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1/24/2021 0 Comments WHY ARE CORAL REEFS IMPORTANT?
What are we doing to coral reefs?
What can we do? Remember, what you do or don’t do makes a difference to the survival of coral reef ecosystems. Fishermen and Boat Handlers
Divers and Snorkelers
Coastal home owners
All concerned individuals
An excerpt from Earth Facts
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7/31/2020 0 Comments Heat in the place Climate Change & What We Can Do About It Climate change is a phenomenon that affects the entire planet. Climate is not the short-term weather condition of a place but rather the long-term weather conditions averaged over a period of 30 years or more. Major precipitation and temperature changes that last for many decades contribute to climate change. Any significant variation in measures of climate extending over long periods of time is referred to as climate change. Human activities such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels (eg, coal, oil) have led to the climate change that is imminent. These activities have ushered in a new era of climate change characterised by global warming and sea level rise. Worldwide changes in average climatic conditions are not simply affecting distant places and wild species, such as the drowning of polar bears due to melting of the Arctic ice shelf. Climate change is already affecting us in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. How Does Climate Change Affect Us? The effects of climate change include:
What Can We Do? Here are a few things that we can do in Jamaica to help reduce climate change:
In order to reduce the effects of climate change we need to act now, to prevent future regrets. We can each play a role at the individual, community or national level. Some of these efforts will require lifestyle or political changes. However, these changes will result in long-term financial savings, business profitability, job creation, protection of biodiversity and a healthier human populace. - - - Chandra Degia, PhD, is an Environmental Consultant What is an SDG? It sounds a little like a food additive, doesn’t it! Seriously, though, this acronym stands for Sustainable Development Goals – global targets set by the United Nations (UN), which all member countries signed onto in 2015 at the UN General Assembly. There are 17 of them, and they are all connected, so that doing well (or not so well) in one will affect another. The SDG vision is to “Leave No One Behind,” aiming to bring our most vulnerable citizens up first, before working on the large goals. First, what does “sustainable” mean? We need to break it down. In essence, sustainability is something that will last; that can be renewed; that can be handed down for future generations. Most importantly, sustainability means something that will not be used up. There is always something saved for generations to come. We must nurture what we already have, and build resilience going forward. We must find the right balance between our lives and families, our work and aspirations, and caring for the environment. It’s a tough one, but we must find a way. The United Nations Development Programme office in Jamaica keeps an eye on our progress with the SDGs, and provides updates (as it does with countries around the world). So, how is our island doing? As we explore each SDG in future issues (starting with the Big One: No Poverty) we will take a look at this in detail. Meanwhile, click here to find out more about why the SDGs are important to us. Like Jamaica’s own Vision 2030 (the island’s National Development Plan), we are supposed to achieve the SDGs by the same year, 2030. The theme of leaving no one behind also ties in very closely with Vision 2030, which has as its top goal “Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential.” That means every Jamaican, including our most vulnerable citizens. Goal 2 is to ensure a secure and just society and good governance; Goal 3 is for a prosperous economy; and Goal 4 is about the importance of our natural environment, including preparing for the dangers and disasters that climate change might bring. How important is this in today’s complex world! Stay tuned as we explore each one of these goals in the current context of COVID-19 (which has changed everything), climate change, and other concerns that we live with every day: growing inequality, social unrest, and food security. Yes, these are daunting problems, indeed. However, the SDGs tackle these issues in a proactive way. They are all about looking to the future and finding solutions. They are a planning tool for governments, civil society, private sector organizations, and citizens who are looking to head in the right direction. What kind of future does Jamaica want? As we move past and slowly emerge from the “COVID era,” what changes would we like to see? Perhaps our lenses need adjusting. Let’s think about it. Here is a list of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 1: NO POVERTY: End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2: ZERO HUNGER: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4: QUALITY EDUCATION: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5: GENDER EQUALITY: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Goal 6: CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Goal 7: AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Goal 8: DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all Goal 9: INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Goal 10: REDUCED INEQUALITIES: Reduced inequality within and among countries Goal 11: SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable Goal 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Goal 13: CLIMATE ACTION: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Goal 14: LIFE BELOW WATER: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development Goal 15: LIFE ON LAND: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss Goal 16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels Goal 17: PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development To learn more about each SDG, click on the boxes below.  7/5/2020 0 Comments go plastic free july 2020 Plastic Free July is a global movement which aims to help millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. – so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities. In the spirit of Live ECCO we are continuing to make going green easy, simple and fun and exciting. We have created a weekly challenge for you. Under the theme of the 4R's: reduce, reuse and recycle + refuse, we will guide you on ways to lower your impact this month. Here's a sneak peek:
6/18/2020 0 Comments Glass recycling 101 Glass is one of the most popular materials recycled today, both because of the purity of the ingredients and the quick turnaround of recycling. Your glass containers actually begin their life as readily-available domestic materials, such as sand, soda ash or limestone.
Glass makes up a large component of household and industrial waste due to its weight and density. It is not biodegradable, and so, can have negative impacts on the environment and/or health through the accumulation of litter. In addition, broken glass is often a key factor in starting bush fires, which can have a devastating effect on the environment and impact on the health of nearby populations. Why recycle glass The good news is that glass is 100% recyclable with no loss to quality or purity of new product. Scrap glass or cullet, as it is more commonly known, is a key production ingredient added to the raw materials used to produce glass. Recycling glass containers provides for unmatched production efficiencies and significant environmental benefits.
What to Recycle Recycle Glass Containers Only - Check to make sure it’s a bottle or jar.
Keep It Clean - Keep out all non-container glass.
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