The Planning Institute of Jamaica will be embarking on the second phase of a pilot programme for climate resilience this fiscal year.

The project seeks to improve the quality and use of climate-related data and information for effective planning and action at local and national levels.

A sum of $139 million has been provided in the 2018/19 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out the project activities for the period.

The funds will facilitate the launch of a behaviour change campaign; continuation of public education campaigns, including the ‘Voices for Climate Change’; completion of data rescue and capacity building in the Meteorological Service of Jamaica (MSJ); and completion of a Health Sector Vulnerability Assessment and Cost Plan.

The funds will also go towards the completion of community risk profiling; commencement of a national vulnerability Assessment; and entering into a contract with a supplier for the design, supply and installation of the weather radar tower.

Up to December 2017, backup power supplies were installed at the MSJ and Water Resources Authority (WRA), a public education officer was contracted for the MSJ, and a structural assessment of the radar tower was also completed.

In addition, 63 per cent of the WRA water-monitoring network was upgraded and a real time data platform developed; a building conditions assessment for the radar station was completed; and a behaviour change consultant was contracted to work with the Climate Change Division, and a behaviour change campaign was designed.

The project, which has received funding support from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, is scheduled to end in April 2021, following several extensions.

— JIS