Climate change in Suriname is leading to warmer temperatures and more extreme weather events in Suriname. As a relatively poor country, its contributions to global climate change have been limited. Because of the large forest cover, the country has been running a carbon negative economy since 2014.[1]

Suriname was the second country to update its Nationally Determined Contributions in 2020.[2]

Greenhouse gas emissions

Suriname has claimed a net-negative carbon economy since at least 2014.[1] This is in large part because dense forests cover over 93% of the country.[3] Most of the rainforest is still in pristine condition,[4] however it is being threatened by gold mining[5] and logging companies.[6]

Agriculture contributes 40% of the country's emissions.[2]

Petroleum industry

Petroleum exports are an important part of the economy of Suriname,[7] much of which is controlled by the state owned Staatsolie Maatschappij Suriname. As of January 2020, an American corporation, Apache Corporation, was drilling wells in Maka Central.[8]

Impacts on the natural environment

Temperature and weather changes

According to the World Bank, temperatures have already increased across the country, with a significant increase in hot weather.[9] Though precipitation has not shown any significant trend changes,[9] projections suggest significant changes in different parts of the country.[10]

Current/past Köppen climate classification map for Suriname for 1980–2016
Predicted Köppen climate classification map for Suriname for 2071–2100

Sea level rise

90% of Suriname's human activity is on the Northern coast, which is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and salt water intrusion.[11]

Impacts on people

Economic impacts

Agriculture

Though agriculture is a decreasing part of the total economy of the country, accounting for 9% of GDP in 2012, it is the third largest part of the Surinamese economy employing 15% of the population in 2009.[12] Changing weather and flood events are expect to have significant negative effects on agriculture in the country.[12] 49% of the economic losses of May 2006 floods in Suriname were agricultural.[12]

Health impacts

The greatest risk Suriname faces is the flooding of the rivers. The population is concentrated around major rivers like the Suriname, Commewijne, and Marowijne River in an area a few meters above sea level.[13] In 2006 and 2015, there were majors floods even resulting in deaths.[14][15]

Mitigation and adaptation

Policies and legislation

The Surinamese government was proactive about updating its Nationally Determined Contributions statement in 2020, second only behind the Climate change in the Marshall Islands.[1] The major commitments included maintenance of forests as a carbon sink, 35% renewable energy by 2030, and sustainable farming and transportation investments.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Suriname's climate promise, for a sustainable future". UN News. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  2. 1 2 "Suriname's Second National Communication - In Progress | UNDP Climate Change Adaptation". www.adaptation-undp.org. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Suriname's climate promise, for a sustainable future". UN News. 2020-01-31. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Central Suriname Nature Reserve". Unesco. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Een weg komt nooit alleen" (PDF). University of Amsterdam (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Wanze Eduards and S. Hugo Jabini. Suriname Forests". Goldman Environmental Prize. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  7. ↑ "Suriname | UNDP Climate Change Adaptation". www.adaptation-undp.org. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  8. ↑ Blum, Jordan (2020-01-22). "Climate change also poses a threat to oil's exploration budgets, report finds". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  9. 1 2 "Historical Climate Data Suriname". climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  10. ↑ "Climate Data Projects Suriname". climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org. Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  11. ↑ "Suriname's Second National Communication - In Progress | UNDP Climate Change Adaptation". www.adaptation-undp.org. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  12. 1 2 3 "Impacts on Agriculture". Climate Change Knowledge Portal. World Bank. Archived from the original on 2020-06-07. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  13. ↑ "Over 350,000 Surinamese to benefit from flood risk management". Prevention Web. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "'Doden als gevolg overstromingen Suriname'". nu.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "Wateroverlast in Suriname door zware regen". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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