PIOJ—Sustainable Development & Regional Planning Division

How Much Do You Know About Climate Change?

Major Findings of the Knowledge, Attitude and Behavioural Practice Survey

In May 2009, Jamaica accepted the

offer extended by the Sub-Committee

of the Pilot Program for Climate

Resilience (PPCR) to participate in as

one of the six countries in the

Caribbean regional pilot programme.

One of the main thematic areas of

focus of the PPCR is that of climate

change education and awareness. The

objective of the 2012 study was to

update the current information base on

the knowledge, attitudes and

behavioural practices (KAP) regarding

climate change among Jamaicans. A

KAP study done in 2005 was used as a

basis for comparison to detect any

changes that may have occurred over

the years.

It has been argued that human activity

is the main cause of climate change.

Any alteration of this kind of

behaviour necessitates insight into

what people know, believe and do. For

this reason, a KAP study is useful to

evaluate and measure the knowledge,

December 2013

How Much Do You Know

About Climate Change?

1

Climate Change and the Law 7

Off the Bookshelf 9

Take the Climate Change

Challenge

12

The Making of the Video—

Climate Change and Its Impact

on Jamaican Farmers—

Pictorial

13

Beginnings

Volume 6 Issue 18

In This

Issue... attitudes and

practices of

people. In recent

times, KAP

studies on

matters relating

to climate

change have

been increasing.

In the United States of America, for

example, the Yale Project on Climate

Change Communication and the

George Mason University Center for

Climate Change Communication, have

been conducting a series of studies on

Americans’ beliefs and attitudes about

global warming. One of these studies,

is the International Public Opinion on

Climate Change Study, a survey done

in collaboration with the Gallup World

Poll. This annual global survey asks

questions on climate change with a

sample of 150+ countries worldwide.

In the Caribbean, climate change KAP

(Continued on page 4)

BeginningsBeginnings

of the various reports without whom the

publications would not have been possible.

As we enter into a new year, I leave you with

an excerpt from a New Year’s letter I

received from a wise friend of mine—

“Get involved. Jamaica has the potential to be the

greatest nation in the world but we must all be willing

to give through our work, voluntarily where the needs

exist... Let us all get involved in building it up.

Rejoice in all our accomplishments. There are many.

Let us this New Year commit to taking our destiny

and that of our country in our hands, encouraging

others to do so and with the help and will of The

Almighty, show ourselves and everyone else that this

World, our world can and will be a better Place.”

Mrs. Jacqueline DaCosta

Chairman, Land Information Council of Jamaica

Have a safe and productive new year.

Thank You.

Nadine Brown Editor/Desktop Publisher

Jamaica is one of six countries participating

in the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience

(PPCR), the first programme established by

the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). The

PPCR aims to pilot and demonstrate ways in

which climate risk and resilience may be

integrated into core development policies,

planning and implementation. The other five

countries under the programme are Grenada,

St. Vincent, Saint Lucia, Dominica, and

Haiti. Jamaica’s programme is being

supported by the Inter-American

Development Bank (IADB)and the World

Bank. In preparing to realize the benefits

from the PPCR, Jamaica in 2010, applied for

a grant of US$507 000 to prepare a Strategic

Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR).

In addition, Phase 1 of the PPCR would seek

to undertake a number of important studies,

build local and institutional capacity for

planning and forecasting; and build climate

change education and awareness.

In November 2011, the SPCR was endorsed

by the CIF to the tune of US$25 million;

US$15 million in grant and US$10 million in

concessionary loan at an interest rate of

0.25%.

From The Editor

Page 3 Vol.6 Issue 18

WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU!! The Beginnings team would like to get your valuable feedback and response in order to provide relevant information and

links about issues important to YOU!

Send us your input on sustainable development related websites, events, projects, articles, workshops etc. and we will gladly include them in our publication. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends and colleagues who may find the information useful. Past issues of Beginnings are posted on the official website of the PIOJ at:

http://www.pioj.gov.jm

Beginnings is a biannual newsletter of the Sustainable Development & Regional Planning Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica. The opinions

expressed by our contributors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Beginnings. Please send comments to: The

Editor, Beginnings, 16 Oxford Road, Kingston 5. Tel: (876) 935-5058 Fax (876) 906-4465 Email: nbrown@pioj.gov.jm

Among the achievements emanating from

Phase I of the PPCR is the preparation of six

reports focusing on issues such as Attitudes

and Behavioural Practices towards climate

change, the infusion of climate change

considerations into current policies and

legislation and predictive modelling of the

state of Jamaica’s climate. The reports present

a body of knowledge to aid the planning and

decision-making process and are important

inputs in facilitating the achievement of the

country’s sustainable development goals

under Vision 2030 Jamaica-National

Development Plan and the Millennium

Development Goals. This special issue of

Beginnings will feature excerpts from these

reports and also give the reader a glimpse into

the making of a video to highlight the impact

of climate change on Jamaican farmers in

Clarendon. Be sure to check out the video at

the link provided and give us your feedback.

Other highlights of this issue include our

regular features Off The Bookshelf, which

showcases more of the reports, and an

exciting quiz to assess how much you know

about climate change. Special thanks to the

IADB and the World Bank and the authors

Beginnings

Editorial Team Toni-Shae Freckleton

Kim Hoo Fatt

studies have blossomed, perhaps beginning with six studies

initiated by the Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate

Change (MACC) Project, between 2005 and 2006 in five

countries: Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, and St.

Vincent and the Grenadines. These were national surveys of

the general public. About 1 700

respondents participated in the Jamaican 2005 KAP study

which included not only members of the general population

but also representatives of the public and private sector as

well as international lending agencies. The 2012 KAP study

consisted of three surveys to ascertain levels of knowledge,

attitude and practices among Jamaicans in general and

particular sectors. The data collection for the study occurred

between July 7 and 18, 2012.

Methodology - 2012 KAP

A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was

employed in this study. A national survey of Jamaican

households collected data from 1 484 respondents. The

online version of this survey had 503 persons completing the

survey. The sector survey targeted six sectors Agriculture,

Construction (Built Environment and Human Settlements,

Energy, Health, Tourism and Water. A total of 276

organizations completed the interviews. The qualitative

component utilised a total of ten different focus group

discussions with different targeted audiences patterning the

structure of the quantitative investigation. Six separate

sectoral focus group discussions were held and four separate

community sessions were also completed with Portmore

residents, farmers from Spring Village, young persons in

Port Maria and retired persons.

Results

The surveys indicated fairly high levels of knowledge about

climate change with the various samples (household, sector,

online). This high level of awareness was also confirmed in

the qualitative investigations. Comparatively, the online and

sector samples seemed to have been comprised of more

highly educated persons and so it is not surprising that their

knowledge levels of climate change were above 90%. Some

94.2% of online respondents and 97.4% of sector respondents

(Continued from page 2)

Page 4

Vol .6 Issue 18

indicated that they had heard the term, while over 70%

provided an explanation which had the theme change/

variation in climate globally, temperature and weather

patterns. More specifically, 70.6% of the sector sample, gave an

explanation with this theme, while 73.5% of online

respondents gave an explanation reflecting the idea of

differences in weather patterns.

Frequency distribution of responses to the question

“Have you ever heard the term climate change?”

Many respondents from the household (78.4%) and online

(73%) surveys indicated that they did not think the

government was doing anything about climate change. This

finding was echoed in both the qualitative community-based

and sectoral discussions. While this lack of awareness of what

the government is doing might point to a general lack of

interest in climate change matters, it is interesting to note that

49.5% of the household sample and 44.8% of the online sample

were very concerned about climate change. Compared with

the 2005 KAP study, the 2012 study indicates that the level of

concern has reduced over the years. In 2005, it was reported

that 62.6% of respondents then reported that they were very

concerned about climate change. In 2012, only 49.5% of the

household sample and 45% of the online sample reported

being very concerned about climate change. The challenge for

any public education or campaign strategy will be to translate

this apparent reduced level of concern into an increased

interest in matters such as knowing about one’s community’s

level of risk associated with climate change.

Even though persons reported varying levels of individual

preparedness, for some there seemed to be a general feeling

How Much Do You Know About Climate Change? Cont...

Household Responses Online Responses

that it was the government which should be mainly

responsible for climate change. Even in cases where persons

indicated that all entities (government, business/industry,

community organizations, private citizens, industrialised

countries, and so on) should be responsible, there was still a

feeling that the government should bear the greatest

responsibility; 37% of household respondents and 25.2% of

online respondents felt that the government should be mainly

responsible for climate change while 85.2% of sector

respondents felt that the government should assist their sector

in adapting to or mitigating the effects of climate change.

This

Page 5 Vol.6 Issue 18

perception was echoed in the focus group discussions.

However, in these discussions –especially those at the

community level –people did indeed identify actions for

which they could take personal responsibility without

relying on government. Future campaign efforts must

address this issue by convincing members of the society

that they have a role to play in addressing climate change

issues. Individuals as well as various organizations will

need assistance in determining the roles that they can play

in responding to climate change.

Media Usage

In the 2005 KAP, 48.3% reported occasional exposure to

climate change topics in the media. In the current study,

there was a slight decrease to this figure. Most household

and online respondents stated that they occasionally (33.5%

household; 43.7% online) read, listened to or watched

stories about the climate. While this figure may be low,

many (84.9% household; 76.0% online) were willing to

read, watch and listen to climate change related stories.

This willingness to pay attention to content regarding

climate change augurs well for any future campaigns about

climate change issues.

In terms of current sources of information on climate

change, the most common sources cited in 2005 was

television (96.5%), followed by radio (81.5%), newspaper

(65.4%) and then internet (21.6%). In 2012, the current

sources remained the same for household respondents:

television (80.1%), radio (57.7%), newspaper (37.3%) and

internet (22.5%). However, for online respondents, the

ranking was slightly different, with television first (70.8%)

followed by internet (66.2%) then newspapers (48.7%) and

radio (43.5%). Sector respondents also showed a preference

for the internet (66.7%) as their source of information on

climate change, followed by newspapers (55.1%), television

(53.6%) and radio (50.7%). In 2005, sector respondents’

current source of information mirrored the household

respondents’ preference of 2012 with television, radio,

newspaper and internet being the four commonly cited

sources. Radio and television were considered to be the

most effective channels for delivering climate change

messages in 2005. As in 2005, in 2012, respondents had a

similar response when asked to state the three most

effective channels. For household respondents, the three

(Continued on page 6)

Will Breadfruit Solve the World Hunger Crisis? Cont...

Household Responses Online Responses

Household Responses Online Responses

How Much Do You Know About Climate Change?

chosen were television, radio and newspapers; for online

respondents, television, radio and internet were

chosen. Sector respondents also chose television, radio

and internet as the three most effective channels for

communicating climate change.

While the survey results point to the use of mostly

traditional media (radio, television, newspaper) and

some relatively new media such as the internet, focus

group discussants were more likely to make

suggestions about how these media should be used.

For example, some focus group participants suggested

the use of prime time slots as well as the use of popular

personalities. Other suggestions from focus groups

included the use of interpersonal communication

strategies which involved community meetings and

other forms of alternative media such as drama, road

marches, and other special events. The use of social

media was also an important suggestion made

regarding the types of media to use for delivering

messages about climate change. The mix of media and

communication strategies to be employed for future

campaigns will require serious consideration as there

are many actions that must be promoted to address all

the issues surrounding climate change.

Conclusion

Overall, this study supported the need for an increase

in public education and awareness activities as

respondents from the various samples made

suggestions about amplifying activities carefully

designed to make Jamaicans more aware of the issues

surrounding climate change. It also indicated that

improvements in awareness have been made since

2005.

Future communication-based interventions will have

to move beyond merely sharing information and

spreading awareness, and to now focus on promoting

specific behavioural practices that are feasible for most

(Continued from page 5)

Page 6

Vol .6 Issue 18

of the population to implement. Respondents pointed

out various media channels that could be used in

promoting such positive behaviours. Suggestions have

been made regarding the various approaches that could

be used. Based on the findings of this study, it is safe to

conclude that Jamaicans expect to see more campaigns

targeting climate change issues in the future. This study,

no doubt, will serve as a baseline to assist in evaluating

the success of prospective efforts addressing climate

change matters.

For access to the entire survey please visit the PIOJ’s

website or http://www.pioj.gov.jm/ResearchandData/

SustainableDevelopmentResearchPapers/tabid/134/

Default.aspx

How Much Do You Know ..cnt’d

Arctic Fox loves icecaps - Seasons's Greetings Used with Permission from © Seppo Leinonen, www.seppo.net

Introduction

One of the strategic components of the Pilot Program for

Climate Resilience (PPCR) is mainstreaming climate

change adaptation in local, sectoral and national plans,

and implementing integrated adaptation strategies in

river basin planning and management. In this regard, a

report, Review of Policy, Plans, Legislation &

Regulations for Climate Resilience in Jamaica was

prepared under Phase 1 of the programme. The report

seeks to identify the extent to which the current policy

framework addresses climate related issues, points out

gaps and identifies some of the emerging policy issues.

The following is an excerpt outlining some of the matters

discussed in the document.

The UNFCC

There is increasing evidence of human interference in the

climate change system which has led to global warming.

With the concern over global environmental issues, the

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted

resolution 43/53 on the protection of the global climate

for present and future generations. The UNGA in a

subsequent resolution provided the basis for the

negotiations for a framework convention on climate

change. Final negotiations with regards to the United

Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

(UNFCCC) occurred at the United Nations Conference

on Environment and Development (UNCED), Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil, with the UNFCCC becoming open for

signature on 4th June 1992. Jamaica signed on to the

UNFCCC on September 6, 1996.

As a party to the UNFCCC, Jamaica is subject to a

number of commitments, which places obligations on

Jamaica to respond to climate change. Jamaica has taken

several initiatives to mainstream climate change into its

national developmental processes and mechanisms, chief

among these is the Vision 2030 Jamaica-National

Development Plan which has climate change

incorporated as one of the 15 national outcomes. Jamaica

has prepared and submitted to the UNFCCC two

Page 7 Vol.6 Issue 18

national communications, and has prepared a

national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by

sources and removals by sinks of all GHG not

controlled by the Montreal Protocol. Jamaica has

participated in regional climate change projects such

as the Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Climate

Change (CPACC) 1997-2001; Adaptation to Climate

Change in the Caribbean (ACCC) 2001-2004; and

Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change

(MACC) 2004-2009. These projects have helped to

improve the level of understanding of the region’s

vulnerabilities to climate change, to build capacity to

address climate change at the national level, engage in

adaptation, support mainstreaming of adaptation into

policy processes, and begin implementation of

adaptation measures. Jamaica is currently

participating in the Climate Change Adaptation and

Disaster Risk Reduction project; the objective of

which is to assist Jamaica with its adaptation to

climate change and to contribute to sustainable

development.

Assessments of Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate

change reveal that vulnerable sectors include inter

alia: Agriculture; Coastal Zone; Critical Infrastructure;

Energy; Fisheries; Health; Tourism; and Land Use.

In the document entitled Review of Policy, Plans,

Legislation and Regulations for Climate Resilience

in Jamaica legislation and regulations, policies and

plans for these areas/sectors were reviewed and

where applicable, a comparison made between these

and recommendations made in the Second National

(Continued on page 10)

Will Breadfruit Solve the World Hunger Crisis? Cont... CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE LAW

Page 8 Vol.6 Issue 18

Reading List

Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change in Latin America and

the Caribbean (Directions in Development) by Jakob Kronik, Dorte Verner

Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Sustainability in the

Americas: Impacts and Adaptations

Francisco Dallmeier (Editor), Adam Fenech (Editor), Don MacIver

(Editor), Robert Szaro (Editor)

Climate Change, Disaster Risk, and the Urban Poor: Cities

Building Resilience for a Changing World (Urban

Development)

Judy L. Baker (Editor)

Reducing Poverty, Protecting Livelihoods, and Building Assets

in a Changing Climate: Social Implications of Climate Change by Dorte Verner

Sustainable Development Events

Adaptation Futures 2014: Third International Climate Change Adaptation Conference May 12 - 16, 2014 Fortaleza, Brazil World Environment Day 2014 June 5, 2014 Climate Investment Funds Partnership Forum 2014 June 23 - 24, 2014 Montego Bay, Jamaica Second Preparatory Meeting for 3rd International Conference on SIDS June 23 - 27, 2014 New York, USA 2014 ESRI International User Conference July 14 - 18, 2014 San Diego, USA

