Who said climate change isn’t real? Jamaicans are staggering under the weight of the blistering summer heat. Yesterday (August 3) was the hottest day of the year, according to the Meteorological Service: 36.9º C at the Norman Manley International Airport. In fact, this was the highest recorded temperature since 1993.
Well, we have to keep informing and educating people about climate change, that’s for sure. So the Climate Change Division has seized the opportunity over the Independence holiday weekend to do a bit of public education at the popular Denbigh Agricultural Show (has it changed its name?) on August 5 and 6. Excellent move!
Here is the press release from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation:
August 4, 2017
CLIMATE CHANGE PUBLIC FORUMS TO BE HELD AT THE DENBIGH AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL AND FOOD SHOW
Patrons visiting the 2017 Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show will get the chance to be sensitised about the impacts of climate change, its effects on particular sectors and options for adaptation through three public forums. The forums will be hosted by the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. They will be held within the display booth of the Adaptation Programme and Finance Mechanism (AP&FM) project of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR).
These interactive sessions focusing on the causes and effects of climate change, government initiatives to build resilience to climate change and adaptation and mitigation tips for the general public will be held at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 5, 2017 and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 6, 2017. A big topic for discussion will be climate finance and how the private sector can access the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for adaptation and mitigation actions.
The sessions are being hosted as part of the public awareness efforts of the Climate Change Division and Principal Director, Una May Gordon, says the initiative is essential especially since agriculture is one of the sectors most affected by climate change. “Our mission is to build the resilience of the Jamaican people to the effects of climate change and the only way we can truly do that is by ensuring that they are informed about the issues and how they can seek to lessen the impact climate change will have on them. While we work to fulfil our primary mandate of influencing policy and the integration of climate change considerations in development, we understand that if our people at the grassroots level do not understand the role they can play, then our efforts will be hampered. We consider our public awareness efforts just as important as all our other functions.”
The AP&FM booth will feature other interactive sessions, displays showcasing climate change adaptation techniques, videos and other educational material on climate change, among other highlights.
For further information, please contact:
Una May Gordon – Principal Director l
Climate Change Division – Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation l 16A Half Way Tree Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica l Tel: (876) 633-7500 l Email: Unamay.Gordon@megjc.gov.jm l August 4, 2017
Petchary's Blog 