Jamaica Well Ahead in Meeting Land Mass Protection Target – Minister Samuda

Jamaica remains five years ahead of schedule to meet the 2030 target for land mass protection, says Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda.

The Government has committed to complete legal protection for 30 per cent of land mass and coastal marine ecosystems by 2030 as part of measures to halt biodiversity loss and limit climate change.

This is in keeping with obligations under the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Addressing the Kiwanis Club of Portmore’s 51st anniversary function at the Sky Lounge in Kingston on June 11, Minister Samuda said that with several measures implemented to preserve and increase the island’s forest cover, including a national tree- planting programme, the country is “well on the way” to meet its international commitment.

“Jamaica will meet its land target protection in 2025, a full five years before the time given under its commitment, putting us well ahead in making sure that we have protected forests and capturing the carbons that we emit,” he said.

Citing other measures to address climate change, Mr. Samuda said the Government is making significant strides in increasing the production and use of renewable energy to meet demand and reduce the dependence on harmful fossil fuels.

He said that a tender process is under way for several new plants to provide 100 megawatts of clean, green energy.

In addition, 45 megawatts of energy will be generated from the Mona Reservoir Floating Solar Project, which is being rolled out in phases, to fully satisfy the energy needs of the Mona Treatment Plant complex.

“It has a climate impact and has an economic impact. We are well on our way to cleaning up our energy sources,” Minister Samuda noted.
He said that the Government has also made it easier for persons to power their homes and businesses using renewable energy.

“We have made it easier and cheaper to access [solar] panels, and we have removed the tax on batteries. At the household and commercial levels, it is easier for persons to invest for themselves in solar energy,” he noted.

The Minister further outlined that the Government is investing in electric and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered buses to reduce harmful emissions.

Over the next 18 months more of these cleaner units will arrive in the island to reduce the impact of gas emissions on the environment and lower the cost in the operation of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC).