Encourage urban farming

Faced with climate change-related hazards such as spiking temperatures, hurricanes, and sea-level rise, the Jamaica Government is working with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to make agriculture more sustainable as well as to improve food security.

The effort forms part of the Jamaica National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which has been a Government priority for years, though it was initiated by UNEP. As part of the initiative, UNEP assists the Government with identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs, informed by the latest climate science, then develops strategies enshrined in the NAP to address them.

The NAP approach was first established under the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) and recently re-emphasised in the Paris Agreement. 

Researchers, for example, are examining how endemic crops can better resist droughts, stave off flooding and reduce temperatures. This has yielded the CityAdapt project.

“Agriculture is one of the pillars of the Jamaica National Adaptation Plan,” Claire Bernard of the Planning Institute of Jamaica, which supports efforts to adapt to climate change, explained.

“And the lessons learned from the CityAdapt project will allow us to upscale the good practices into other communities,” she added.

A project of the Latin American and Caribbean office of UNEP, CityAdapt aims to increase the climate resilience of cities through urban planning using nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation. The Forestry Department of Jamaica and Jamaica 4H Clubs serve as partners.

“Faced with the growing vulnerability of cities to climate risks, the initiative promotes a paradigm shift in urban planning towards ecosystem-based urban adaptation planning,” the UNEP website states.

Through the project, the Jamaican is encouraging urban agriculture to improve food security. Although metropolitan areas such as Kingston usually have little room for farming, CityAdapt has focused on making the most of the city’s limited agricultural space.

At Kingston Technical High School, a so-called “container garden” allows the cultivation of plants in pots, boxes, barrels, or other types of vessels rather than directly in the ground. The setup is more efficient than traditional farming and helps to conserve soil, both important benefits when adapting to a changing climate.

Despite the Monday-to-Friday rush of classes, exams, and extra-curricular activities, taking care of the greenhouse can have a therapeutic impact on students.

“This is like a haven where we can find peace and quiet,” student Samara Richards related.  

While CityAdapt has come to an end after five years of implementation, lessons learnt can serve as a strong foundation for adaptation action to continue, the participants agree.  

“It is our responsibility to build capacities at the local and community level so that all citizens can be leaders themselves,” Vincent Sweeney, the head of UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, said.

“Each school, each neighbourhood, each action counts. Every person counts. That is how we ensure the sustainability of the project and effective adaptation to climate change,” he added.

Still, a growing number of communities in Jamaica are looking to the natural world for solutions to drought and the larger climate crisis. These measures can range from planting mangroves to protect from storms to shoring up landslide-prone hillsides with native brush. These efforts can help protect ecosystems, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, protect lives, and create economic opportunities. 

They are also cost-effective, which experts say is critical. Developing countries need between US$215 billion and US$387 billion a year to adapt to climate change but only have access to a fraction of that total. Research shows that investing in adaptation now will minimize climate-related costs in the future.  

Yet, as Williams said, “Every mickle mek a muckle.” Put another way, “Every little thing, when combined, can have a great impact.”