KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Andrew Holness is expected to participate in the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, currently under way in Marrakech, Morocco, from November 7-18.

A news release from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said Holness and his delegation departed the island yesterday afternoon and will return on Saturday, November 19.

The conference will bring together nations across the world to continue their work on strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, with the central focus placed on enhancing ambition, promoting implementation, and providing support, OPM said. They will also carry out work to operationalise the Paris Climate Change Agreement adopted last year, of which Jamaica is a signatory, it continued.

The Government of Jamaica, according to the OPM, is moving to enhance its policies to ensure the country can reap the rewards of implementing climate adaptation measures as Jamaica stands to benefit from enhancing its international and national framework agreements.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, and representatives from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation are accompanying the prime minister.

In the prime minister’s absence, Dr Horace Chang, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, will be in charge of the Government.