Holness reiterates Jamaica’s commitment to climate action
KINGSTON, Jamaica —Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to climate action, stressing that the nation is stepping up its response to the growing impacts of climate change.
Speaking at the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), being held in New York, on Wednesday, Holness announced that Jamaica submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) 3.0 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Monday.
“With NDC 3.0, Jamaica is aligning ambition with action. Grounded in Vision 2030, our Climate Change Policy Framework, and our Long-Term Low-Emission Strategy, this new NDC is both comprehensive and realistic. Jamaica’s targets are anchored in existing policies and supported by political will.
Key highlights of our NDC include broadening the scope to energy, transport, industry, forestry, and land use, a broader push for renewable electricity, energy efficiency in the water sector, and electric vehicle adoption, targeting 12 per cent of private fleets and 16 per cent of public fleets by 2030, decarbonisation in the cement industry, reducing projected emissions by 40 kilotons of CO₂. and Zero net loss of forests, along with mangrove and seagrass restoration, which not only store carbon but protect against storm surges,” he said.
Additionally, Holness noted that by 2035, Jamaica aims for emission reductions between 26 per cent and 41.7 per cent compared to 2012 levels, depending on the scale of international support received. He noted that these efforts will improve air quality, reduce healthcare costs, increase energy security, and resilience against climate impacts.
“Jamaica is producing an implementation plan for NDC 3.0 that will provide a clear roadmap, with sector-specific targets, stakeholder responsibilities, and costing to guide investment and partnerships. This is not just a pledge, it is a practical, economy-wide strategy for a low-emissions, climate-resilient future,” Holness said.
The prime minister said Jamaica welcomes the support of the international community as it pursues its ambitious goals.
