Jamaica Views Climate Change as ‘Clear and Present Threat to Humanity’

UNITED NATIONS – Even as Jamaica acknowledges the sacrifices it has made to enable its achievements, the Caribbean country says that it recognizes that its many successes can be eroded by exogenous shocks including climate change, which it views as “a clear and present threat to humanity.” 

Kamina Johnson Smith“As a Small Island Developing State, Jamaica is severely affected by higher temperatures, warmer seas, sea-level rise and the increased intensity and frequency of natural disasters,” Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith told the United Nations General Assembly Debate on Friday, noting that Hurricane Beryl, which impacted the Caribbean in July this year, was the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. 

“Beryl resulted in the dislocation of families and communities, along with significant damage to infrastructure, houses, schools and farms,” she added. “Damage was most severe in our agricultural belt, wiping out crops, killing livestock and triggering knock-on effects of higher food prices and inflation.”

Johnson Smith said that Jamaica’s new climate-smart agricultural practices were “no match for the hurricane, as her winds took the panels for solar powered irrigation pumps and flattened 70 percent of greenhouses. 

“We experience almost half of each year in the uncertainty of a hurricane season,” she said. “Natural and climate-based disasters continue to set back our efforts to attain the SDGs (UN’s Sustainable Development Goals) and realize sustained, inclusive growth and development. We have, therefore, sought to strengthen our ability to respond to, and recover from such disasters through a risk layered approach to disaster response financing.”

Hence, the Foreign Affairs Minister said Jamaica has significantly increased resources to its Contingency Fund and the National Natural Disaster Reserve Fund. 

In addition, she said the country has established the National Disaster Fund triggered by measured impact on gross domestic product (GDP), and became the first Small Island Developing State to independently sponsor a catastrophe bond. 

Johnson Smith said Jamaica also participates in the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility. 

But she said these mechanisms do not reduce the occurrence of disasters, nor prevent the disruption, dislocation and destruction they cause. 

“It bears repeating that no country can combat the effects of climate change on its own,” she said. “Jamaica, therefore, affirms our unwavering commitment to international cooperation to counter the negative impacts of climate change and to the pursuit of climate justice.”

She urged the major polluting nations to honour their commitments under the Paris Agreement and to meet their finance obligations.  

The Foreign Affairs Minister also welcome the adoption of the Antigua and Barbuda 

Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States. 

More particularly, she said Jamaica endorses the calls for a redoubling of international cooperation and action to accelerate mitigation and adaptation. 

“All countries must adopt or maintain the target of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, through enhanced NDCs, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities,” said Johnson Smith, congratulating the Government of Antigua and Barbuda for successfully hosting the conference.

She called on the UN and international financial institutions to adopt a new Climate Finance Goal at COP29, and further called for urgent and accelerated mobilization of international action and resources. 

Johnson Smith said this includes the “full and effective operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, to address issues of responsiveness and scale that are the most critical for SIDS (Small Island Developing States).”  

She said Jamaica also welcomes the adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index by the General Assembly last month, and called on development partners, including multilateral development banks and other international financial institutions, to urgently examine the Index and commence its use. 

“Rather than considering GNI alone, it accurately takes into account the structural and environmental vulnerabilities of SIDS,” she said. “Its use by MDBs will better align access to, and terms of, financing with supporting these countries with their developmental needs.” 

 Johnson Smith said Jamaica commits to advancing dialogue and cooperation with stakeholders in the international capital markets to adapt their operations to the vulnerability- resilience profiles of SIDS. 

“Improved access to development financing is critical for SIDS, which are particularly off-track in attaining the SDGs,” she said, stating that the SDGs were adopted by leaders as a universal clarion call to tackle poverty, ensure peace, and promote prosperity. 

Johnson Smith said Jamaica shares the concern that, globally, only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are on track. 

“We are proud that Jamaica’s progress is further along, and we fully support and are honoured to co-lead the Secretary-General’s SDG Stimulus Leaders Group,” she said, stressing that international cooperation is urgently needed to drive sustained efforts to tackle structural and systemic issues that constrain access to development financing. 

“Through our collective advocacy, we aim to elevate the global agenda to ensure no one is left behind,” she said, calling on wealthier countries and international financial institutions to partner with developing countries and redouble their efforts to create and implement innovative strategies to unlock financing and spur investments in attaining the SDGs. 

