Abstract:
Climate-related hazards like storms, floods and droughts are the most common disaster related events in the Caribbean region (United Nations, 2016). Warmer global temperatures directly impact the hydrological cycle resulting in higher incidence of intense storms, especially in tropical regions (Kumar, 2012). The region’s geographic location combined with current land use practices result in an adverse combination which is partly unavoidable but can still be managed for less disadvantageous results. Additionally, water demand doubles every 20 years, twice as fast as population growth (Lohan, 2008). This calls for a transformation in the way we acquire and use water. The effects of global warming and climate change require multi-disciplinary research especially in the face of global water (im)balances. It is in this context that the issue of flooding needs to be considered holistically with an element of water consciousness.