Yesterday I met with the European Union Ambassador, Marianne Van Steen, to discuss the Jamaica – EU cooperation within the context of Climate Change and its effect on the environment.
Also was in attendance were head of the Cooperation, Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, and Project manager, Virginie Andre, and Principal Director from the Climate Change Branch, Una May Gordon.
I had an opportunity yesterday, to sit with Dr. Denzil Douglas, former Prime Minister and current leader of the Parliamentary Opposition of St. Kitts and Nevis. He is currently visiting Jamaica.
We discussed the general, and urgent infrastructure needs of the region not least of all water and housing.
I extended him well wished on behalf of the Prime Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, the Government and the people of Jamaica.
I had the opportunity to address the special plenary session of UNEA6 on the Occasion of the special session to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the creation of UNEP.
The Government & people of Jamaica extend congratulations to UNEP;
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the Government and people of Jamaica extend congratulations
to the United Nations Environment Programe (UNEP) at this special session to commemorate its
fiftieth anniversary. UNEP is the major pillar of the UN Multilateral System’s case for society in
harmony with nature and has co-ordinated the worldwide effort to confront the planet’s biggest
environmental challenges.
For 50 years, UNEP has provided the necessary science-policy interface to allow for interdisciplinary
exchanges, with the ultimate objective of enhancing decision-making on the global environment
agenda.
The fiftieth anniversary celebrations provide an opportunity to reflect on the past and there have
been significant successes. But there have also been a number of critical targets that have been
missed, that the global community had previously committed to. Undoubtedly the next fifty years
will be similarly challenging, there are opportunities to define new pathways to success.
We would like to suggest 3 critical actions as part of the process of transformation and renewal.
Firstly, there must be all inclusive representation, including strong engagement from highly
vulnerable economies. Engagement processes, particularly at the national and local levels, have
proven to be inadequate to meet the goals originally established for the organization.
Secondly, there is need to simplify funding mechanisms that target scaled- up interventions at the
regional and sub-regional levels. This modality requires the strengthening of existing regional
coordinating bodies such as the UNEP Sub-regional office for the Caribbean; and the UNEP
Caribbean Environment Programmes Regional Coordination Unit (CAR RCU), Secretariat to the
Cartagena Convention. Jamaica hosts both entities which have played a significant role in regional
environmental governance, but could be more rigorous in effecting change at the policy level.
Thirdly, there is strong evidence of a gap between policy acceptance and implementation at the
national, regional and international levels. The strategic approach must therefore be focused on
how the Science-Policy Interfaces can be more solution-driven, implementable and equitable.
The triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution can only be
addressed with unity of purpose and collective bold action. UNEP is uniquely positioned and has a
crucial role to play to reinvigorate international cooperation and spur collective action.
I again extend congratulations to UNEP on behalf of the GOJ, and invite the international community
to continue its support beyond this golden jubilee year.
Yesterday, myself and Anthony Mckenzie from NEPA, met with Sonja Leighton-Kone ( she is proudly Jamaican) Acting Deputy Executive Director of UNEP and Jacqueline Alvarez, Director and Representative of UNEP in Latin America and the Caribbean.
We discussed how Jamaica can accelerate the reform of its Environmental Legislative and Policy Framework, status of UNEP funded projects in Jamaica and future collaboration.
the meeting also focused on issues of Pollution, Climate change, Protection of Biodiversity and not least of all the way forward with plastics.
I joined Pres. of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta at this morning’s opening session of UNEP 50. With the auspices of UNEP. I thanked them for hosting both UNEP50 and the upcoming Un Ocean Conference. He reiterated the close ties and friendship with Jamaica.
Dear God,
watch over us with tender love, as today we celebrate Ash Wednesday and the beginning of this Lenten season. We sign with a cross – ashes on our foreheads to remind us that there is a part of ourselves that is of this earth and that one day will return to dust.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for providing me with the opportunity to address the resumed fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly. This session allows us to gain consensus on multilateral environmental efforts on biodiversity, climate, pollution and food systems, among others.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges globally, including the adverse impact on the development of economies, public health and the environment. However, the pandemic, also presents opportunities for us to make the shift from unsustainable production and consumption patterns, to approaches that promote the circular, blue and green economies.
In support of this agenda, the Government of Jamaica on January 1, 2019, commenced the phased implementation of its ban on the importation, distribution, manufacture and use of certain types of single use plastics.
The ban targeted plastic bags of a specific dimension and thickness, plastic drinking straws, as well as straws forming part of the packaging of drink boxes and juice pouches. The ban, which is governed by two Ministerial Orders, also applied to polystyrene foam containers used in the food and beverage industry.
The Government is also actively implementing its Green Business Jamaica Programme to incentivize the public and private sectors to improve their environmental stewardship.
Given the global plastic crisis, the Government of Jamaica supports a proposal through UNEA 5.2 to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastics to guide and coordinate the implementation of UNEA resolutions in place since 2014.
The wider Caribbean Region is experiencing the impacts of nutrient pollution including nitrogen-based eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, as well as Sargassum blooms.
These impacts have consequential effects on livelihoods and human health and impair ecosystem services that underpin vulnerable island economies
Jamaica therefore acknowledges the support of the UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) Regional Coordination Unit (CAR RCU), Secretariat to the Cartagena Convention, for initiating the development of a Regional Nutrient Pollution Reduction Strategy and Action Plan.
The Strategy and Action Plan aims to provide a framework for increasing collaboration and action to reduce the impacts of nutrient pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems in the region.
Jamaica is also actively engaged in restoration programmes for several key marine and coastal ecosystems, including mangrove forests, seagrass beds and coral reefs. However, international commitments for significant restoration of priority ecosystems is urgently required.
These initiatives must support the targets in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework once agreement has been reached, and opportunities must be identified through the Decade of Ocean Science and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
In December 2020, Jamaica and 13 other countries, announced their commitment to a new Global Ocean Action Agenda which seeks to “achieve 100 per cent sustainable ocean management of areas within national jurisdiction guided by sustainable ocean plans by 2025, and to support a global target to protect 30 per cent of the ocean by 2030
Among the country’s international biodiversity and blue economy commitments, is the declaration of a section of the Pedro Bank as a protected area, which is expected to be accomplished this year. The area comprises approximately 882 square kilometers, and contains significant biodiversity. Approximately 18.1 per cent of terrestrial and 13 per cent of marine areas will be under legal protection.
We also remain committed to address the challenge of climate change. Jamaica has increased its ambition in the mitigation component of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and has taken steps to move towards an economy-wide target that will bring emissions from the land use change and forestry sector within its NDC.
The UNEA 5.2 can play a key role in the process of building consensus on the use of nature-based solutions for adaptation and mitigation.
Jamaica is finalizing Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Plans as well as Climate Change Adaptation Plans for the five priority sectors (coastal resources, health, housing, tourism and water) featuring nature-based solutions and approaches as a key strategy.
We welcome the support of the international community as the country moves to consolidate its efforts to delink economic growth and development from unsustainable practices, while making itself more climate-resilient.
Post COVID-19, it is imperative that Governments, in partnership with local, regional, and international stakeholders, chart a course of action that recognizes Nature at the Heart of Sustainable Development.
Thank you.
After 36 hours I’ve made it safe and sound! Looking forward to a productive UNEA5 here in Nairobi
The focus of the the meeting will be Climate Change, Loss of Biodiversity and Pollution.
There is a heavy agenda. Will update as best as possible.
Last Thursday, I visited the offices of the Forestry Department for the first time since assuming Ministerial responsibility for the Environment. it is a priority of mine to ensure that the agency (and several of its major projects) is indeed a critical pillar of our national development.
We toured the Central germination facility, and I got a quick tutorial on the plants, trees, and different types of soils and got a run down on the location of the out-nurseries; the 3 facilities are in Upper St. Andrew, Manchester and St. Ann.
They are moving in the right direction with the first world initiatives by a using state-of-the-art mist system which helps to reduce time spent on watering and frees staff to do other tasks as its automated. Importantly, it also reduces mortality rates for the plants.
I look forward to working with the board, the management team and the wider organisations to achieve the mandate of the organisation.