KINGSTON, Jamaica--Jamaica will receive US $1.8 million from Japan to assist in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Approximately J $73 million (US $587,054) of that sum will be provided to support on-the-ground work to help communities’ efforts to cope with the effects of climate change.
Another portion of the funds will be allocated at the national level to address barriers to the implementation of climate-resilient technologies and to build Jamaica’s capacity to implement nationally appropriate mitigation actions and a National Adaptation Plan.
Speaking at the launch of the local component of the project, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Daryl Vaz stressed the importance of the partnership to Jamaica.
“This project is critical as climate change has far-reaching implications, particularly its impact on the livelihoods of Jamaicans as well as the country’s sustainable development goals,” he said.
“Under the J-CCCP [Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership – Ed.], community-based projects will include sustainable agriculture and water resource management. These projects will benefit the communities by introducing technologies which will improve the livelihoods of residents through job provision and income generation,” he added.
The Jamaica component forms part of the larger regional project in which Japan will spend US $15 million in eight Caribbean countries, including Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.
The project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica Masanori Nakano noted that the J-CCCP represents his country’s efforts to substantiate cooperation towards sustainable development in the area of climate change within the Caribbean Community Caricom.
“I feel very strongly that this particular project is fundamentally important and has far-reaching benefits here in Jamaica,” he said.
The Planning Institute of Jamaica, Rural Agricultural Development Authority and the Social Development Commission, among other agencies, have partnered to drive the project. ~ Caribbean360 ~
