BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 11. Traditional knowledge stands crucial for a more sustainable world, environmental expert and journalist Tyrell Gittens said at a panel session themed "Unity in Action: Intergenerational Voices for Just and Sustainable Islands in the Caribbean" taking place within COP29, Trend reports.
"In the Caribbean, we are facing several climate-related crises. Of course, we have a range of initiatives aimed at enhancing climate resilience, as communities suffer from extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and so on. Traditional knowledge is very important as a foundation for how we will move forward to become more resilient as a society to climate change," he explained.
According to him, the concepts of resilience may be seen as something new to society, but in reality, they have existed for a long time.
"For example, I live in Trinidad and Tobago, and there are many communities here that live in river floodplains. With climate change, we are witnessing increasingly extreme rainfall. In the Caribbean, especially Trinidad and Tobago, we have two seasons: the dry season in the first six months of the year and the rainy season in the second half of the year, and of course, we see that the rainy season is becoming more arid. These traditional and indigenous communities knew how to farm in such conditions," he added.
The opening ceremony of the much-anticipated COP29 conference has kicked off today at the Baku Olympic Stadium.
Representatives, leaders, and climate experts from around the globe gathered to mark the beginning of what is set to be one of the largest climate events of the year.
The decision to host COP29 in Azerbaijan was made at the COP28 plenary session held in Dubai on December 11 of last year.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed in June 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, aims to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. The “COP” (Conference of the Parties) is the highest governing body responsible for overseeing the convention’s implementation.
A total of 198 countries participate in the convention. Unless otherwise agreed, COP is held annually. The first COP took place in Berlin in March 1995, with its secretariat headquartered in Bonn.
Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel