Opposition Spokesperson on Urban Renewal and Redevelopment Dennis Gordon is urging the Government to adopt a more climate-smart and sustainable approach to urban planning and infrastructure management across the Kingston Metropolitan Area (KMA), in light of recent flooding events that have exposed the city’s growing vulnerability.

Gordon said the strain on Kingston’s drainage and physical infrastructure underscores the urgent need for planning systems that integrate climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and nature-based solutions.

“There is an urgent need to examine the extent to which increasing development in the KMA is impacting our physical infrastructure and to apply climate-resilient, nature-based solutions to improve and sustain that infrastructure, given our position as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) in the Caribbean,” he said.

The Opposition Spokesperson noted that unchecked urban expansion has placed immense pressure on the city’s drainage networks, roads, and waste systems leading to frequent flooding during heavy rainfall. He called for a paradigm shift from reactive maintenance to proactive, climate-conscious planning that anticipates and mitigates environmental risks.

Citing Jamaica’s ICTU Final Report (NDC 3.0) submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Mr. Gordon said the science is clear Jamaica’s rising temperatures, heavier rainfall, and sea-level rise make ecosystem-based and climate-resilient planning approaches a necessity.

“Our infrastructure must work with nature, not against it,” he emphasised. “Green corridors, permeable surfaces, and urban wetlands are not luxuries; they are necessities for a sustainable Kingston.”

Gordon further urged stronger coordination between the National Works Agency (NWA), the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), and local authorities to establish a unified planning framework focused on long-term resilience rather than short-term fixes.

He also emphasized that effective urban renewal must be rooted in transparency, community participation, and environmental responsibility principles he says are often missing from national development decisions.

“Proper planning is not an option; it is a national necessity,” Gordon said. “We must build a Jamaica that can withstand the pressures of climate change, protect its citizens, and grow sustainably. Our future depends on it.”

The call comes amid renewed public debate about Kingston’s vulnerability to extreme weather and the urgent need to modernize infrastructure systems to keep pace with rapid urban growth.