Statement by

Statement by

Ms. Paulette Kolbusch,

Acting Director, Legal, Standards & Enforcement,

National Environment and Planning Agency of Jamaica

on Atmosphere/Air Pollution,

15^th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development,

1 May 2007

Salutations.

(A) General Comments

(i) The protection of the atmosphere is a broad multidimensional endeavour involving various sectors of economic activity.

(ii) Developed countries must play their role in assisting developing economies to develop national strategies and relevant regional and sub-regional initiatives to combat climate change and mitigate especially trans-boundary atmospheric pollution.

(B) Specific Comments

The following are some of the initiatives being undertaken in Jamaica to address the issue of atmospheric pollution.

(iii) Jamaica acceded to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer in 1993 and is implementing its Country Programme for the Phase-out of Ozone Depleting Substances. Ministerial Orders under the Trade Act have been developed banning the importation of chlorofluorocarbons (CFSs). CFC-based equipment and halons. An Act for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is being finalized.

(iv) Jamaica signed the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) in 2001. The Convention is aimed at restructuring and ultimately eliminating the production, use, release and storage of POPs. A National Implementation Plan (NIP) was developed in 2005 which outlines measures for reducing and eventually eliminating the release of dioxins and furans into the environment.

(v) The Jamaica National Ambient Air Quality Standards were promulgated by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority in 1996. Air Quality Regulations were also promulgated in 2006. The Regulations address industrial air pollution sources that are classified as significant and major based on annual emission rates for specific air pollutants. Some of the main features of the Air Quality Regulations include an air pollutant discharge licensing system and the payment of discharge fees for discharges of emissions to the environment.

(vi) The Natural Resources Conservation Authority has developed draft Standards for motor vehicle emissions. The Ministry of Housing Transport Water and Works/Island Traffic Authority is to provide information on its motor vehicle emissions testing programme to inform the adequacy of the parameters and the limits set out in the Standards. Once the Standards are promulgated, the parallel Regulations are to be developed by the Ministry of Housing Transport Water and Works.5

(vii) The establishment of regional monitoring programmes to facilitate air quality forecasting and the maintenance of national emission inventory databases of air pollutants are necessary yet dependent on technological, financial and human resources for sustainability. The dissemination of information about the impact of backyard burning and burning as a harvesting technique should be included in community outreach programmes.

I thank you.