be a rounf dough ~ nut
This entire universe is so large it imposable for humans or robots to travel any where at all, by ten of billions of human life times ever with having babies every 30 human years .
Our sun does not cook at the same rate.
Sun spots occur ever eleven years that can take down the USA nation grid.
Our orbit changes season to season affecting our heat ratio, not car and busses.
Hurricans clean the atmosphere as rains wash the dirt away.
Polution is caused by forest fires, including India , China and Volcanoes of which 25 are presently active.
If yellow stone national park in the the USA blows it top no living thing except crocks may survive that if the can also find food .
Humans will not make it as we just love to contemplate dirty nuke wars .
People living here now 8.8 billion of us and including nature have been poluting this earth for 4 billion years.
Here is the crunch .
If Canada . USA Mexico and South America all went bright green that would not make a single bit of different to the so called global warming, Hoax !
What we have to watch for is the fall out from being nuked by another nuke nation .
All is not lost !
Earth will be around for at least three or more bilion years, but we may not.
Minister Roban.
I noticed in your CONCLIDION to the above of your hopes an aspirations for a brighter future you must have extra ordinary powers of perception, where as i do not what i do see is unrealistic debt that holds us in it grip.
I see Bermuda at a tipping point not even over plastic straws , they are going improve our current down turn in our economy .
Bermuda has shut its doors on economic progress done by the vision of one man.
Many educated people have left Bermuda never to return because of masive imigration work restrictions.
Life is a tug of war the more pulling the rope the better.
I as a senior person even before cars arrived here I never thought Bermuda was know for its efficiency.
Your hope and promise list barely scratches the surface and appears way off in left field we are all drinking bottled water theses days .
As I stand at the bottom of the Gibb’s Lighthouse I see 4 new enormous chimneys. is that our monuments to progress?
Riding the bus i see the makings of a large shipping container city.
Our beaches are covered in Sargaso weed.
Our street weed problem is not much better.
I do not want to be unfair to yo as you job is far from easy as the work list grows ever larger .
Sir ! The revival of our economy has to be number one in my book debt never repays itself .
Unfortunately we can not do any thing without money ,not even go to the movies.
Is Bermuda’s new tourist department treading on water ?
Have you not noticed that the people are angry as there is much discontentment ,cant blame them .
Sir ! Everything boils down to money.
Government does not have any money.
“Our money” yours included is paid in trust in the form of taxes that has been the curse of many countries for centuries.
We need sustainable income, realy bad .
I do no see much at all to promote that .
We have to give to get !
You Sir are an executive leader in the Government .
I need to tell you that it mentally hurst me to see our tax money go to pay loan interest .
Beaurocrats are BUCK PASING that is not healthy.
We are the taxpayers unfortunately we do not see much for our money .
Global warming as forecasted that is so called good OK ! lets you expand the tourist season .
new cars trucks and busses does not put food on the table.
Is the next inflation celebration only days away ?
Please do not tell us what you are going to do, tell us what all have done .