The island must act now to get organised given its vulnerability to the threat of climate change, the Bermuda National Trust urged, saying the need for a working and co-ordinated Climate Change Task Force has “never been greater”.

Myles Darrell, the BNT’s head of natural heritage, gave the call in response to a report in The Royal Gazette that the organisation had ceased to exist — as Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment, said that the task force would “absolutely” get reinstated after a year and a half in apparent limbo.

Walter Roban, the former home affairs minister, announced a climate task force in March 2022 to the backdrop of a $200,000 grant from the British Government for a study to assess the “inherent risks” presented by climate change.

At that time, Mr Roban told the House of Assembly that the group had been put together in 2021.

It was said to comprise ministry representatives including the departments of energy, environment and natural resources and planning, and the public, finance and transport ministries, with input from the Bermuda Weather Service.

Comment also came this week from Francis Kredensor, the deputy director of the weather service, who said the BWS had been involved with the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science in “one of the studies that led to the creation of the task force”.

He added: “While we are not currently involved directly with the task force itself, we are always available to collaborate and provide data or meteorological expertise should they request it.”

Mr Darrell told the Gazette that he believed he had been a member of the task force “while it was active” years ago.

He was unaware of “any significant outcomes from its work”, however, and said the group had not met for “a considerable period”.

Accordingly, Mr Darrell was unable to say why the task force had fallen off the radar, although he admitted surprise at news of its inertia, given the importance of its work.

He said the BNT recognised the task force as “essential” in light of the island’s precarious position when it came to climate change.

Mr Darrell highlighted research by the coastal engineering firm Smith Warner International, commissioned in 2022 to produce the Bermuda and Climate Change report examining the island’s vulnerabilities to extreme weather and rising seas.

Among the risks found was that about 6 per cent of all buildings on the island were in some form of danger.

It followed a report by Smith Warner in November 2004, which sounded the alarm on the island’s increasing vulnerability to coastal erosion from hurricanes and storms.

Mr Darrell said: “Climate change is no longer a future challenge; it is happening now.

“Around the world we are witnessing increasingly destructive wildfires, rising sea levels, stronger storms, biodiversity loss and growing threats to food security. As a small island, Bermuda is particularly vulnerable to these impacts.

“Climate change affects every aspect of Bermuda's future, from our economy and infrastructure to our natural heritage and quality of life.

“Addressing it requires co-ordinated leadership across Government, guided by science and supported by collaboration. Successive governments have recognised climate change as one of Bermuda's greatest long-term challenges. That makes sustained leadership and co-ordination not simply desirable but essential.”

Mr Darrell added that the urgency made it “difficult to understand why such an important co-ordinating body would remain inactive for so long”.

“Every year without meaningful co-ordination is a year in which opportunities to strengthen Bermuda's resilience may be lost.

“The Bermuda National Trust believes the task force should be re-established as a priority, with clear objectives, strong leadership and regular reporting.”

Mr Darrell noted the island’s plans for marine conservation areas totalling 90,000 square kilometres for Bermuda waters, calling it an example of opportunities to “turn climate policy into action”.

“By protecting and restoring our marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and seagrass meadows, Bermuda can strengthen natural coastal defences, improve ecosystem resilience and better prepare for the impacts of climate change.

“These nature-based solutions align closely with the recommendations of the Smith Warner climate study and demonstrate that meaningful climate action is not only achievable, but ready to be implemented.”

He added: “Protecting Bermuda from the impacts of climate change is not simply an environmental issue; it is fundamental to safeguarding our economy, our communities and the natural heritage that sustains them.”