The 4th Session of the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management August 6 - 8, 2014 New York, USA

SD Events and More

Climate Change Deniers Credit Card Used with Permission from © Seppo Leinonen, www.seppo.net

Overview Building adaptive capacity is the aim of The Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), which is part of the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF), a multi-donor Trust Fund within the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). The overall objective of the programme is to provide incentives for scaled-up action and transformation-al change in integrating consideration of climate resilience in national development planning consistent with poverty reduction and sustainable development goals. Jamaica is one of six countries in the Caribbean regional pilot programme. The other five countries are Grenada, St. Vincent, Saint. Lucia, Dominica, and Haiti. The pilot programmes and projects to be implemented under the PPCR in Jamaica are to be led by the Planning Institute of Jamaica. The following publications are outputs of the project and can be downloaded from the PIOJ’s website at www.pioj.gov.jm

Off the BookshelfOff the Bookshelf Page 9 Vol.6 Issue 18

Jamaica Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR) T h e S t r a t e g i c P r o g r a m m e f o r Climate Resilience (SPCR) under the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) is an initiative which will assist in climate-proofing Jamaica’s development. The SPCR is aligned to Vision 2030 Jamaica, and also builds on gaps and challenges identified in Jamaica’s Second National Communication (SNC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report provides details on the programme which was developed with input from stakeholders at the national and local levels, and reflects some of the priority areas identified from consultations. The areas of focus are: Water Resources; Human Health; Agriculture and Food Security; Tourism; Terrestrial Resource and Biodiversity; Coastal Resources and Human Settlements; and Financial Resources. Jamaica’s PPCR involves two phases. Phase I, involves the development of the SPCR in collaboration with key stakeholders from national and community (local) levels. Phase II will be the implementation of the activities identified in the SPCR. The SPCR will be complemented by ongoing and planned initiatives. It will also form the basis on which funding is sought for the country’s climate change agenda as the strategies and activities contained therein are considered critical. Also, the framework established will eliminate possible duplication of projects and identify and build on synergies.

Jamaica Strategic Programme for Climate Resilience (SPCR) Prepared for the Pilot Program of Pilot Resilience (PPCR) October, 2011

Communication for Climate Resilience (2012 to 2017). This five-year National Communication Strategy and Action Plan was developed based on a thorough needs assessment and situational review of the current climate realities that will be affecting key sectors to be addressed under Jamaica’s Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) as well as through extensive participatory consultation with several stakeholders. In order to avoid duplication and to maximize the use of available resources, it builds as much as possible on existing climate change communication experiences and seeks to engage a wide range of critical partners who are already involved in communicating climate resilience. Key messages are identified to support the SPCR activities and its adaptation strategies in particular, but also to address the known gaps in “Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices” (KAPs) for each specific sector. The strategy provides a national communication framework for climate resilience that includes not only what can be accomplished under the SPCR itself, but what can also be accomplished through additional partnerships, collaboration and identification of resources elsewhere.

Communication for Climate Resilience (2012-2017): A National Communication Strategy and Action Plan Prepared for the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR), 2012

Prepared by: Dr. Maria Protz, Ph.D for the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ)

State of the Jamaican Climate: Information for Resilience Building The State of the Jamaican Climate: Information for Resilience Building report is intended to be an initial reference point for a description of Jamaica’s climate, its variability and trends and future projections. It is to be used by key sectors and persons who wish to engage in climate change adaptation work with respect to Jamaica and who need to determine the climate state being adapted to. It is also intended to be an initial reference point for persons seeking out other sources of information which document how key sectors for Jamaica may be influenced by climate change.

Climate Studies Group, Mona (CSGM), 2012: State of the Jamaican Climate 2012: Information for Resilience Building (Full Report). Produced for the Planning institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Kingston Jamaica. Authors: A. Anthony Chen, Michael A. Taylor, Tannecia S. Stephenson, Pietra Brown, Jayaka D. Campbell, Kimberly A. Stephenson, Rochelle N. Walters, Natalie M. McLean.

