‘Too little, too late’: STINAPA slams climate strategy as inadequate for Bonaire

KRALENDIJK – The new National Climate Adaptation Strategy (NAS), currently open for public consultation, does not provide sufficient guidance for addressing climate change on Bonaire, according to STINAPA Bonaire. The nature conservation organisation describes the strategy as overdue and incomplete, and calls on the Dutch government to swiftly come forward with a concrete implementation plan, structural funding, and local implementation capacity.

STINAPA welcomes the fact that the Caribbean Netherlands has received its own dedicated chapter in the national climate strategy for the first time. However, the organisation believes the plans fall short of adequately addressing Bonaire’s significant vulnerability to climate change.

According to STINAPA, Bonaire urgently needs a fully developed adaptation programme with clear responsibilities and budgets. The island is increasingly confronted with extreme heat, prolonged drought, heavy rainfall, rising sea levels, and deterioration of its coral reefs, while its economy and biodiversity are heavily dependent on a healthy natural environment.

The organisation points out that the European Netherlands has long operated under the principles of "safe, sufficient, and clean" in the field of water management. On Bonaire, STINAPA says, comparable structural facilities and funding are absent.

Coastal protection falls short

In terms of safety, STINAPA argues that the protection of the coastline and coral reefs is insufficiently guaranteed. As sea levels rise and weather becomes more extreme, urgency increases, yet concrete measures remain absent.

Water availability also demands action, according to the organisation. By better capturing rainwater during heavy downpours, water can be stored for dry periods. This would also reduce the reliance on costly desalinated seawater for purposes such as irrigation.

Water quality

STINAPA also draws attention to water quality. The organisation refers to recent research by Wageningen Marine Research, which found that pollutants are present in the Bonaire National Marine Park, including carcinogenic and hormone-disrupting substances. STINAPA states that a targeted approach to pollution sources, such as the landfill and the oil transhipment terminal, is essential.

The organisation further criticises the Netherlands’ failure to ratify the Land-Based Sources Protocol of the United Nations’ Cartagena Convention. According to STINAPA, the Dutch government is thereby missing opportunities to strengthen the protection of coral reefs and public health.

The nature conservation organisation concludes that the knowledge and solutions are largely available, but that implementation continues to lag behind. STINAPA therefore calls on the Dutch government to stop settling for policy plans and to urgently move forward with concrete measures to make Bonaire more resilient to the effects of climate change.