Climate risk profile: Jamaica

This profile provides an overview of climate risk issues in Jamaica, including how climate change will potentially impact five key sectors in the country: water resources, agriculture, human health, infrastructure and coastal ecosystems. The brief also includes an overview of historical and future climate trends in Jamaica, the policy context outlining existing climate risk strategies and plans developed by Jamaica, and a list of ongoing projects that focus on climate adaptation.

Approximately 90 percent of Jamaica’s $14 billion GDP is produced within its coastal zone, making its economically valuable tourism, industry, fisheries and agriculture assets highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. Weather-related disasters over the past two decades, including those due to droughts, floods, tropical storms and hurricanes, have severely impacted Jamaica’s economic growth.

Jamaica’s long-term National Development Plan (Vision 2030) along with the its National Climate Change Policy Framework call for the creation of sector-specific climate change strategies for the island’s most vulnerable sectors. The Climate Change Division, located within the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, is to coordinate and facilitate all climate-related activities, including the preparation, compilation and submission of Biennial Update Reports and National Communications as well as other related activities.