World Bank Gives Jamaica $6.8 Million Grant to Combat Climate Change

Nearly 60% of Jamaica’s population of 2.8 million residents lives in coastal communities. This makes them highly susceptible to harm resulting from climate change, such as rising sea levels, hurricanes, and storm surges.

Nearly 60% of Jamaica’s population of 2.8 million residents lives in coastal communities. This makes them highly susceptible to harm resulting from climate change, such as rising sea levels, hurricanes, and storm surges.

In response, the World Bank Board of Directors announced that on July 29 it approved a US$6.8 million grant to help Jamaica improve the quality and use of information related to the climate to facilitate more effective planning and preparation to avoid future losses. The grant is designed to facilitate change at both the local and national level.

Climate change has caused coastal communities around the world to note rising sea levels and added risk from storm surges. These changes threaten property, lives, and the economic activity of coastal communities. According to the World Bank’s announcement, recent projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2013) demonstrated that small island nations like Jamaica are at much greater risk from these climate changes than other countries. Moreover, the threat is projected to continue and accelerate in coming years.

To mitigate its own risk of natural disaster, Jamaica developed a Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) under the World Bank’s Climate Investment Fund’s Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR). The SPCR supports fact-finding, setting priorities, and planning appropriate corrective actions to mitigate harm.

The World Bank’s July 29 grant will fund the first of three investment projects qualified by Jamaica under the SPCR. The main objectives of the Improving Climate Data and Information Management project are:

* Increasing the satisfaction of both the private and public sectors with the accuracy, lead-time, coverage, and access to climate change data and information.

* Promoting the active use of climate data for the management of the health sector

* Increasing the number of people assisted by government programs designed to help them better cope with the risks of climate change.

The grant funds will be distributed to Jamaica over the next 4.5 years, and require no repayments or commitment of fees by Jamaica.

Peter D. Phillips, Jamaica’s Minister of Finance and Planning, said of the grant, “We welcome this additional support from the World Bank, particularly because it is perfectly aligned with the key outcome of Vision 2030 – Jamaica National Development Plan – Hazard Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change. This additional capacity in planning and execution will no doubt enhance our ability to continue on our journey of economic recovery with renewed confidence.”

Enos Esikuri, Senior Environmental Specialist at the World Bank, added, “We believe that this project will help the country strengthen its climate resilient development path. Extreme climate events are affecting the vulnerable groups in Jamaica more often than ever. The Project will contribute to establish the critical foundation for the country to integrate climate change in decision-making processes and adapt current and future livelihood activities to the variability brought about by climate change.”