Dear Mr Golding,

The year 2009 is crucial for Planet Earth and in particular for small island developing states like Jamaica that are particularly vulnerable to the challenges posed by climate change.

Experts tell us that our planet is rapidly getting warmer because of greenhouse gases that are emitted as a result of human activity, such as burning of fossil fuels such as gas and coal for industrial and domestic use. What is unfair is that although as developing countries we in the Caribbean produce very little of these gases, we will be the ones hardest hit by climate change caused by this global warming.

Scientists say the changing climate comes with warmer seas which can cause stronger and more destructive hurricanes. They say climate change will cause longer droughts and more intense rainy seasons for us. All this means serious natural disasters and destruction of property and threat to life. Another serious issue is the health threat which climate change can pose as local scientists have identified a link between climate change and the spread of dengue.

Climate change is real. It is a real threat to us in Jamaica. We all have to play our part in taking steps to adapt to climate change and to reduce the impact of climate change.

In December 2009, our best technical experts will be in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate a new agreement on how the world will tackle climate change and to demand that developed countries, who have caused much of the damage, take responsibility for their actions. We are very happy, Mr Prime Minister, to see from a report in the Environment Watch – a publication of the Observer – that we will have high-level political representation at Copenhagen in the person of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dr Kenneth Baugh. We feel that Jamaica should ensure that we have the highest level and best political representation to show the world that we mean business and we want the best deal for our country and our region.

Mr Prime Minister we had really wanted you to represent us in Copenhagen, as the nation’s highest level political leadership, to show that we want serious action on climate change and a fair deal in the climate change talks. The developed countries are sending their heads of government and we wanted to see our head of government at the table too.

More importantly though Mr Prime Minister is the need to have our political leaders to ensure that commitments and recommendations made towards and at Copenhagen are not ignored after December. We need better physical planning which ensures that persons do not settle or build on protected areas or areas vulnerable to natural disasters. We need planning that integrates disaster risk reduction and management at the national and community levels and provides resources to ensure this. We need active implementation of policies supporting energy conservation and use of cleaner sources of energy. Finally, we need effective planning for public health and sanitation that reflects the threats climate change poses to the health of our citizens.

We are depending on you Mr Prime Minister to work with us to help Jamaica meet the challenges of climate change.

Stakeholders in the “Voices for Climate Change” campaign:

. Children First

. Christian Aid

. National Environment Education Committee

. Northern Jamaica Conservation Association

. Panos Caribbean

. S-Corner Clinic and Community Development Organisation

. Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre