Caption: Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade addresses Jamaica’s climate change and natural disaster response during a panel discussion at the 13th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Johnson Smith, who is also Chair of the CARICOM Council of Foreign Ministers (COFCOR), is joined by colleague Ministers from Belize and Grenada, along with representatives from South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.
“Despite our best efforts, neither Jamaica nor the wider Caribbean will be able to respond to the pace and scale of the impacts of climate change on our own, as the staggering scale of damage suffered is disproportionate to our minuscule greenhouse emissions – this is climate injustice,” says Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith.
Minister Johnson Smith was addressing Jamaica’s climate change and natural disaster response at the recently staged 13th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership, in Seoul.
“There is urgent need for improved access to adequate and predictable climate finance for mitigation and adaptation as well as capacity building and support to respond to loss and damage. We continue to call for greater global engagement on this existential threat”, the Minister said.
While drawing attention to the adverse effects of climate change on Jamaica’s coastal, marine and terrestrial resources, human settlements and infrastructure, the Minister also highlighted its negative impact on biodiversity, agriculture and fisheries, tourism, human health and energy.
The Minister further pointed out that consultations are underway on a Green Paper for a comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Policy and Strategy for the period 2020-2040, to ensure that Jamaica strengthens its social and economic resilience, while reducing the negative impacts of natural disasters.
“The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is giving priority attention to reducing vulnerability and strengthening resilience. We have integrated the objectives of the Sendai Framework into Jamaica’s National Development Plan – Vision 2030. The current development of Jamaica’s National Adaptation Plan and 2050 Long-Term Emissions Reduction and Climate Resilient Strategy will enhance the country’s resilient capabilities and decarbonise the economy in keeping with the Paris Agreement and other objectives”, the Minister said.
In assisting Small Island Developing States like Jamaica to adapt to climate change, the Republic of Korea has contributed more than US $300 million to the Green Climate Fund. The fund is established within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, mandated to support developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate change.
Korea has also assisted the GOJ with constructing a monitoring tower at Hellshire Beach in St. Catherine under the Impact Assessment of Climate Change on the Sandy Shorelines of the Caribbean (Pilot) Project funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The 24-hour monitoring tower surveils erosion and other beach processes.
“We are hoping to expand this network island-wide. As we contemplate the expansion of the programme, we anticipate that our various marine labs may also be interested, likewise the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, given the contribution of the tourism sector to economic growth and development”, the Foreign Minister explained.
Minister Johnson Smith has also expressed hopes of exploring cooperation between Jamaica and Korea on renewable energy power generation and the digitisation of water monitoring, in light of Jamaica’s most recent severe drought and the impending threat of slow and on-set events, such as saltwater intrusion.
The Republic of Korea was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with independent Jamaica. In the last 40 years, Korea’s funding support to Jamaica has surpassed more than US$10 million.
