Government gets climate change assessment

CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan and Lieutenant Governor Tregenza Roach participated Wednesday in an information session on climate change conducted at the UVI Innovation Center by UVI President Emerita LaVerne E.Ragster.

Governor Bryan said the session, which was attended by Cabinet members and representatives of key government agencies, was an “effort to move forward in a cohesive manner” to address the effects of climate change in the territory.

Elevated temperatures, increased rainfall, more frequent and intense hurricanes are all signs that climate change is real and climate-related extremes are the new normal.

“It’s imperative that we plan for a more intense and less predictable climate than we’ve been used to,” Governor Bryan said. “We’re experiencing warmer temperatures and more rainfall outside of what used to be called the rainy season. These are signs that our climate is changing, and we’ve got to be ready to address the impacts on the way we live.”