Earth Today | Environmental accountability anyone?

ENVIRONMENTAL stakeholders have called for political attention to the environment, which they have said is critical for Jamaica’s sustainable development.

“As Jamaica enters another election season, we … note the promises of economic growth and infrastructure projects, while environmental issues, one of the most critical pillars of sustainable development, remain sidelined. We are now calling on political leaders to demonstrate true leadership by making the environment a central part of their vision for the country’s future,” said a group of 34 civil society organisations, including the Jamaica Environment Trust; and individuals in an April 22 news release.

“Communities across Jamaica are grappling with pollution, illegal sand mining, open burning, inadequate waste collection, and development which does not adequately consider the realities of the climate crisis. JET receives frequent complaints from individuals and communities who have often already contacted their elected representatives, local authorities, and regulatory agencies like the National Environment and Planning Agency, with little or no response,” it added.

“Speeches by our leaders sometimes acknowledge that Jamaica is facing a triple planetary crisis – climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. But environmental monitoring is weak, and enforcement of environmental laws is inconsistent – especially when violations are committed by government entities or powerful private companies,” the group said further.

It is against this background that they have called for a change in business as usual when it comes to the environment – a change that should see leaders engaged in “proactive planning, clear policies, and the courage to make difficult decisions in the national interest – even when the public isn’t demanding them”.

Indi Mclymont-Lafayette, who has long been involved in environmental advocacy, has noted her support for the group.

“I am in support of this release because it raises critical issues around how the environment is treated. As elections approach, citizens need to know how the political parties plan to strategically address critical issues such as climate change and environmental conservation,” she said.

“We have seen many environmental breaches … that we don’t want to see repeated and so it is key that the way forward is clearly articulated,” Mclymont-Lafayette added.

Demand accountability

Eleanor Jones, head of Environmental Solutions Limited (ESL), for her part, said it was past time to move from talk to action while herself commending the group on their call.

“It is important for citizens to speak and to demand accountability. We have done this many times and we do a lot of talking and people put things in manifestos. But really what we want now is some serious action. We want careful understanding of the environment and consideration of the environment as a development issue. It is a sustainable development issue. It is a major business issue. It is a major social issue,” she told The Gleaner.

“Here we are this week, Earth Week … and we urgently need a humanism capable of bringing together different fields of knowledge. That is key. We need action. We need to look at how we are going to act decisively on making the kind of difference which is import to making sure that the natural resources with which we have been endowed and which can be both assets and liabilities, that we manage these in an integrated way … and take them into account when we are making policies, putting acts together and stop acting in silos and for short-term gain. It is time for us to stop talking and to really act,” the ESL boss added.

Dr Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, JET’s chief executive officer, was of a similar mind.

“A truly prosperous Jamaica must include a healthy environment, strong enforcement of environmental laws, transparency, and meaningful accountability for breaches,” she said in the release.

“We need to hear clear commitments from our political leaders – promises with timelines and plans that include prosecuting even state entities when they break the law,” Rodriguez-Moodie added.

Against this background, she said election manifestos should include concrete plans to address ongoing environmental degradation but also strengthened enforcement of existing environmental laws and regulations, together with transparent and accountable environmental governance.

It should also include, among other things, “specific commitments with timelines to tackle illegal activities such as unregulated sand mining and pollution of rivers; [and] mechanisms for holding all violators – public and private – accountable”.

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