United Nations Development Programme Jamaica

Environment and energy are essential for sustainable development. The poor are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean, affordable energy services. In addition to affecting the countries covered by the Jamaica Multi-Country Office, issues such as climate change and loss of biodiversity are also global and cannot be tackled by countries alone.

At the Jamaica Multi-Country Office, we aim to accelerate sustainable land management and the effective governance of increasingly precious water resources, to promote effective adaptation to climate change, and to encourage the adoption of good energy practices. Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity likewise is a priority, given that the poor, especially in rural areas, depend on biodiversity for food, fuel, shelter, medicines and livelihoods and that it reduces vulnerability to some natural disasters.

At the policy level, all this is underpinned by our support to the formulation of frameworks and strategies for sustainable development, as pledged in the Millennium Development Goals. In so doing, we address broader challenges such as poverty, political instability and conflict, population growth, and disease, as well as integrate environmental sustainability into development policy and practice.

In energy initiatives, we support the Government in implementation and monitoring of the national Energy Policy and increase energy efficiency in hospitals and schools. We also study the feasibility of uses of alternative energy. In environment, many of the key causes of environmental degradation in the countries covered by our office are the result of development needs in the areas of environmental governance and natural resource management, despite some progress. We support countries represented by our office to harness a critical mass of environmental awareness in decision makers and the public, and to translate increased awareness into action and improved accountability for environmental and public health damages.

More detail on our Environment and Energy Programme is available.