Page 10

Vol .6 Issue 18

Communication to the UNFCCC .

Plans, policies, legislation and regulations which

incorporate climate change and that needs to be

finalized/implemented are:

Jamaica National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan

Agricultural Land Use Policy

Draft Food Nutrition Security Policy

Draft Fisheries Bill

Draft Carbon Emissions Trading Policy

Disaster Management Act 2009 (Draft), and

National Renewable Energy Policy 2009–2030, Creating a

Sustainable Future (Draft).

Climate change has to be mainstreamed in existing

legislation, for example, the NRCA Act and

consideration should be given to domesticating

UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

Priority Areas There are a number of key areas that require priority

attention in the short or medium-term. These may be

broken down into institutional, policy, plans and

legislative measures.

Institutional

Institutional areas included the creation of a Climate

Change Unit to facilitate the coordination of all

climate change activities across all aspects of

government. Areas to be strengthened are National

Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the

Water Resources Authority (WRA), Office of Disaster

Preparedness and Emergency Management

(ODPEM), and the Meteorological Service Jamaica.

Public-Private linkages

Climate change mitigation and adaptation are not the

sole preserve of governments, as most activities which

impact the climate or, in turn, are impacted by a

(Continued from page 7) changing climate take place in civil society. Many

promising climate change responses, especially in

relation to mitigation, will involve the private sector,

such as energy efficiency gains in industry, retrofitting

buildings to conserve energy, and renewable energy

providers. Governments can assist the private sector in

taking up these activities through various incentives,

through green procurement, and through public-

private partnerships.

One key area where private sector involvement is

essential is in amendments to national codes and

standards, such as the engineering standards, building

codes, or hurricane proofing standards. Often the best

method is for the Government to set a specific target

and request that the private sector to find the best ways

of achieving that target.

At the community level, NGOs have proven to be

effective intermediaries between the government and

the community. Governments should encourage active

civil society involvement in all areas of climate change

response. Local and international NGOs may be

particularly helpful in documenting and codifying

traditional and indigenous adaptation measures, which

may hold the key to future adaptation measures.

Policies

Policies to be revised to include climate change

considerations are:

Water Policy

Forest Policy

Ocean and Coastal Zone Management Policy

Mangrove and Coastal Zone Wetlands Protection Policy

Towards a Beach Policy for Jamaica (A Policy for the use

of the Foreshore and the Floor of the Sea)

Coral Reef Protection and Preservation Policy

Towards a Watershed Policy for Jamaica.

Climate Change and the Law...cont’d

Vol.6 Issue 18 Page 11

Plans

A National Spatial Plan needs to be prepared. The

Spatial Plan will rationalize the use of local land

resources through the preparation of a National

Physical Plan to i) Specify broad spatial planning

objectives and guiding principles for national and

regional development; ii) optimize the use of land and

natural resources by providing a framework for

making sustainable locational choices; and iii)

improve governmental capacity to formulate,

coordinate and implement integrated rural

development policies and programmes in order to

address spatially unbalanced development.

Guidelines

The current published setback guidelines need to be

revised. Instead of being based on slope angles these

should be related to local risk from present and future

storm events, thus they should be site specific.

Legislation

At present, the current policy and legislative

framework is not adequate to respond to the ongoing

requirements of climate change. Some of the

legislative measures required are:

A new Watershed Protection Act

A new Town and Country Planning Act

Water Resources (Amendment) Act (Draft) to be finalized

Finalization and promulgation of the Development Orders and

Development Plans for Kingston and St. Andrew, Manchester,

Santa Cruz and Negril

A new Environmental Management Act that will update the

existing NRCA Act and also reflect climate change

considerations

A new Disaster Management Act

Finalization and implementation of the Fisheries Bill

The finalization and enactment of a Meteorological Act

The development and finalization of a Renewable Energy Act

Establish legislation to include levying a prohibitive tax on the

conversion and subdivision of prime lands to non-farm uses

without approval

Enact a National Building Act

Amend the Housing Act

Amend the Urban Development Corporation Act

Preparation of Agricultural Zoning Order/Districts

Finalize the draft Natural Resources (Portland Bight Protected

Area) Regulations

Review and amend the Natural Resources (Air Quality)

Regulations, 2006

Review and revise the Natural Resources (Montego Bay Marine

Park) Order & the Natural Resources (Marine Parks) Regulations.

