KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jamaica said it is pleased with the country’s ratification of the Paris Agreement and offered its support in achieving the goals outlined in the climate change policy.

“This significant milestone in Jamaica’s Climate Change mitigation and adaptation journey signals its commitment to the ambitious goals and targets established in the Agreement,”said UNDP’s Acting Resident Representative to Jamaica Dr Elsie Laurence-Chounoune in a release this morning.

She said that “Climate and Disaster Resilience is one of UNDP’s key pillars through which it seeks to fulfill its principal mission of ending poverty in all forms everywhere by improving people’s lives and protecting the planet.”

As a country impacted by climate change, she said Jamaica is challenged by rising sea levels, eroding coastlines, rising temperatures and more frequent and severe weather events, which impacts its ability to sustain resilience and reduce poverty.

The UNDP representative said the organisation stands ready to support Jamaica on its quest to adhere to the provisions of the Paris Agreement through assistance in mobilising financial and technical resources including policy advice, strategic planning, capacity development and knowledge management.

“The ratification of the Paris Agreement should provide a sustainable framework for promulgating enduring policy, legislative and programmatic action to mitigate these and other impacts of Climate Change in Jamaica. We once again commend Jamaica on taking this leap of faith,” Laurence-Chounoune added.

Jamaica signed the Instrument for Ratification on March 30.