CEW AGENDA

10/26/2020 0 Comments

WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE CARIBBEAN

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13, 11AM-12PM

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Sian Cuffy-Young (Siel Environmental Services, Trinidad & Tobago)
Dr. Lorna Inniss, Coordinator, UN Environment Cartagena Convention Secretariat
Shanta King, Project Director Unite Caribbean Re-PLAST-OECS Pilot Plastic Recycling Project

Whether it is Jamaica or Trinidad, Aruba or Saint Lucia, the story is the same: the Caribbean is overwhelmed with waste – in particular, plastic of all kinds. For many, plastic bottles are the main offenders, with gullies and drains clogged and causing flooding. Waste is dumped in mangrove areas – even large household items like refrigerators! This not only seriously endangers marine life but leaks pollutants into the soil and when burned adds to air pollution. It harms our tourism product, also. We know the problems – what are the solutions? We will talk to people working in the field about innovative systems, and what works – and what does not work - in the Caribbean setting. Is recycling the easy answer, and what are the challenges? How can we encourage behavior change among citizens? This discussion will try to pinpoint the fundamental issues that must be addressed, while pointing to some creative solutions that may yield positive results, without incurring major costs.

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PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 11AM-12PM

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Steve Kemp (Executive Director, OpenPlan)
Dr. Earl Bailey (Consultant Development Planner)

There is a net zero building on the campus of the University of the West Indies, Mona. What is its purpose? What does it represent in 2020 and beyond – or has it already served its purpose and become out of date? This session will focus on the future: designing, planning, creating, using our imaginations and putting our minds to work for a better tomorrow. How can this be achieved in a period of unprecedented uncertainty not only in Jamaica, but regionally and globally? The discussion might examine ways in which to securely anchor innovative ideas.

Some ways that might be envisaged would include eco-tourism, founded on sound environmental practices, informed and sensitive management and a strong community base. In urban areas, ways to integrate eco-friendly practices in small and micro-businesses (including artisans, food services and many others) could be explored. Resilient housing and urban developments are a critical area to examine: how can we transform the polluted “concrete jungle” into cleaner, quieter, livable communities with adequate green space, protection of biodiversity, and areas friendly to pedestrians and cyclists?

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ACHIEVING ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 1PM-2:30PM

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Richard Coe (VP, Jamaica Manufacturers Association)
Racquel Moses, CEO, Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator)

Several private sector representatives have suggested recently that Jamaica depends too heavily on service industries, such as tourism. This discussion will seek to examine where business is heading. We will explore a variety of industries with a heavy focus on manufacturing. Manufacturing contributes largely to pollution from its day to day operations to the disposal of its products at the end of its useful life. What are our local manufacturers doing to reduce their carbon footprint and their impact on the environment? This discussion will seek answers and put forward solutions, while looking at good examples of operations that reflect sustainable business strategies, use renewable energy and more. Other areas to be discussed would include environmentally friendly packaging, recycling in its various forms, and assessing social and environmental standards along the entities’ supply chains. The discussion will brainstorm some viable ideas while looking at local (or regional) examples from various sectors.

How can a greener business sector jumpstart the economy into a brighter future?

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FINANCING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11, 11AM-12:30PM

GUESTS:

David Noel (SVP, Head of Scotiabank Caribbean Central & North)
Ambassador Aloun Ndombet-Assamba (CEO, COK, Jamaica)
Christoph Jungfleisch (Managing Director and Co-Founder, YAPU Solutions)

This “nuts and bolts” discussion will seek to identify what kinds of financing and financial incentives are available for sustainable projects in Jamaica, and what the qualifications and necessary skills are for those seeking funding, whether entrepreneurs, non-governmental organizations or community-based groups. The talk will also explore what kinds of projects appeal to funders – what are they looking for? It will hopefully provide examples of successfully funded projects that have met sustainability goals; and the factors behind their success. An example of “lessons learned” may also be useful. Accountability, record-keeping, proper communication with funders, and building trust are all critical factors. What are the “dos” and “don’ts” in applying for, administering and reporting on projects, and is greater capacity-building for organizations needed in these areas? The question of whether funders are looking for more innovative “green” project ideas could also be considered – and if so, what would such concepts look like?

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CLIMATE CHANGE: OUR NEW REALITY

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10, 11AM-12PM

GUESTS:

James Ellsmoor, Founder & Director - Island Innovation
Dr. Kevon Rhiney, Assistant Professor, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Sometimes it’s the little things. Creatures (birds and insects, for example) that used to be common in lowlands are now moving higher up, where it is cooler and there is more food. Plants that used to grow in city gardens thirty years ago struggle now, because of the heat. This discussion will focus on how climate change is impacting Jamaicans’ lives at the local level. Some questions might include: How do rural and city dwellers adapt? How do farmers plan their crops, planting and harvesting, when the seasons are uncertain and weather patterns extreme? How do urban dwellers manage in a small concrete apartment or townhouse in midsummer? How does climate change impact me, on a personal level, and what can I do to adjust my lifestyle, in terms of work life, home life, family life, and consumption? What can I do to help heal and repair the environment in which I live? The discussion will focus firstly on how climate change is likely to continue affecting us in different ways, and secondly on solutions and actions that can be taken – a “to do” list for living in a more climate friendly manner while adapting to current conditions.

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YOUTH IN ACTION

MONDAY NOVEMBER 9, 1PM-2PM

GUEST SPEAKERS:

Protect Our Future (Grand Cayman)
Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council (Jamaica)

The 17 year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg gave the youth voice a jump start with her unequivocal, urgent message on climate change. She made it clear that young people will not accept procrastination and mere words from older generations; they want action, now. Thunberg has inspired many youth activists globally – from Indonesia to Uganda to India. Her #FridaysforFuture climate strike call in 2018 may not have resonated in Jamaica (taking a day off school may not have been feasible), but youth organizations across the Caribbean are beginning to rise to the challenge. How can young people not only have a seat at the table in national and regional climate change discussions but also where decisions are made - since it is their future that is at stake? What are the specific issues they care about the most? What concerns do they have? And most importantly, how can young people move from talking to planning and then action, to put their issues on the front burner? The discussion might also touch on what kind of support is needed for youth climate activists, and where.

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WELCOME REMARKS

MONDAY NOVEMBER 9, 11AM-12PM

The Caribbean faces a range of environmental challenges. We already know the problems: decline in biodiversity; waste management and our “plastic problem”; the urgent need for sustainable development, not “business as usual,” as we move towards economic growth; financing for sustainable development; and planning and designing for a more sustainable future in our urban areas. The overarching, ever-present phenomenon of climate change is having an impact on every aspect of our economy and livelihoods; is the Caribbean building sufficient resilience and placing priority on disaster preparedness? This inaugural series of discussions aims to provoke a free flow of ideas on some of the solutions to these issues. When the week is over, we plan to have some clear pointers for further discussion, planning, and implementation, which we will present to our expert participants and followers on social media. Moving forward!

Join us as the Live ECCO and Environmental Solutions Teams chat with Vincent Sweeney, Head of Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, United Nations Environment Programme.

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YOUR CART

WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE CARIBBEAN

PLANNING FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

ACHIEVING ECONOMIC GROWTH WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

FINANCING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

CLIMATE CHANGE: OUR NEW REALITY

YOUTH IN ACTION

WELCOME REMARKS