Paris conference was a success, says Nicholson

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator A. J. Nicholson says the outcome of the recent Conference of the Parties (COP 21), held in Paris, France, was a "positive one for Jamaica, for CARICOM, and for Small Island Developing States, more generally".

"We were pleased, in particular, to see recognition of the need to endeavour to keep global average temperature below 1.5?C above pre-industrial levels. This was essential, given that for many island states, climate change is a matter of survival," the minister said.

In a statement to the Senate yesterday, the minister posited that the successes of the conference would materialise when each country plays its part in recognising the Paris Agreement.

EFFECTIVECOLLABORATION

"The agreement provides a sound basis for tackling one of the main challenges of our times. However, its implementation requires the effective collaboration and inputs of Government, the private sector, academia, and civil society," he said.

The Paris Agreement emphasises that climate change is a threat to human society and that there is a growing need for international collaboration, deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, establishment of a framework for the involvement of local communities and people with disabilities, and the empowerment of women, among others.