Latest

Environmental Consultant with Eastern Technical Associates (ETA), Marty Hughes (front, third left), shares a moment with persons across the island who participated in the recent three-day Visual Emission Observer Training Programme (Smoke School), at the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) Football Field on Old Hope Road in Kingston. The training involved partnership with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

Gov’t Builds Capacity to Improve Air-Quality Monitoring and Compliance

The Government continues to strengthen the country’s capacity to improve air-quality monitoring and regulatory compliance, by facilitating the training of personnel from key industries and regulatory entities under the Visual Emission Observer Training Programme. Popularly known as ‘Smoke School’, the...

Principal Director of Cause for Change Foundation Limited, Richardo Aiken (left) and Chief Executive Officer of VM Foundation, Samantha Charles (second right), present the winning cheque to students of Brown's Town Primary who won the finals of the Environmental Quiz and Expo competition, held at Holiday Haven in Runaway Bay, St Ann, on January 13. At right is Director of Cause for Change Foundation Limited, Doren Watson, and in the background are other partners and sponsors.

Brown’s Town Primary Wins Environmental Quiz and Expo Competition

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, addresses the House of Representatives on January 13.

Government to Expand Protected Areas by 30% by 2030

National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Environmental Management and Sustainability, Anthony McKenzie.

NEPA Urges Public to Report Sightings of Displaced Wildlife After Hurricane Melissa

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda (third from right), looks on as Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Minister and Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South Western, Hon. Floyd Green (right), points to the destruction of the Black River Market in St. Elizabeth caused by Hurricane Melissa. Occasion was a tour of the area on Thursday (December 18), by a delegation from the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD). From left are Programme Manager for Programming and Country Engagement (PACE) at the Fund, Jihyea Kim; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Wayne Robertson; Executive Director of the FRLD, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong; and Acting Principal Director in the Climate Change Branch, Omar Alcock.

Jamaica Leveraging International Partnerships in Rebuilding Effort

4 months ago Environment

Robin’s Bay Primary Leads Third Consecutive Beach Clean-up

Students and staff at the Robin’s Bay Primary in St. Mary, have given a fresh new look to the neighbouring Robin’s Bay beach, for the third consecutive year. The exercise, which took place on December 11, saw students from grades one to six collecting some 15 bags of trash from the picturesque beach. Speaking with JIS News, Grade six teacher,...

Official photo of Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Matthew Samuda

4 months ago Climate ChangeEnvironmentForeign AffairsHurricane Relief & RecoveryParliament

Jamaica Secures Climate Finance and Technical Support at COP30 for Post-Hurricane Melissa Recovery

Jamaica’s delegation to the 30th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Brazil successfully advanced discussions with key international partners, securing major financial and technical support opportunities to strengthen climate resilience and drive post‑Hurricane Melissa recovery. Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, made the...

New water trucks acquired by the National Water Commission (NWC) to support the restoration of water services to communities, following the disruption caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

4 months ago Climate ChangeEnvironmentWater

NWC Acquires 12 New Water Trucks

The National Water Commission (NWC) has acquired 12 new water trucks to support the restoration of water services to communities, following the disruption caused by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Acquired at a cost of $199 million, the trucks, which represent an added 146,000 litres of water-hauling capacity per cycle, will stabilise emergency supplies while permanent repairs to water systems...

Senior Planning Technician at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Kemar Rose.

4 months ago EnvironmentHurricane Relief & Recovery

NEPA Leverages Advanced GIS Technology to Assess Damage Caused by Hurricane

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is leveraging advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to assess the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Melissa and to strengthen Jamaica’s preparedness for future weather events. During a recent JIS ‘Studio 58A’ live discussion, representatives from NEPA outlined the Agency’s ongoing assessment efforts and the critical role of technology in national recovery. Senior...

Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer with responsibility for the Spatial Planning and Management Division at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Gregory Bennett.

4 months ago Environment

NEPA Calls on Persons Not to Build Houses in Restricted Zones

To promote safer and more sustainable development, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is urging residents, developers, and landowners to construct homes, businesses, and infrastructure within designated build zones only, and to avoid areas classified as non-build or restricted zones. The call came from the Agency’s Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with responsibility for the Spatial Planning and...

Rising water levels at Content in Williamsfield, Manchester, which have inundated homes and business establishments.

5 months ago EnvironmentHurricane Melissa

Flooding in Content, Manchester Linked to Rising Groundwater Levels

The Water Resources Authority (WRA) is reporting that the flooding affecting sections of Content in Williamsfield in Manchester is due to a significant rise in groundwater levels in the local aquifer system. Groundwater measurements from the Content borehole indicate that between September 25 and November 3, Jamaica’s groundwater levels increased by about 100 metres (330 feet). The rise occurred as...

Principal Director, Meteorological Services Branch in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Evan Thompson, speaks at a press briefing at the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC), located at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) Headquarters on Haining Road in Kingston, today (October 27).

5 months ago EnvironmentHurricane Melissa

Storm Surge Projected for Bluefields in Westmoreland

Residents in Bluefields and surrounding areas in Westmoreland are being warned to anticipate life-threatening storm surges with the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Storm surges will involve the rising of the sea as a result of wind and atmospheric pressure changes, associated with Hurricane Melissa, which is expected to impact the island shortly. Principal Director of the Meteorological Services Branch in...