THE Government is aiming to have a comprehensive climate change policy in place by the end of the year.

The core of its newly created climate change department is also expected to be in place by then, according to chairman of the Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC) Dr Conrad Douglas.

The CCAC — appointed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller earlier this year to advise the Minister of Land, Water, Environment, and Climate Change Robert Pickersgill — has been meeting monthly, Douglas told Career & Education.

He said the committee, which includes a number of eminent scientists and experts representing the private and public sectors, non-government organisations and the wider society, has heard a number of presentations on the impact of climate change.

"We advise the minister so he can advise the Cabinet and the nation as a whole [about climate change]," Douglas said.

The CCAC is also in the process of developing the climate change policy, which will seek to cover all dimensions of the problem.

"The policy will set the platform for a legislative agenda to develop certain types of legislation specific to climate change," Douglas said.

Also flowing from the policy will be a road map setting out the roles and responsibilities of different personnel on the issue of climate change.

"The road map will set out where we are going and who will do what, the mission, the goals, the strategies and the organisation in place and who will take leadership to get programmes and projects going," Douglas noted.

He added that he expects the core of the Climate Change Department in the ministry to be in place and operational by the end of the year.