Prioritization of Legislation

In terms of priority the following legislation needs to be enacted

during the 2012-2013 legislative agenda:

2012-2013

Water Resources (Amendment) Act

Disaster Management Act

Town and Country Planning Act

Meterological Act

National Building Act and promulgation of the Building Code

Renewable Energy Act.

2013-2014

Natural Resources (Air Quality) Regulations

Natural Resources (Portland Bight Protected Area Regulations)

Agricultural Zoning Orders

Finalization and promulgation of Development Orders for

Kingston and St. Andrew, Manchester, Santa Cruz and Negril

Environmental Management Act

Amended Natural Resources (Prescribed Areas) (Prohibition of

Enterprise, Construction and Development Order)

Amended Natural Resources (Permits and Licences) Regulations.

Human and Financial Resources to Incorporate Climate Change Concerns

A number of key agencies need to be strengthened to

effectively incorporate climate change concerns. Among

these agencies are: the Meteorological Service, WRA,

NEPA, ODPEM, and the Ministry of Agriculture and

Fisheries. Since climate change affects everyone, there

should be capacity building of NGOs, and community

groups.

For access to the entire report please visit the PIOJ’s website

(www.pioj.gov.jm) or http://www.pioj.gov.jm/Portals/0/

Sustainable_Development/Final%20Review%20of%20Policy,%

20Plans,%20Legislation%20&%20Regulations%20for%20Climate.pdf

Climate Change and the Law...cont’d

Vol.6 Issue 18 Page 12

Take the Climate Change Challenge

(Source: State of the Jamaican Climate 2012: Information for Resilience :Summary for Policymakers)

Test your knowledge of climate change issues by completing this climate change quiz. 1. Global warming seen in the last century is primarily due to:

a) Natural cycles of variation b) Volcanic eruptions c) Burning fossil fuels d) All of the above e) None of the above.

2. Since the early 20th century the mean annual temperature of the earth has increased by about:

a) 0.5 °C b) 0.8 °C c) 1.5 °C d)2.0 °C e) No increase 3. Globally, which of the following is true:

a) Day time temperatures are increasing faster than night time temperatures b) Night time temperatures are increasing faster than day time temperatures c) They are increasing at the same rate d) Neither is increasing

4. Climate records suggest that Jamaica has also seen changes in climate

a) No b) Yes c) I don’t know d) What… climate records exist for Jamaica?

5. To project future climate change we use:

a) Our imagination b) Eeny, meeny, minie, moe c) Computer models d) A crystal ball e) All of the above

6. Which of the following are projected end-of-century changes in Jamaican climate?

a)A drier summer b) Anywhere up to 1 metre sea level rise c) More intense hurricanes d) Temperature increase of 1-3 degrees e) All of the above

7. By how much is annual rainfall projected to decrease in Jamaica by the end of the century under the worst case

scenario using a regional climate model (RCM):

a) 10% b) 20% c) 40% d) 50% e) 90% 8. Which of the following sectors will be impacted by climate change?

a) Agriculture b) Tourism c) Water d) Health e) All of the above 9. What must be done by us in response to climate change:

a) We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions b) We must learn to adapt c) We must do both a) and b) d) We must throw our hands up in the air and weep

10. When must we act in response to climate change:

a) Now b) Now c) Now d) Now e) Now

Quiz Solutions: 1) c 2) b 3) b 4) b 5) c 6) e 7) c 8) e 9) c 10) any or all of a-e

Vol.6 Issue 18 Page 13

The Making of the Video—Climate Change and Its Impact on Jamaican Farmers—Pictorial

Photographers: Omar Rainford and Nadine Brown

The video was produced as a part of the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience - Jamaica Public Awareness Campaign. The project is being fi-

nanced by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through funds from the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). The video focuses on the plight

of Jamaican farmers as they adapt to the changing climate and the implications that these changes have for food security and livelihoods. Watch

the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1nZOviUo-s