Antigua and Barbuda Officials Attend Climate Warning Seminar in China

Two Antigua and Barbuda government officers have completed a two-week seminar in China focused on early warning systems and climate change adaptation.

Department of Environment Technical Officer Zariya Russell and Ministry of Health Communications Officer J’noure Smith-Kellman studied approaches to forecasting, disaster preparedness and communicating warnings to the public.

The seminar covered meteorological monitoring, climate information services, emergency response and the use of technology to help authorities identify and respond to hazards. Participants also examined how technical agencies, government departments and communities can coordinate before, during and after an emergency.

The training is relevant to Antigua and Barbuda’s efforts to prepare for hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding and sea-level rise. A central theme was that forecasts are most useful when they reach people in time, in language they can understand, and with clear guidance on what to do.

Russell’s participation supports the Department of Environment’s work on climate adaptation and the use of climate information in planning. For the Ministry of Health, Smith-Kellman’s training highlighted the role of public communication when environmental and climate risks threaten communities.

The two officers are expected to share knowledge from the seminar as government agencies continue work on preparedness and climate resilience.