REMARKS

UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE, DENISE E ANTONIO

KIGALI AMENDMENT AWARENESS WORKSHOP

25 November 2019

9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Delivered on her behalf by Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, Kimberley Wilson

SALUTATIONS

• Ms. Joanne Felix, Director, Projects & Enforcement, Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, and Focal Point to the Montreal Protocol (Chair)
• Mr. Ainsworth Carroll, Director Planning, Projects, Monitoring, Evaluation & Research, National Environment & Planning Agency, NEPA
• Mr. Vivian Blake, National Ozone Officer, NEPA
• Professor Noel Brown, Vice President, Technology and Innovation, Caribbean Maritime University
• Representatives of government ministries, departments and agencies
• Representatives of the Refrigeration and air conditioning sector Bureau of Standards, Jamaica

A very pleasant morning to you all. The “sun is shining and the weather is sweet”.

It is indeed a pleasure and an honour to welcome you this morning on behalf of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to the “Kigali Amendment Awareness Workshop” under the “Implementing enabling activities for the ratification of the Kigali Amendment” Project. This Project is a partnership between the Government of Jamaica, specifically the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and UNDP. At least some of you present here this morning would have started this interesting and informative journey with us and we appreciate your ardent support.  Although our Resident Representative, Mrs. Denise Antonio could not be here with us she certainly sends her fervent support. Today’s workshop is yet another milestone in the Government’s stellar work in advancing the welfare and wellbeing of all Jamaicans and indeed all humanity on planet earth, through its contributions to the repair of the Ozone Layer as well improving resilience to climate change.

The Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer reached agreement at their 28th Meeting of the Parties on 15 October 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda to phase-down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). HFCs are commonly used alternatives to ozone depleting substances (ODS). While not ozone depleting substances themselves, HFCs are greenhouse gases which can have high or very high global warming potentials (GWPs). The Kigali Amendment adds to the Montreal Protocol, the phase-down of the production and consumption of HFCs. The Montreal Protocol, finalized in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as halons and chlorofluorocarbons. The Kigali Amendment entered into force on 1 January 2019, ratified by 65 countries.

The Kigali Amendment Project supports enabling activities which will put Jamaica in a position to ratify the Kigali Amendment. The country, of course, is already a signatory to the Montreal Protocol and ratified the landmark Paris Agreement last year. UNDP has supported Jamaica in the phasing down of hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs) under the HCFCs Phase-out Management Plan Project and is delighted to further the development of resilience to climate change through this Kigali Project. Critical to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 13, is enhancing overall country resilience.

Jamaica must be lauded to have successfully phased-out chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) in the Refrigeration and Air-Condition (RAC) sector and has established an enforceable Quota and Licensing system to control the HCFCs.  The country has also moved to pass the Trade (Montreal Protocol) (Trade in Ozone Depleting Controlled Substances) Order of 2014 which regulates the import and export of HCFCs and other Ozone Depleting Substances. With the Kigali Amendment, Jamaica will now seek to adhere to specific targets and timetables to replace these or HCFCs with ozone-friendly alternatives.

UNDP wishes to reiterate its continued commitment to helping Jamaica achieve its global and national obligations as we work together to achieve resilient development and transforming the lives of every Jamaican. Great partnerships yield great results and to achieve Jamaica’s resilience goals will require the combined efforts of government, private sector, academia and civil society.

This workshop, therefore, is a fertile forum to inform participants on the Kigali Amendment and the country’s progress in phasing down HFCs. While enhancing awareness is the goal, it is also a space your critical and technical inputs, feedback on project activities and exchange of ideas, experience and knowledge. Please accept my best wishes for a successful, inspiring, enjoyable and informative Workshop.

Ladies and Gentlemen. I thank you.