Jamaica
Intervention by Jamaica
4 May 4, 2006
10:00am-1:00pm Conf. Room 2
Thematic Discussions: Integrated Approach to addressing air pollution and
atmospheric problems
Mr. Chairman, my brief intervention is to offer constraints from a SIDS perspective on
this issue in the thematic cluster because air pollution has unique and localized
characteristics for SIDS.
1. Air pollution and its attendant problems are largely a by-product of the mining and
manufacturing as well as tourism and transportation sectors. However, air pollution is
also associated with the waste management in particular the burning of solid wastes
generated from households. This is partially due to a lack of awareness on the part of
the citizenry but often is due to lack of infrastructure for municipal collection and
disposal of these wastes. This is a severe resource constraint. The burning of plastics
especially poses a significant health threat to inhabitants of SIDS. With limited space
for solid waste disposal, SIDS are often faced with the option of burning solid waste
to reduce volume.
2. The inadequate combustion of hospital waste containing toxic compounds is a
significant problem. Incinerators and other such technologies are very expensive.
3. There is an urgent need for the transfer of technologies that will improve disposal of
solid wastes, technologies that promote recycling etc. There needs to be new
arrangements for transferring technology to SIDS to assist us in developing
alternative waste management practices to avoid burning.
4. Following on that, there is also a lack of research infrastructure and skills.
5. For us, access to pollution monitoring systems is also a constraint so that the
availability of data to inform policy and decision making is a problem
6. In the Caribbean sub-region, due to liberalization of motor vehicle policies, there
have been a large number of used and reconditioned vehicles being imported which
contributes to our air pollution problems levels. The essential problem is that often
these vehicles are exported from developed countries when the catalytic converter
goes bad and these vehicles can no longer meet the standards in their own countries.
For Jamaica, we have a policy of not importing cars over 4 years old into the country.
7. In summary, lack capacity and finance, poor and inefficient household energy-use
practices, unsustainable production and consumption practices particularly in
transport and industry, lack of public awareness as well as barriers to access to
environmentally sound technologies are obstacles to achieving good air quality for
SIDS.
8. Among Jamiaca?s policy responses to these barriers have been:
i. The development of air quality regulations
ii. The complete phasing out of leaded gasoline.
iii. The Introduction of a pilot project to replace the MTBE octane
enhancer with ethanol. Under this project, the gasoline is mixed with
5% ethanol and is marketed as E10. The goal is to achieve a 90%: 10%
petroleum: ethanol mix. This will result in lower emissions and more
fuel efficiency.
iv. The phasing out of ODS as a means of implementing the Montreal
Protocol and will soon promulgate an Ozone Act.
9. In concluding, we believe that existing intergovernmental initiatives need to be
strengthened and widened in scope in order to address issues of concerns with respect
air pollution, and the promotion of clean technologies and development, as well as
trade in sustainable and renewable energy resources and technologies. The successes
of the Montreal Protocol must be replicated especially with respect to its Multilateral
Fund.
Rohan A. Richards
Director
Environmental Management Division
Ministry of Local Government & Environment, Jamaica
4 May 4, 2006
10:00am-1:00pm Conf. Room 2
Thematic Discussions: Integrated Approach to addressing air pollution and
atmospheric problems
Mr. Chairman, my brief intervention is to offer constraints from a SIDS perspective on
this issue in the thematic cluster because air pollution has unique and localized
characteristics for SIDS.
1. Air pollution and its attendant problems are largely a by-product of the mining and
manufacturing as well as tourism and transportation sectors. However, air pollution is
also associated with the waste management in particular the burning of solid wastes
generated from households. This is partially due to a lack of awareness on the part of
the citizenry but often is due to lack of infrastructure for municipal collection and
disposal of these wastes. This is a severe resource constraint. The burning of plastics
especially poses a significant health threat to inhabitants of SIDS. With limited space
for solid waste disposal, SIDS are often faced with the option of burning solid waste
to reduce volume.
2. The inadequate combustion of hospital waste containing toxic compounds is a
significant problem. Incinerators and other such technologies are very expensive.
3. There is an urgent need for the transfer of technologies that will improve disposal of
solid wastes, technologies that promote recycling etc. There needs to be new
arrangements for transferring technology to SIDS to assist us in developing
alternative waste management practices to avoid burning.
4. Following on that, there is also a lack of research infrastructure and skills.
5. For us, access to pollution monitoring systems is also a constraint so that the
availability of data to inform policy and decision making is a problem
6. In the Caribbean sub-region, due to liberalization of motor vehicle policies, there
have been a large number of used and reconditioned vehicles being imported which
contributes to our air pollution problems levels. The essential problem is that often
these vehicles are exported from developed countries when the catalytic converter
goes bad and these vehicles can no longer meet the standards in their own countries.
For Jamaica, we have a policy of not importing cars over 4 years old into the country.
7. In summary, lack capacity and finance, poor and inefficient household energy-use
practices, unsustainable production and consumption practices particularly in
transport and industry, lack of public awareness as well as barriers to access to
environmentally sound technologies are obstacles to achieving good air quality for
SIDS.
8. Among Jamiaca?s policy responses to these barriers have been:
i. The development of air quality regulations
ii. The complete phasing out of leaded gasoline.
iii. The Introduction of a pilot project to replace the MTBE octane
enhancer with ethanol. Under this project, the gasoline is mixed with
5% ethanol and is marketed as E10. The goal is to achieve a 90%: 10%
petroleum: ethanol mix. This will result in lower emissions and more
fuel efficiency.
iv. The phasing out of ODS as a means of implementing the Montreal
Protocol and will soon promulgate an Ozone Act.
9. In concluding, we believe that existing intergovernmental initiatives need to be
strengthened and widened in scope in order to address issues of concerns with respect
air pollution, and the promotion of clean technologies and development, as well as
trade in sustainable and renewable energy resources and technologies. The successes
of the Montreal Protocol must be replicated especially with respect to its Multilateral
Fund.
Rohan A. Richards
Director
Environmental Management Division
Ministry of Local Government & Environment, Jamaica
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