Climate change is already impacting Curaçao.
Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and unpredictable rainfall patterns are putting pressure on water resources and ecosystems. The phrase “het water staat ons aan de lippen” reflects the urgency: Curaçao faces challenges that affect agriculture, biodiversity, and daily life.
These changes highlight the importance of sustainable water management and climate adaptation strategies. Protecting coral reefs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving infrastructure are key steps to safeguard the island’s future. This effort connects directly to SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 14: Life Below Water.
Community awareness and action are essential. Every choice, from conserving water to supporting renewable energy, helps build resilience against climate risks.
Mark Vermeij of Carmabi says the effects of climate change on Curaçao are already being felt and immediate action is needed. “The water is literally standing on our lips,” Vermeij stated during a gathering on the occasion of Democracy Day, organized by Human Rights Defense Curaçao.
In the auditorium of the University of Curacao, an urgent warning sounded: “We have to stop thinking that this is a problem of the future. Climate change is here, and we are already in the middle of it,” Vermeij said.
Vermeij began his speech with a sober observation: “The time that people denied climate change is over. If you still deny it now, you will never believe it.” He pointed out the visible and irreversible consequences of rising sea levels, especially for coastal cities such as Miami, which protect their infrastructure at enormous costs. “In Miami, they pump millions every year to keep the city dry. We do not have those thirty million here to protect Curaçao from rising water,” Vermeij warned.
🌐 Read the full article in Dutch on www.curacao.nu
