THE European Union and the Government of Jamaica on Tuesday launched a pilot project valued at just over J$515 million (€4,482,420) to strengthen Jamaica’s resilience to climate change and other environmental hazards.

Known as the Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Project, the two-year initiative will be co-managed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) as implementing agency and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

Other partners are the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA); the Environmental Management Division, Office of the Prime Minister (OPM); Forestry Department; and the Meteorological Service of Jamaica.

The breakdown of donor funding is as follows:

EU — €4,130,000 (J$474,578,300)

UNEP — €180,000 (J$20,683,800)

GOJ — €172,420 (J$19,812,782.20)

Total — €4,482,420 ($515,074,882.20)

Projects to receive funding under the programme will include those that restore and protect shoreline ecosystems, reduce surface water runoff in watershed areas, and encourage better management of hillsides and beaches. As such, there should be a reduced need to source funding for disaster recovery projects.

At the launch at Jamaica House, head of delegation of the European Union Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi Alemmani noted that recovery from hurricanes cost five times more than preventative actions do, and said the signing was a landmark partnership in protecting the environment.

In his remarks , Director General of the PIOJ Dr Gladstone Hutchinson, said there is no sustainable development without balanced stewardship of the natural resources.

Programme Officer for the assessment and management of environmental pollution at UNEP, Chris Corbin said Caribbean states needed to take urgent action as climate change was a serious threat to development projects. Projects to be undertaken will focus on preserving social capital, job opportunities with a sustainable approach, he said.

Senior director, environmental management division at the OPM, Leonie Barnaby, delivered a presentation at the launch which showed the risks posed by climate change to Jamaica’s lifestyles and livelihood if no intervention is made soon.

The project will inform similar projects to be undertaken across the English-speaking Caribbean, Guyana and Belize.

— OPM