UNDP’s contribution to the JIEP 5th Biennial Conference

(Dr. Chris Briggs, UNDP Energy and Environment Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region; receiving a token of appreciation for his presentation from Mrs. Marcia Creary, JIEP President; JIEP 5th Biennial Conference, 06, June, 2011, Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica. Photo UNDP/Jamaica)

The 5^th Biennial Conference on the Environment, organized by the Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals (JIEP) was held on June, 06-07, 2011 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston. With the theme Balancing National Development and Environmental Protection, the Conference sought to provide a forum for discussing solutions to the "development/conservation dilemma". The Conference also aimed to raise public awareness and assist in changing attitudes and encouraging positive actions.

The JIEP Conference was held during National Environmental Awareness Week (June 5-11) which this year included not only this 5th Biennial Conference on the Environment but also Green Expo 2011 organized by the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT). UNDP Jamaica was a sponsor and keen participant in both events.

"We will not build a just and equitable world unless we gie equal weight to all three pillars of sustainable development - social, economic and environmental. To sustainably reduce poverty, guarantee food and nutrition security and provide decent employment for growing populations, we must make the most intelligent use of our natural capital".

These remarks made by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, in his message for the World Environment Day celebrated on June, 05 capture well the linkage between Environment and Development

As part of the promotional activities for the Conference, E.C.C.O. green online magazine published the remarks of Ms. Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative a.i., who stated that "The Conference will help persons realize there is a global connection between climate change mitigation and adaptation and that all areas of our society will be affected: tourism, health, education etc. As such, we have to learn to adapt and plan for coming changes. The JIEP Conference will assist persons in gaining a general understanding of the impact our behavior has on the environment and how climate change affects all sectors of the society".

In addition to being a sponsor of this year's Conference UNDP also made a significant knowledge contribution as Dr. Chris Briggs, Environment Team Leader from the UNDP Regional centre in Panama gave the Keynote Address during the Opening Ceremony. Dr. Briggs spoke on "Green Development Strategies to face the challenge of Climate Change". Dr.Briggs who has worked in natural resource management and development for over 25 years, has a background in Marine Biology and has worked in international organizations in developing countries since 1988. Dr. Briggs has been active in orienting countries towards an integrated development pathway that covers low carbon development and high resilience to climate change in order to achieve sustainable development.

Speaking on June, 06 at the Opening Ceremony of the 5th Biennial JIEP Conference Dr. Briggs said "Climate change is clearly the greatest development challenge of the 21st Century. Developing countries are the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and their sustainable development prospects are the most compromised and most at risk. In order to meet the challenges and uncertainties of climate change, development processes must be rendered more climate resilient and lower in carbon emissions. The formulation and implementation of green low-emission climate-resilient development strategies (LECRDS) will allow developing countries to respond more effectively to climate change."

UNDP Jamaica has been supporting Jamaica in its efforts to achieve such climate change resilience through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Community-Based Adaptation (CBA) project which has financed several projects aimed at climate change adaptation in communities. UNDP has also supported the Government of Jamaica through the GEF supported Enabling Activities for the Preparation of Jamaica's Second National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which is implemented by the Meteorological Service.

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(From the left: Mrs. Marcia Creary, JIEP President; Dr. Chris Briggs, UNDP Energy and Environment Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region; Prof. Dale Webber, Chairman Environmental Foundation of Jamaica; JIEP 5th Biennial Conference, 06, June, 2011, Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica. Photo UNDP/Jamaica)

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(Dr. Chris Briggs, UNDP Energy and Environment Coordinator for the Latin America and Caribbean Region; JIEP 5th Biennial Conference, 06, June, 2011, Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica. Photo UNDP/Jamaica)