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ENVIRONMENT &
CLIMATE CHANGE
MITIGATION
Stewardship of the environment is a core value of the
Jamaica Labour Party.
Climate change is a real phenomenon. We as a people are the
best and most effective tool we can deploy in the battle against the
effects of climate change. Our attitude, mindset, and actions must
change and in every way, reflect greater sensitivity and care for
the environment which sustains us as inhabitants.
A critical starting point is the restoration of good working relations
between the Government of Jamaica and Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs). While there may be disagreements
from time to time, the relationship between the Government
and environmental advocates should not be characterized by
antagonism and hostility.
The Jamaica Labour Party appreciates the work and advocacy
of these groups. Where our environment is concerned, they
stand in the vanguard. The diligent effort and dedicated service
provided by these men and women go a long way in educating
our citizens and government where environmental best practices
are concerned.
Sustainable development is about reconciling our development
interests with our interest in protecting and respecting the
environment.Wemust develop, but we must do so on a sustainable
basis.
The Jamaica Labour Party Government is committed to doing the
following:
The Jamaica Labour Party is also committed to increased
public education and heightened national awareness where
environmental best practices are concerned. We must lift the
profile of our campaign for good and responsible management
of our environment. A programme of public education is critically
important because we still have low levels of awareness of climate
change and an understanding of its effects on us as a country.
The effects on our ways of life and our ability to sustain economic
activities are already starkly evident, for example with what is
happening with the shoreline in Negril, the Hellshire beach in
Portmore and other parts of the island where there has been
significant beach erosion over the years. The longer periods of
drought and increasing average temperatures are also carrying an
ominous message, which we need to hear, and heed.
Even as we work towards more harmonious practices in our use
of the land, air and water, we must also as a society deal with the
reality of changes in climatic conditions. We must therefore be
prepared for more unpredictable and extreme weather. This must
include, when selecting designs for planned sporting facilities
in communities, taking into account that these buildings may be
called into services as shelters during and after hurricanes or
other natural disasters.
•
Facilitate collaboration between various ministries
in transforming the Riverton City Dump into a green
landfill - a true landfill.
•
Implementing regular re-planting projects for de-
forested areas in our watershed zones.
•
Make the Cockpit Country a “no-mining” zone
•
Implement a policy of waste separation, beginning with
Government-owned/public institutions, then moving
to businesses, commercial and industrial wastes, and
finally the wider population.
•
Implement an Electronic-Waste Policy (e-waste policy).
This policy will establish protocols for the recycling, re-
use and/or proper disposal of such electronic wastes
as: TVs, radios, air conditioning units, refrigerators,
batteries, and mobile devices.
The Jamaica Labour Party recognizes that the
consumption cycle is just that – a cycle; it virtually
never ends. An e-waste management framework will
help to create a new industry, which will meaningfully
include persons who already use material from the
dump in an unregulated and arbitrary way.
•
Review existing laws and regulations and implement
measures for improved enforcement.