Jamaica’s slow dance with climate change legislation
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I AM pleased with the news that Prime Minister Andrew Holness is off to Glasgow, Scotland, to participate in the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and that he intends to engage in bilateral talks.
Last month we saw many trees planted by Jamaicans on National Tree-Planting Day and efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, with the launch of the implementation plan for nationally determined contributions (NDCs) on October 7, which are commendable. However, these amount to a slow dance with climate change, and there is much to be done to pick up the pace in relation to legislative agreements on the environment, as well as our various commitments thereunder.
Jamaica ratified the Paris Agreement of 2016, among 55 nations, which came into full force and binding on May 10, 2017. Included under the agreement are the ad hoc working group on the Paris Agreement, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice, and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation. It would be interesting to see what Jamaica’s contribution has been to these three bodies since its ratification of the Agreement, as to date, we have not heard what these contributions have been.
In our updated NDC, we have committed to reducing our emissions by 25.4 percent and the business-as-usual emissions by 28.4 per cent, both of which are quite ambitious, as admitted in the NDC. This represents a 60 per cent decrease in reductions. So far, the Government’s only achievement is the ban on the single-use plastic bags and styrofoam containers in 2019. Another example is the report on the reference indicators wherein they cite a 2013 land report; there has been no update since that time.
NO INCENTIVES
There has been no wide-reaching legislation offering tax incentives to companies which reduce their emissions, nor any policy which would mandate the fossil fuel or manufacturing industries to reduce their emissions. One is curious to see what our contribution will be at COP26.
In implementing these measures, Jamaica would signal to its international partners that we are serious about our commitments, as well as to creating a new green economy that can benefit all its people. We would also signal that we are committed to meaningful engagement on other major international issues which touch and concern our economic wellbeing and development. A new green economy can mean millions of dollars being pumped by foreign direct investment, and our local players will have a chance to invest in this new economy due to tax incentives which should come on stream.
If we are serious on climate change and the reduction of harmful greenhouse gases, we must begin to put in place the mechanisms mentioned above, in order that we can truly achieve Vision 2030 and have Jamaica be the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.
CHRISTOPHER HENRY
Attorney-at-Law