UN General Assembly
2008

the past 10 years towards ending poverty, hunger and malnutrition and reducing deaths. Apart from the consequential increase in production costs for all consumer goods, the growing cost of energy is affecting the travel plans of many, with direct negative consequences for tourism, the primary industry of the Bahamas. Of equal concern is the persistent challenge of climate change, especially for small island developing States such as the Bahamas, where 80 per cent of our landmass is within 1.5 metres of sea level. It is no surprise to find the Bahamas listed among the 100 countries most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change and sea-level rise. Potential impacts of further rises in temperature include not only the environmental degradation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems — loss of biodiversity and compromised 08-52272 32 groundwater tables, agricultural lands and fishery resources — but also the social and economic losses that might be expected from labour displacement. My Government has recorded its commitment to preserve our marine and terrestrial environments and to meet the targets established by the United Nations