THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recently supported a climate proofing training for policy analysts, a timely and relevant initiative, as the world is at a critical point in its collective efforts to address climate change.

Climate change poses a significant threat to the Caribbean with far-reaching impacts on our environment, society, economy, and culture.

In a milestone message to governments and peoples across the planet last September, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called climate change “a direct existential threat”, one that is moving faster than the actions we are taking to address it. He cautioned us that if we do not change course by 2020 we risk runaway impacts with disastrous consequences for people and the natural systems that sustain us.

A 2017 USAID Climate Change Integration Support climate risk profile of Jamaica projects a 1 degree Celsius to 1.4 degree Celsius temperature rise by 2050, a 4.8 per cent to 7.2 per cent decrease in average annual rainfall, and a 0.4 metre to 0.7 metre rise in sea level by 2090. It further projects that this will impact water supply and quality, lead to soil erosion, reduce crop yields, and damage to crops and livestock. Other projected climate impacts include the spread of disease, impact on infrastructure as well as beach erosion, reduction of mangroves and fish stock and loss of coral reefs.

As such, we cannot overstate the importance of integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation imperatives in policies and development plans to minimise these potential threats. UNDP was thus happy to partner with the Climate Change Division and the Office of the Cabinet to deliver this climate proofing training.

Policy- and decision-makers will play a crucial role in ensuring that countries adapt to climate change. The strengthened capacity of policy analysts directly contributes to the attainment of Vision 2030 — Jamaica’s National Development Plan — and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which Jamaica has committed to achieving. Goal 13, Climate Action, specifically speaks to the need to integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/the-importance-of-climate-proofing-national-policies-and-plans-in-the-age-of-climate-change_158325