Something in the Air: the Caribbean’s Air Quality Crisis

Caribbean air is in crisis. Turned into a noxious soup by vehicle emissions, cruise ship fumes, burning waste and industrial pollutants, air quality is the next frontier in the battle for better health. According to the United Nations, there are almost 14,000 premature deaths in the Caribbean each year caused by air pollution. Around the globe, bad air has become one of the biggest killers on the planet with the World Health Organisation linking this type of pollution to higher rates of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. It’s also been tied to premature birth rates and neurological disorders in children.

Aside from the devastating impact on human health, contaminants in the air also have a worrying effect on environmental health. Island ecosystems are sensitive and very attuned to deterioration in the air which threatens the survival of the Caribbean’s unique flora and fauna. This, combined with the high cost of health services, makes air pollution a multi-layered threat with far-reaching socio-economic repercussions.

Problem polluters

In the ongoing and heated debate on regional public health, there’s been much talk of improving diet, promoting active lifestyles and eliminating alcohol and drug use. While these are undoubtedly crucial, improving air quality is just as important but often not as high on the agenda.

In terms of reducing vehicle emissions, there is a lot more work to do. Prevention being better than a cure, governments can focus on getting more cars off the road by developing effective public transportation networks and promoting non-motorised forms of travel such as cycling. Tighter regulation on vehicle emissions is also necessary, and fuel sulphur content benchmarks must be set with strict enforcement and penalties for any offenders. According to a 2017 report from the United Nations Environment Programme, only four countries in the Caribbean have nationwide legislation, laws or policies specifically addressing air quality (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica).

But it’s not just vehicles that are contributing to the Caribbean’s toxic burden. Cruise ships are also one of the biggest polluters in the region, churning out exhaust fumes containing metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other cancer-linked particulates. A report, released in January by Stand Earth, found that the air quality on four Carnival vessels was comparable to that seen in some of the world’s most polluted cities such as Beijing and Santiago. Two of the four cruise ships studied for the report were sailing from the States to the Caribbean. 

Environmental group Friends of the Earth recently rated the world’s top cruise lines in terms of their work in reducing air pollution at ports. The two worst offenders – Carnival Corp and Royal Caribbean – are also two of the biggest cash cows in the region’s waters. With cruise ships responsible for a massive slice of the tourism economy, Caribbean governments are reluctant to rock the boat and take these floating polluters to task for treating island ports as dumping grounds.

Outdoor air pollution is a recognised risk but the air inside your home is the biggest threat, according to the United Nations which says indoor air pollution (cooking with solid fuel over an open fire) is the leading cause of air quality-related deaths in the region. Fuel quality and the efficiency of cooking stoves are the key concerns in this area alongside a push to move from traditional open fire cooking to greater use of electricity and renewables.

The kitchen isn’t the only dangerous area in the house. The onslaught of pests in the Caribbean means that many households regularly use pesticides to rid themselves of mosquitos, termites and other critters. Living in a poorly ventilated property that relies on air conditioning only exacerbates the impact of pesticides — circulating the toxic chemicals throughout the house.

Action needed

In 2015 the government of Saint Lucia pledged to “develop a national plan to address air quality issues as to date there has been little or no targeted research in the area of indoor/outdoor air quality and thus there is little or no specific data available.” The plan was promised “in the medium to long-term”. Four years on there is little sign of the envisioned “robust and effective policy, regulatory and institutional environment.”

In the meantime, the scale of the problem is steadily increasing. With tourism numbers soaring, development increasing and the population growing, Caribbean air will only get more congested. While there has been scant movement so far by governments around the region, there are some positive signs such as the growing recognition that islands need to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. 

New investment in renewables such as solar and geothermal power is driving progress in this area as development agencies and international environmental groups seek to help Caribbean nations meet their renewables goals. Additionally, there have been efforts in the transportation sector to promote cleaner public transport and introduce more environmentally friendly vehicles such as electric cars. The Dominican Republic is a leader in this area with the region’s most extensive metro system servicing the Santo Domingo area. In Saint Lucia there is no duty or excise tax on importation of vehicles that run on sustainable fuels and, similarly, no taxes on vehicle conversion equipment. In addition, vehicles with higher engine capacity or older vehicles that are not as energy efficient are subject to higher taxes.

These measures are welcome but there is still a distinct lack of specific policies and legislation directly related to air quality and air pollutants. A hardline approach is needed to set emissions limits and clean-air targets, and introduce strict penalties for polluters, to be enforced without discrimination. This, accompanied by a public awareness campaign to mitigate the deadly effects of indoor pollution, would help ease the burden on the region’s economy, environment, health infrastructure and public purse.