Premier Ewart Brown opened the debate into a report by Dr. Anne Glasspool called 'The Impact of Climate Change on Bermuda' on Friday in the House of Assembly. Here is the full debate on that report.

Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons said he believes legislation minimising Bermuda's carbon footprint is imminent.

International business, tourism, human health and power supplies are all under threat, Mr. Simons warned as he launched the United Bermuda Party's response to Premier Ewart Brown's motion on the impact of climate change.

"I understand the Minister of the Environment will hopefully come out and put forward a piece of legislation that would basically help Bermuda do its bit to reduce its carbon footprint," Mr. Simons told the House of Assembly. "This problem is a problem that will not go away and we have to provide mitigation and strategies that will transcend all areas of the community: our personal lives, our commercial lives, our political lives."

Mr. Simons warned the future threat of flooding is real, suggesting St. George's could one day become a separate island, while an increase in tropical hurricanes will damage homes, roads and farms. He said storms harming modern telecommunication systems would jeopardise international business, and said Bermuda needs to prepare by making better use of digital communication techniques.

The Island can close its doors to tourism if its beaches get destroyed, he said, while the agriculture industry needs support to ensure Bermudians can be more self-sufficient. Mr. Simons said he would have liked to hear Dr. Brown reveal more strategies tackling climate change when the Premier listed many reasons for alarm earlier in the day.

The Smith's South MP said Bermuda needs to urgently find alternative sources of energy to Belco, and come up with a system to make all homes more energy sufficient. In the UK, he said, residents are given cash incentives to use alternatives to fossil fuels.

He noted Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess has a hybrid car, and said more people need to follow suit.

Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney said: "We as a human race on this planet have an incredible job first with regard to educating all those who inhabit the planet. It would be remiss of me at this stage not to acknowledge the Bermuda Government Sustainable Development Unit who in partnership with the Bermuda National Trust sponsored the fine document that was authored by Dr. Glasspool. It suggests how Bermuda develops strategies going forward."

Mr. Blakeney commended Dr. Brown for the report to the House and spoke about how climate change will directly affect Bermuda. "Climate change is deemed in the future particularly to have relatively significant impact on our Bermuda coastline. Some islands are rising and some are sinking. However, Bermuda itself, based on the expert assessment, is considered to be stable."

Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons commended Dr Glasspool for the study but wondered when Government would be putting the recommendations into action.

"It's a little disappointing to come here today to have a report that's been out there for some time and not have anything that's particularly concrete in terms of what action they will take with this report."

He continued: "What I was really hoping to hear today was a more careful analysis from the Government of the current report. In each chapter, there is a section initially on mitigating that is put forth as some of the steps that need to be taken. It would be very useful to hear in each category what Government is planning to do."

Government backbench MP Wayne Perinchief said: "I do believe that Bermuda has done a lot to make this country green. We already have an excellent water collection system. Visitors always ask about our roofs. We do have a very excellent water collection system. In Bermuda, we're doing many things because we have been self-sustaining as a small country that assists in the green revolution. In this environment, we must talk about global warming. We must talk about emissions that are harmful to the atmosphere."

Speaking on the Causeway, Mr. Perinchief said: "We know that we can anticipate maximum nine foot rise. There's no need to have a ship go under it. A ship hasn't gone through it for over seven years.

"I am speaking commonsense here. I am not talking about pie in the sky projects that are going to break our budget. I am talking about practicality."

Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess said: "Listening to some members would make the listening public think that Government is not doing anything concerning global warming.

"Mr. Speaker, the Government is promoting solar power. In fact when you bring in items to do with solar power they are duty free. Not so long ago Bermuda Motors brought in a hybrid car. TCD said it was too big and sent it back. It's a car that I'm presently driving. I got gas two weeks ago and I still think I have two or three days left of gas. It's a hybrid that you don't have to plug in. The Government is on the ball as far as taking a lead role in promoting green."

The UBPs Charlie Swan said: "Climate change, sustainable development and what we're going to leave behind for our children besides Uighurs and big debt. As easy as these things are for the Government to do, I believe it should be made easier for everyone to do. This whole Island and Country can benefit and set an example of what can be done. I just wanted to say that it would be positive to see the Government help this Country take the lead."

Independent MP Darius Tucker said: "We don't necessarily need the Government to do things. We can start in our own houses. If we keep forcing the Government to do things that means bring in another expert, another report and then we're going to complain about the size of the debt. We are an educated society. I think it's time that with the education that we have we start doing what we can do for ourselves in our own homes. And yes we can cut our carbon footprint."

Deputy Speaker of the House Jennifer Smith said: "I think we are all quite aware of the global concerns. What I think is important about the report is it sets out what the challenges are to Bermuda."

Minister of Energy Michael Scott said his Ministry is focused on reducing the Island's carbon footprint and promoting "green" energy sources.

He said that while Belco will always need to operate using fossil fuels, there are plans afoot to launch a solar energy plant, wind turbine farm and wave power plant.

Another goal is the boost to the waste-to-energy production at the existing Tynes Bay Incinerator.

However, the Minister urged individual homeowners to play their part too, and think about installing solar panels on their roofs and reducing the trash they produce.

Mr. Scott revealed that he has been reminded himself of the importance of this as "my ten year old son has bugged me about reducing trash".

Mark Pettingill of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance warned: "In my respectful view, time is of the essence in relation to this topic, and is not something that we have as a luxury. People would have to have their head in the proverbial sand if they are not cognisant of the impact of climate change on our Island home and on the world."

Mr. Pettingill said statistics show the last month, year and decade have had record-breaking temperature highs and lows. A "significant" hurricane season is forecast.

He noted that vegetation on the foreshore of his own home — near that of Dr. Brown in Smith's — has disappeared in recent years due to storms and higher tides. He said the cliffs near his home are also visibly crumbling due to storm damage.

"This is real, this is happening now in our time on a daily basis," he warned.

Mr. Pettingill acknowledged that climate change is not high on the list of concerns of ordinary Bermudians who are more worried about crime, the economy and tourism.

However, he urged for legislation to be passed to follow on from Friday's debate in order to "to make people get real about this."

As an example, he said: "Switzerland has the 'trash Police' who regulate what trash goes into what bags for the sake of protecting the environment. They are rigid about it and the fines are serious."

Government Whip Lovitta Foggo said that while Bermuda is a small island reliant on importing products from overseas, it should still do its part and set an example for the wider world.

She suggested goals such as insisting on eco-friendly packaging, getting grocery stores to eradicate plastic bags and building homes in future to rely on solar, wind or wave energy. "We should show that we can get it right here in Bermuda," she urged.

Ms Foggo also called for legislation to protect the environment. She said she did not want "unfriendly" legislation, but she did want methods to encourage everyone to do their part.

Deputy Premier Paula Cox said "green is now sexy". She said Bermuda has already got positive points in terms of the way the Island collects and stores water, and the way our caves attract scientists from all over the world.

However, she said we need to be more conscious of the way we use our resources and we have an opportunity to push forwards with that. She suggested incentives should be offered for better behaviour.