Vincent Sweeney, head of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, indicates that Jamaica, in collaboration with UNEP, is moving ahead with projects to improve energy efficiency, among other initiatives.

In an update communicated to the Jamaica Observer, Sweeney said, UNEP will continue to support the Government of Jamaica in informing actions such as energy efficiency in cooling, waste management, and plastic regulation.

He outlined,”The Caribbean cooling project in Jamaica resulted in the development of Jamaica’s national cooling strategy, which is currently awaiting cabinet approval. If enabled, this strategy could result in the implementation of legislation that would influence compliance among the cooling market sector with Jamaica’s goals for energy efficiency use and climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

The Caribbean Cooling Initiative (C-COOL) was established in early 2018 with the aim to showcase the benefits of a rapid and comprehensive transition to energy efficient and climate friendly air conditioners and refrigerators.

The project includes conducting market assessments, drafting National Cooling Strategies, developing financial mechanisms, and capacity-building and outreach activities in the participating countries — The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and St Lucia.

Recently completed projects of note include the net zero energy building which is the first of its kind in Jamaica. Sweeney noted, “The project sought to implement appropriate regulatory and technical tools that mainstream the lessons and transform the opportunities for promoting energy efficiency and increase use of renewable energy sources.”

Jamaica and the Caribbean’s first net zero energy building was officially opened in October, 2017 on The University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Mona Campus. The 2,300-square-foot structure was designed as a model to encourage construction of sustainable and energy-efficient buildings throughout the region.

The building will house the Centre for Advanced Research in Renewable Energy (CARRE), the first such centre in the Caribbean, promoting research in photovoltaic (solar), wind and biomass energy.

Sweeney commented, “While the UN [or UNEP, more specifically] does not apply a specific metric to rate countries, UNEP has been engaged in a number of projects or activities over many years with Jamaica, aimed at improving its environmental management.”

The UN body is engaged with local authorities and agencies on several fronts. Projects ongoing include CityAdapt — building climate resilience of urban systems through Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Kingston.

The project is valued at $24 million and involves various activities to be executed in Kingston and St Andrew. It includes the rehabilitation of 2.3 hectares of land in lower income communities through the planting of 1,400 trees as well as the planting of 800 trees across communities. Additional features of the project are the planting of 3,000 drought-resilient tree species in the forest reserves of the Hope River Watershed Management Unit, and a partnership with UWI to rehabilitate two hectares of wetlands in the Palisadoes Port Royal Protected Area.

UNEP is also involved in the Montego Oceanarium: Regional centre for climate resilience and ocean conservation, Montego Bay; The Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF IWECo Project) & GEF 7 Global electric mobility programme — managed nationally by UNDP.

Plastics

Sweeney noted that Jamaica joined approximately seven Caribbean countries in 2019 in implementing measures to reduce plastic pollution by banning single-use plastic bags, straws and styrofoam.

The regional head commented, “UNEP has applauded Jamaica for this bold move, which was championed by Senator Matthew Samuda, who tabled the motion to ban some single-use plastic items including plastic bags and styrofoam in Jamaica’s senate in 2016. Achieving a circular economy, through appropriate waste management and marine litter, is a key consideration in UNEP support for climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

Sweeney noted that Jamaica is a contracting party to the Cartagena Convention and has demonstrated a strong commitment to address pollution as one of the pillars for the UNEP medium-term strategy as a contracting party to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities, and through the development of a range of national pollution related policies, regulations, action plans and strategies.

He said that several ongoing and pipeline regional and national projects supported by UNEP through the Cartagena Convention and the Caribbean sub-regional office will be providing further support to address pollution from domestic wastewater, solid waste and plastics while promoting circular economy approaches. This will support policy, legislative and regulatory reform but more importantly on-the-ground solutions. We will continue to support the development of plastic waste reduction and regulation in Jamaica.”

Reform

Sweeny noted that Jamaica has identified the need to strengthen the institutional, policy, legislative and regulatory reforms for Integrated Water and Wastewater Management (IWWM) and implement a series of community/rural specific financing action plans and business models to address IWWM including reuse.

The need to adapt a wastewater treatment plant for wastewater reuse has also been identified and is being supported through a GEF Regional Fund for Wastewater.

Sweeney said, “UNEP has acknowledged Jamaica’s commitment regarding environmental sustainability and climate change and the historical support provided to UNEP by hosting two offices — the Caribbean Sub-Regional Office since 2016, and the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, since its establishment in 1986.

“We are always seeking to deepen and reinforce good cooperation and partnership with Jamaica, in view of its exemplary leadership and regional role in sustainable development.”