The Government today advanced its national climate policy agenda with the official launch workshop of Jamaica’s National Adaptation Planning (Ja-NAP) Process, a comprehensive framework to embed climate resilience into the core of national development.

Hosted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) at the Terra Nova All Suite Hotel, the launch workshop re-sensitised stakeholders to the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process and how it will guide Jamaica to systematically prepare for and respond to escalating climate threats, securing the nation’s Vision 2030 goals and protecting its people and economy.

Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda, framed the plan as a national imperative for survival.

“A National Adaptation Plan (NAP) is absolutely critical for a nation such as Jamaica, which is on the front lines of climate change,” he stated. “This roadmap gives us a fighting chance to ensure we use our resources strategically to build the greatest resilience possible, protecting lives, livelihoods, and our Vision 2030 goals from a warming world,” the Minister added.

Samuda also noted that the government is ensuring that decisions on major public investments also look through the lens of climate. “This mainstreaming of climate analysis into our investment decisions is vital as it uses scientific knowledge to ensure the best use of our resources to fight a scourge we didn’t create,” he declared.

The Ja-NAP Project is financed by a US$1.435 million grant from the Green Climate Fund and managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The 48-month project, developed by the Climate Change Branch of the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change, became fully operationalised in August 2023 and is expected to be completed in October 2026. As a first step, Vulnerability and Risk Assessments will be updated for five critical sectors: agriculture, health, water, tourism, and coastal resources and human settlement. These assessments will integrate the latest data, lessons from recent hurricanes like Beryl and Melissa, and considerations for gender equality and social inclusion.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Wayne O Robertson, emphasised that resilience requires a united front. “Climate change is no longer a distant threat but a clear and present danger that affects every aspect of our lives. Its development and implementation require coordinated action across every institution and sector,” Robertson said.

Echoing this call for collaboration, Dr Wayne Henry, Director General of the PIOJ, urged all stakeholders to actively engage. “Data sharing and full participation from all stakeholders will be instrumental in ensuring that the NAP is gender and socially responsive, scientifically sound, and implementable,” Dr Henry noted.

The United Kingdom-based consultancy Oxford Policy Management (OPM) has been contracted to lead the plan’s development and has begun nationwide consultations and data gathering.

Key outputs of the Ja-NAP Project will include island-wide capacity-building workshops, a gender mainstreaming toolkit, and a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track progress. The final National Adaptation Plan will serve as Jamaica’s central policy instrument to mobilise climate finance, guide resilient investments, and fortify the nation against a changing global environment.