Johnson Smith said the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development presents “an opportunity to commit to tangible deliverables to address the current financing challenges.”

She said these include “impactful, practical and meaningful reform of the international financial architecture, to strengthen the voice and representation of developing countries in international decision making, and to substantially improve the quantity, accessibility and affordability of financing for development.”  

Johnson Smith said the adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Declaration on Future Generations and Global Digital Compact, “signals renewed hope in multilateralism.  

“The consensus demonstrated our collective resolve to deliver inclusive and durable solutions to current and emerging global challenges,” she said. “With foresight, political will and joint action, we can deliver a better world for future generations.” 

She said Jamaica commends the work of Namibia and Germany in their facilitation of the Pact, and that Jamaica was honoured to have co-facilitated, together with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Declaration on Future Generations.

Johnson Smith said Jamaica believes in leveraging multilateralism to advance sustainable development, human rights and international peace and security to deliver results for all the peoples of the world, stating that no country or region should be excluded from the opportunities to attain the SDGs. 

She said Jamaica therefore, again, joins the call for the discontinuation of the “crippling economic, commercial and financial embargo against our closest Caribbean neighbour, Cuba,” and further called for a cessation of the classification of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism.

“These measures continue to have a devastating impact on the economic and social well-being of the people of Cuba, and preclude progress towards their attainment of the SDGs,” Johnson Smith said. 

On the Israel-Palestine conflict, she said “Jamaica once again condemns the brutal October 7 attacks in Israel and the devastating counter-attacks in the Palestinian territories. 

“The undeniable humanitarian crisis and instability compel all parties to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” she said, commending the United States, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and others who are making concerted efforts towards a peaceful resolution.  

“We continue to support United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 and believe that a two-state solution, is the best way to achieve lasting peace, between Israel and Palestine,” she added. “It is in this context that Jamaica has recognized the State of Palestine.”

Johnson Smith said Jamaica calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages to bring an end to the protracted war and human suffering. 

She noted that Haiti continues to face one of the most challenging periods in its storied history, where rampant gangs are causing “chronic instability and unspeakable violence.

“Millions of Haitians are facing hunger and dislocation, especially women and children,” she said. “They need and deserve the unwavering support of the international community to restore peace, security and democracy, and to address the devastating humanitarian crisis.”

Johnson Smith said Jamaica will continue to play its part, including through CARICOM and the Eminent Person’s Group, in supporting the political process in Haiti. 

She noted that significant progress has already been made, particularly since the Kingston Talks convened by CARICOM in Jamaica in March of this year. 

Jamaica welcomes the installation of the Transitional Presidential Council, the appointment of an interim Prime Minister and Ministerial Cabinet and the finalization of the Provisional Electoral Council, said Johnson Smith, stating that the Multinational Security Support Mission is “critical to the restoration of peace and security in Haiti. 

“We reiterate our gratitude to the government of Kenya for its leadership of and commitment to the MSS,” she added. “We are pleased to confirm that on 12 September, Jamaica deployed its initial command contingent along with Belize, as part of the MSS.  We are committed to scaling up to our committed numbers, but we also call on the international community to contribute more personnel and equipment.” 

The Jamaica Foreign Affairs Minister said restoration of peace and security is “critical to the creation of an environment in which free and fair elections can be held. 

“The establishment of democratic governance is critical for sustainable economic growth and development,” she added, noting that, since the deployment of the MSS, “we have seen improvements in the situation in Haiti and have cause for cautious optimism.”

But Johnson Smith said more is needed in aiding Haiti, warning that “time is not on Haiti’s side. 

“It is critical that we preserve and advance gains made,” she said. “It is critical that we maintain hope and stability. We, therefore, urge the Security Council to renew the mandate of the MSS, and to consider future transition to a Peace Keeping framework to guarantee funding.  

“We also call for continued and increased support from member states, including financial contributions to the Trust Fund,” she added. “This is needed for deployment of additional personnel to support the HNP as they recover communities from criminal gangs.”

 Johnson Smith said Jamaica further called on the international community to significantly increase contributions to the Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti, which remains underfunded at 39 percent of the target. 

She said support to BINUH must also be ramped up, “so that displaced families can be fed and provided with critical health care, and children can return to the classrooms to resume their education.   

“Jamaica will continue to do what we are able,” she said. “We will support our sister CARICOM nation in the effort to restore peace, security and stability in Haiti and by extension, the region.”