Can a small island nation build resilience? The significance of resource‐use patterns and socio‐metabolic risks in The Bahamas

Abstract

Resource‐use patterns may entail systemic risks and cascade effects, which consequently inhibit the ability to deliver socioeconomic services. Identifying resource‐use patterns exhibiting systemic risks and reshaping their combinations is a potential lever in realizing the transition to a sustainable, resilient, and resource‐secure system. Using an island context to assess the quantity and composition of resource throughput enables a more comprehensive analysis of these risks. This article presents the first mass‐balance account of socio‐metabolic flows for The Bahamas in 2018, to identify socio‐metabolic risks and cascading effects. Socio‐metabolic risks are systemic risks related to critical resource availability, material circulation integrity, and (in)equities in cost and benefit distributions. We utilize the economy‐wide material flow accounting framework to map the material flow patterns across the economy. In 2018, annual direct material input was estimated at 9.4 t/cap/yr, of which 60% were imports. High masses of waste (1.4 t/cap/yr) remained unrecovered due to the lack of recycling. Total domestic extraction (DE) were dominated by non‐metallic minerals with more than 80%, while marine biomass makes up barely 1% of total DE. Due to its linear, undiversified metabolism, and heavy imports dependency, the system is susceptible to socio‐metabolic risks and cascading effects including low levels of self‐sufficiency, high vulnerability to shocks, commodity price fluctuations, threats to sensitive ecosystems, health impacts, and economic losses, among others. A holistic resource management strategy and nature‐based solutions that consider the trade‐offs and synergies between different resource‐use patterns are critical when exploring potential plans for metabolic risk reduction.

The Bahamas at risk: Material stocks, sea‐level rise, and the implications for development

“…The Bahamian economy exhibits extractive resource patterns that are focused on only few natural resources, including sand and gravel, which accumulate as stocks. The quantity of materials removed from the stocks after their service lifetime is also considerable, while these outflows usually remain unrecovered (Martin del Campo et al., 2023). Stabilizing the infrastructure stock and expanding its service lifetime are some means to reduce material use and outflows.…”

“…The quantity of materials removed from the stocks after their service lifetime is also considerable, while these outflows usually remain unrecovered (Martin del Campo et al, 2023). Stabilizing the infrastructure stock and expanding its service lifetime are some means to reduce material use and outflows.…”

“…How to cite this article: Martin del Campo, F., Singh, S. J., Fishman, T., Thomas, A., & Drescher, M. (2023). The Bahamas at risk: Material stocks, sea-level rise, and the implications for development.…”

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“…Green coverage rate of built-up area (X 13 ) % Positive [32] Forest coverage rate (X 14 ) % Positive [31] Production of industrial solid waste (X 15 ) 10 Thousand tons Negative [30] Industrial wastewater discharge (X 16 ) 10 Thousand tons Negative [33] Industrial smoke (powder) dust emissions (X 17 ) 10 Thousand tons Negative [37] Harmless treatment rate of household garbage (X…”

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“…The projections suggest that by the 2050s, there could be an additional 3300–16,000 deaths annually. Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Martin del Campo et al (2023) underscore that extreme weather phenomena wield profound implications for both society and the economy, thereby constituting a prominent peril to public safety and security.…”