• Jamaicans will be planting three million timber and ornamental trees over the next three years under a National Tree Planting Programme.
The initiative, being managed by the Forestry Department, will see 3,000 hectares of land planted with two million timber seedlings. The remaining one million timber and ornamental seedlings will be distributed to the public. This is part of the Government’s strategic response to climate change.
Plastic Ban
• A ban on plastics came into effect on January 1. It prohibits the importation, manufacture, distribution of single-use plastic bags measuring 24” x 24” and smaller; the importation and manufacture of polystyrene foam products used in the food and beverage industry; and the importation and manufacture of plastic drinking straws.
• A plastic recycling pilot project was launched in Rae Town, Kingston, to reduce the volume of waste entering the harbour.
• The nation’s capacity to access more climate finance was boosted with the formal launch of Jamaica’s first Country Programme for engagement with the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
• Contract signed for the design, supply and instal- lation of a new S-Band Doppler Weather Radar in Jamaica. The radar is used to locate precipitation, calculate its motion, and estimate rain, hail and others, and will significantly improve Jamaica’s ability to accurately forecast extreme weather events.
• The WRA and the Meteorological Service signed an MoU to collaborate on sharing information to mitigate climate change impacts.
• A contract was signed to facilitate conducting multi- hazard assessments of eight priority coastal areas across the island over two years.