Virtual Town Hall On Emissions And Updated Climate Change Policy Frameworks

The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation invites public participation in a virtual town hall on the Emissions Policy Framework and the updated Climate Change Policy Framework on Tuesday (February 22).

The session will start at 6:00 p.m. and will be streamed on the Ministry’s Facebook and Twitter pages @megjc_jm and on the Jamaica Information Service Facebook page, YouTube channel and website at www.jis.gov.jm.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank on Monday (February 21), Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, said that the consultation is aimed at garnering the input of all stakeholders on the policy documents.

He said that the session will assist in identifying gaps in legislation, research, raising public awareness, technology transfer and other matters, and provide opportunity for building a collaborative and sustainable approach.

“All of this, of course, is within the context of equitable transition towards a green economy with green jobs and clean energy for our citizens,” Minister Samuda noted.

Minister Samuda said that the provisions under the frameworks will impact all Jamaicans.

He noted that while small economies such as Jamaica do not contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, they suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change.

He said that the 2015 Climate Change Policy Framework has, therefore, been revised and updated to reflect the targets of the Paris Agreement to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The agreement is geared towards holding the rise in the global average temperature to well below two degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

The Emissions Policy Framework gives overarching and strategic guidance on improving air quality, which is particularly important for businesses and livelihoods that involve outdoor, labour-intensive work.

“It puts forward several objectives, strategies and actions to improve the mechanisms that govern air-quality management,” Minister Samuda said.

Chief Technical Director, Policy Planning and Evaluation Division, Gillian Guthrie, for her part, said that the Ministry is encouraging interactive and robust discussion on the policy documents “so that we can amend them to reflect the wishes and concerns of all Jamaicans going forward, to improve the quality of life that we all experience”.

Both policies are available for viewing on the Ministry’s website at www.megjc.gov.jm/policies/ and the public can submit their comments and input via email to policycomments@megjc.gov.jm.