Cuba's response to climate change recognized in European Parliament

Brussels, Nov 9 (RHC) Irish MEP Mick Wallace and British academic Helen Yaffe highlighted Cuba's response to climate change the day before in the European Parliament, where a documentary on the island's strategies was presented.

Wallace included the documentary Cuba's Life Task: Fighting Climate Change, in a speech in which he stressed that the Antillean nation does not face this challenge in a normal scenario, due to the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States and its consequences.

For her part, Yaffe, who is co-producer of the documentary, explained details of the making of the film and answered questions from the audience present at the European Parliament.

Irish MEP Mick Wallace and British academic Helen Yaffe. Image: PL

Both highlighted the scientific argument that supports the Tarea Vida, the name of the Cuban State's plan to address climate change, put into effect in 2017 with five strategic actions and an approach based on multidisciplinary bases.

In addition to the prominence of science in the initiative, both the Irish MEP and the British academic signified the role given to communities and solutions from nature itself.

Cuba, a country under the influence of more than 60 years of blockade and without access to financing, has understood the importance of the participation and mobilization of the communities, which have provided answers, as well as the national and natural solutions, Yaffe stressed.

At the meeting in this capital, Wallace took the opportunity to highlight the recent vote in the UN General Assembly of a resolution demanding the end of the U.S. blockade against the island.

It was supported by 185 countries, and only the United States and Israel opposed it, on the thirtieth occasion that the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to condemn the blockade, although we are still waiting for the good sense, said the parliamentarian in allusion to Washington's determination to ignore the universal demand.

Wallace denounced the unjust nature of the U.S. policy towards the Caribbean country and its continuity under the administration of Joseph Biden.

He also insisted that sanctions such as the blockade not only affect the development of the nations concerned but also their efforts to confront climate change.

Cuba's ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, Yaira Jiménez, thanked the screening of the documentary, Yaffe's explanations, and the opportunity to approach Cuba’s management in the face of an urgent issue for the whole world.

In her speech, the diplomat explained the challenges of the archipelago, ranging from erosion, a rise in the temperature, and the increase in cyclonic activity, as evidenced in late September by the devastating passage of Hurricane Ian through western Cuba, where it destroyed or damaged 100,000 homes.

Regarding the blockade suffered by the country, she acknowledged how its impact is dealt with in the documentary.

The extraterritorial siege implies the daily loss of 15 million dollars, how much could be done with that money, she asked. (Source: PL)