Development of Climate Change Legislation (JM0013)

What is the public problem that the commitment will address?

Global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions due to human activities have grown since pre-industrial times (1750), resulting in global warming of approximately 1°C above pre-industrial levels by 2017. As a small-island developing state, Jamaica is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, increased threats to human health, and increased frequency of extreme weather events such as storms, droughts and hurricanes. Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate change impacts is further compounded by social issues such as poverty, environmental degradation, and the location of human settlements and critical infrastructure in high-risk coastal areas. Jamaica’s first Climate Change Policy Framework was finalized in September 2015. However, the 2015 Policy Framework did not take into account issues related to the Paris Agreement. In this regard, the policy was updated, and a new Climate Change Policy Framework was finalized in March 2023.

What is the commitment?

To carry out development of Climate Change Legislation and conduct stakeholder and public consultations towards the preparation and finalization of Jamaica’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the 2015 Paris Agreement.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem?

The updating of the Climate Change Policy Framework for Jamaica took into consideration the provisions of the Paris Agreement and other relevant international, regional and national developments in sectors, including the energy and transport sectors, as well as the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other relevant United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reports and material. Extensive consultations with stakeholders and the public were conducted on the Green Paper which was prepared for the updating of the Climate Change Policy Framework, and served as the basis for preparation of the White Paper for the updating of the Climate Change Policy Framework, which was submitted for Cabinet approval and tabled in Parliament in March 2023. The updated Climate Change Policy Framework will advance the strengthening of Jamaica’s adaptive capacity and resilience to reduce its vulnerability to climate change, pursuit of low carbon development and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, enhancement of access to and mobilization of climate finance, and promotion of public education and awareness raising, research and technology transfer towards ambitious climate action. Key actions to be undertaken under the Implementation Plan for the updated Climate Change Policy Framework also include preparation of Climate Change legislation, to be undertaken under the Second OGP National Action Plan 2024-2025 for Jamaica; development of the National Adaptation Plan, with funding support from the Green Climate Fund; vulnerability assessments at the national, sectoral and community levels; and a Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), to strengthen Jamaica’s institutional and technical capacity to meet its reporting requirements under the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC. Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the UNFCCC to denote work under Article 6 of the Convention (1992) and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. The appointment of an ACE focal point for Jamaica, which was a target under the first OGP NAP, was completed in January 2024. The involvement of stakeholder consultations will contribute to the preparation and finalization of Jamaica’s next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values?

The development of Climate Change Legislation and stakeholder and public consultations towards the preparation and finalization of Jamaica’s next NDC are relevant to the following OGP values: 1. Access to Information: The development of climate change legislation and preparation and finalization of Jamaica’s next NDC will facilitate improved capacity for monitoring and reporting on information on emissions and climate change impacts. 2. Civic Participation: The stakeholder and public consultations towards the development of climate change legislation and preparation and finalization of Jamaica’s next NDC will enhance civic participation in important components of Jamaica’s climate change policy and operational framework. 3. Public Accountability: The development of climate change legislation and preparation and finalization of Jamaica’s next NDC will support the strengthening of the capacity to prepare and regularly publish national reports on the assessment of climate change impacts, projects, programmes and activities including National Communications, Adaptation Communications, Biennial Update Reports (BURs), Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and State of the Jamaican Climate Reports.

Additional information

The development of Climate Change Legislation and stakeholder and public consultations towards the preparation and finalization of Jamaica’s next NDC are aligned with: • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 1992 • The Paris Agreement 2015 • The SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway 2014 • The Forest Policy of Jamaica 2017 • Jamaica’s National Energy Policy 2009-2030 • National Water Sector Policy and Implementation Plan, 2019 • The National Strategy and Action Plan on Biological Diversity in Jamaica 2016 – 2021 • The Disaster Risk Management Act 2015 • Vision 2030 Jamaica National Development Plan – National Outcome No. 10 Energy Security and Efficiency; National Outcome No. 13 Sustainable Management and Use of Environmental and Natural Resources; National Outcome No. 14 Hazard Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change; and National Outcome No. 15 Sustainable Urban and Rural Development • Medium Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF) for the relevant three-year period • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy; SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production; SDG 13 Climate Action; SDG 14 Life Below Water; and SDG 15 Life On Land

Milestone Activity with a Verifiable Deliverable | Start Date | End Date
Preparation of Climate Change Legislation Engage consultant to support preparation of Concept Paper in relation to climate change legislation | August 2024 | December 2024
Conduct stakeholder consultations to inform the preparation of Concept Note for draft climate change legislation | January 2025 | March 2025
Prepare Cabinet Submission on preparation of draft climate change legislation and submit to Cabinet | March 2025 | July 2025
Engage consultant to support preparation of drafting instructions for climate change legislation | July 2025 | September 2025
Conduct stakeholder and public consultations to inform the preparation of drafting instructions for climate change legislation | October 2025 | December 2025
Complete drafting instructions for climate change legislation and submit to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel | December 2025 | April 2026
Preparation of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Conduct stakeholder and public consultations on the preparation of draft NDC | July 2024 | September 2024
Conduct stakeholder and public consultations on review of final NDC | March 2025 | June 2025
Submit final NDC to UNFCCC | November 2025 | November 2025