Some $70 million has been allocated to the Environmental Action Plan (ENACT) for Jamaica to, inter alia, continue providing technical advice to the Ministries and agencies of government in the development of environmental stewardship action plans and to assist them in their implementation.

The sum has been set aside in the 2004/05 Estimates of Expenditure which was tabled in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 31.

The funds will also, help to finance the promulgation and national strategic environmental assessment policy for Jamaica; continue and expand implementation of environmental training programmes in collaboration with the Management Institute for National Development (MIND), the Cabinet Office, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), and the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Other targets for the fiscal period include the publication of a series of environmental handbooks for use by ministries and agencies; providing support to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) in the implementation of the White Paper on Public Sector Reform, particularly the chapter on achieving sustainable national development; giving ongoing support to the implementation of local sustainable development planning process by the Portland Planning Development Committee; and supporting the implementation of the local Sustainable Development plan for Kingston and St. Andrew.

The objectives of the project, which is jointly funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) are to, promote sustainable development in Jamaica by supporting capacity building of key Jamaican organisations involved in the decision-making and use of the island’s natural resources.

It will improve the capability of key strategic players at the government policy, private sector, community and general public levels to identify and solve their environmental problems in a sustainable manner.

Up to September of 2003, ENACT had achieved a number of physical targets. Under the Public Sector component, over 3,500 public sector officials were trained in various areas of environmental management, including environmental stewardship, energy management, climate change, corporate planning, policy review development and reducing waste in the public sector. Action plans were developed to reduce waste and increase resource efficiency in the ministries, departments and agencies of government. In addition, the GOJ procurement policy was revised to include environmental considerations and 11 stewardship standards and guidelines, which are now mandated for all ministries, was developed.

The project also implemented environmental stewardship programmes in nine ministries, departments and agencies resulting in increased annual savings to government from reduced waste and improved efficiency. It trained over 23,000 participants in environmental related workshops and courses; created greater awareness of the importance of integrating environment and development issues into government policies, plans and progammes; and developed the strategic Environmental Assessment Policy which is due for promulgation in June, 2004.

Meanwhile, the NEPA component of ENACT saw a technical development review of various environmental guidelines and regulations being carried out, including in the area of air quality, waste management, fire initiatives and bird shooting, among others. Capacity in legal resources and in the ability to carry out Impact Analysis was also developed, along with compliance and enforcement manuals, thereby increasing the competence of environmental wardens.