Water and youth: A Jamaican perspective

AS THE world grapples with increasing inflation, constant conflicts and political nuances; environmental issues are not the dominant thought in mind. Though the general public is aware of environmental dynamism, linking modernisation with the degrading environment is a reality that many are just not willing to accept. The continuous improvement to one’s quality of life tends to skew people’s vision. After all, there are those who fear that life without the current modernisation could resemble life before the industrial revolution.

The industrial revolution transformed the world and introduced a new standard of living which subsequently resulted in a global population boom. This revolution vastly improved economies but victimised the environment for this result. Natural resources were depleted at an alarming rate, while the atmosphere and water systems especially were battered and bruised with large volumes of pollutants. Fossil fuel users, particularly coal-driven factories, since have significantly scaled down operations but the negative impacts on the environment still linger. The greenhouse emissions from this revolutionary period have aided in the now current climate change issue. The damage is already done. The world now experiences longer droughts, harsher hurricanes and typhoons, sea level rise and an overall increase in global temperatures. Around the globe, those who contributed the least to this climate change problem are suffering the biggest consequences and are the most vulnerable to its impacts.

Jamaica, being an island surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, has to protect its precious freshwater resource which is needed to promote development. Growing up in Jamaica, the prior generation generally bemoaned the fact that due to recent developments, the current generation of youth have life a bit easier. Though improvements to the overall quality of life were seen as a major positive, the negatives quickly reared their ugly head. Jamaica’s development was heavily reliant on agriculture exports which required the withdrawal of massive volumes of water. These withdrawals were unregulated and over time, degraded portions of Jamaica’s freshwater quality reserves. Rapid urbanisation, along with historical unregulated waste disposal practices (pit latrine), polluted Kingston’s underground water, which still poses a problem for the most populated area in Jamaica. This degraded water quality now requires additional treatment before water can be used to satisfy potable and economic demands, a costly venture. Water has to be rerouted from nearby parishes to quench Kingston’s thirst. These issues, coupled with changes in rainfall frequency and pattern, have created a dilemma which authorities and regulators are currently battling.

Jamaican youth are forced to accept and live with these consequences of historical water mismanagement and the onslaught of climate change. Constant water shut-offs, due to droughts in sections of the island, disrupt livelihood as schools cannot operate without water. The increase in heat due to rising temperature increases risks to food security as agriculture stakeholders are forced to adapt. The fortunate in Jamaica’s society can mitigate against these problems by buying water tanks and air conditioning, while the less fortunate cannot. Climate change has evolved from being only an environmental issue to one that also encapsulates social issues. Those who contributed less to the problem are the most vulnerable to its impacts.

Today’s youth did not create this problem but they play a massive role in lessening the impact for the next generation. The need to include more young people at the water discussion table should be seen as a priority; after all, the future is theirs. The blame game will not address a problem that is here to stay unless acted upon. Water conservation (the go-to solution) will be a meaningless phrase unless people, especially the youth, learn to practise its definition. Opportunities for engagement, internships in water-related organisations, as well as the dissemination of water management strategies, should be implemented for all youths regardless of social class. This large problem requires the experience of previous generations and the creativity, passion and talent of the current generation of youth.

Let us not make the same mistakes like those before us. Let us as young people be mindful of our precious resource and build a resilient and ecofriendly culture. We have done enough self-harm by virtue of degrading our environment; let us now put measures in place for self-healing. The need for continuous development while protecting our environment is a peculiar balancing act that we need to attain, especially if we are to actualise our Vision 2030 goals. ‘Integrated and sustainable water resources management and development; adequate and safe water supply and sanitation to support the social and economic development of Jamaica’. So yes, we might be small, and yes, this problem started many moons before us, but our infectious culture carries a global weight. Jamaican youth, the world is watching us, let us show them that ‘wi likkle but wi talawah!’