Mr. Chairman,
Let me begin by aligning my delegation with the statements made by Grenada on
behalf of the AOSIS, and Pakistan, on behalf of the G77 and China.
Over the past two weeks, we have been involved in much deliberation on areas of
action to implement the thematic cluster areas for this 15th Session of the Commission.
These issues are cross-cutting in nature, interdependent, and intrinsically linked. Access to
energy resources, especially renewable energy; achieving industrial development; and
responding to the challenges posed by atmospheric pollution and climate change, are key
preconditions to eliminating poverty, improving people?s health and quality of life, and
achieving sustainable development. For this reason, we underscore the importance of
ensuring the full implementation of commitments undertaken in the each cluster. This
requires collective action and political will at the international level, complemented by the
adoption of requisite policies and strategies at the national and regional levels. The time to
act is now.
As a small island developing state, Jamaica attaches great importance to the issues
before this session of the Commission. With respect to energy, we have one of the highest
energy intensity rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, and are highly dependent on
fossil fuels to meet our energy needs. At present, and although fossil fuels presently
remain a cheaper source of energy for the Government, we have, through our Energy
Policy, made a commitment to increase the contribution of renewable energy sources to the
energy mix from the current level of 6 percent to 10 percent by 2010 and 15 percent by
2020. In order to achieve these targets, we require the full cooperation of the international
community, including through:
? The acceleration of the transfer of appropriate renewable energy technologies from
developed countries to developing countries, and by stimulating the competitiveness of
renewable energy supplies in the market place;
? The establishment of a global sustainable energy programme to promote adequate,
affordable and clean energy technologies in SIDS, and
? Investments in renewable energy projects in SIDS to enable them to benefit from
sustainable development programmes under the Clean Development Mechanism of the
Kyoto Protocol.
Mr. Chairman,
There is an essential nexus between environmental and industrial policies. We have
a deep appreciation for this relationship as most of Jamaica?s economic activities are linked
to the country?s natural resources. For this reason, the government has put in place several
mechanisms for improved environmental management practices to ensure that industrial
development is pursued in harmony with the preservation of the environment.
Developed countries are urged to facilitate an enabling environment for industrial
development including by improving market access for products of importance to
developing countries. Urgent assistance is also required for support to small and medium
enterprises particularly in raising awareness of best practices on sustainable consumption and
production. With respect to the latter, we would wish to underscore the importance of
promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, with developed countries taking
the lead.
Mr Chairman,
Vulnerability indices show that SIDS like Jamaica are three times more vulnerable
to the negative impacts of climate change than developed countries. Jamaica?s economy,
social and physical assets have on numerous occasions in the recent past been negatively
impacted by natural and environmental disasters, including storms of increased frequency
and intensity. The considerable amount of resources which have to be diverted from usual
developmental use to respond to such disasters is cause for concern.
Adapting to climate change and variability is a costly undertaking which often goes
beyond the financial capacity of many Governments. It is therefore important that the
various commitments from the international community for technical, financial, or
institutional forms of assistance are put into action now. As Sir Nicholas Stern so aptly
puts it ?climate change is global in its causes and consequences, and international
collective action will be critical?.
Greater support is also required from the international community for the
integration of disaster risk reduction and hazard mitigation into policies, programmes and
plans at the national and community levels. An area of particular need is the provision of
special reinsurance arrangements for SIDS.
Mr Chairman,
The impact of poor air quality from localised and global sources continues to have
serious socio-economic and health impacts on Jamaica?s population. With both the
generation and sharing of reliable information from local and regional monitoring
networks, countries like ours would be able to provide atmospheric forecasts in tandem
with community outreach programmes aimed at influencing individual behaviour. Here
again, international cooperation will be critical. The provision of resources to build and
strengthen capacity, and facilitate the transfer technologies to developing countries to
support regional monitoring programmes, is paramount.
Mr. Chairman,
As we conclude our deliberations and formulate action plans and strategies for
implementation, let us remember that our focus should be on translating commitments into
action. Let us not lose the momentum. For our part, Jamaica remains committed to
promoting dialogue and working together in partnership with the international community
towards the achievement of our common goals and objectives of advancing the sustainable
development agenda.
Thank you.
