2000/8/17
Ministry to establish climate change unit
Observer Reporter
JAMAICA'S ability to effectively counter activities associated
with changes in the climate and, by extension, weather patterns,
should be significantly boosted by the establishment of a climate
change unit within the Ministry of Water and Housing.
Water and housing minister, Dr Karl Blythe, said the unit will
have, as its main responsibility, the co-ordination of the
international and scientific aspects of climate change, as well
as seek to act as the main focal point for collaborating climate
-change activities.
Speaking at the opening of a three-day national strategy workshop
for climate change at the Jamaica Conference Centre this week, Dr
Blythe explained that the unit's activities will provide the
basis for follow-up work and continuity as well as a means of
broadening the capacity and knowledge of the ministry's technical
personnel.
"This, we envision will dovetail into the activities and agenda
of our planned National Climate Committee as part of our proposed
Sustainable Development Council. We hope that when the time
comes, we will be able to find favour with our supporting donor
agencies in this regard."
Dr Blythe noted that the ministry was cognizant that the issues
of climate change were broad national issues which required
participation and collaboration at all levels, noting that there
was an emergence of regional private sector involvement in the
matter which was filling the gap created by what he described as
diminished "state to state" support.
SOURCE: Jamaica Observer
****************************************************************
To post a submission by email at climate-newswire@sidsnet.org
To unsubscribe, email to majordomo@sidsnet.org with the message:
unsubscribe climate-newswire
To receive updates via email, send an email to majordomo@sidsnet.org with the message:
subscribe climate-newswire
No SUBJECTS required either case.
Brought to you on the SMALL Island Developing States Network: http://www.sidsnet.org
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Aug 17 2000 - 12:49:09 EDT