KINGSTON, Dec 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) — Two years ago, Colleen Williams took a 13-week water-harvesting course that helped her reduce her household consumption from 45,000 gallons a year to 29,000.
The knowledge she gained enabled her to make use of rainwater, use less from the tap and cut costs – she also hopes it could benefit future generations.
“I have been interested in sustainability and making my environment better for my grandchildren,” the 60-year-old charity secretary told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Williams took part in Water Project Jamaica, funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and business, which trains homeowners and professionals on water conservation.
The project is part of the Caribbean island nation’s donor-backed programme for climate resilience, which has helped Jamaica earn an international reputation for addressing climate change.
On the ground, however, local environmental activists have raised concerns about the adequacy and consistency of the government’s climate plans, especially when it comes to protecting forests.
Jamaica is one of a handful of countries that have submitted a second, stronger “nationally determined contribution” (NDC) for the Paris climate accord, ahead of a Dec. 31 deadline.
The new round of NDCs will be in the spotlight as countries gather virtually for a “Climate Ambition Summit” on Dec. 12 to mark five years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement 
.
Pearnel Charles Jr., Jamaica’s minister of housing, urban renewal, environment and climate change, said his country, which submitted its NDC at the end of June, sees itself as a leader “in this critical area globally”.
“Jamaica wants to demonstrate to the world that despite the challenges posed by COVID (and) by this historic, active hurricane season, which has produced damaging floods, we are still committed to actionable ambition,” he said in a phone interview.
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