As an island nation, Jamaica is highly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather and global climate change. Many young Jamaicans are being left out of climate change conversations, and as a result they are unaware of how climate change will directly impact the future of their communities.
Jamaica faces a number of environmental issues, among them water scarcity, as mining and extraction activities contaminate already limited water resources. Deforestation is also a serious problem, leaving the island nation even more susceptible to the devastating impacts of natural disasters. Finally, the Jamaican economy is highly dependent on tourism, yet there is a need to make this industry more sustainable and environmentally friendly to adapt and resist a changing climate.
A group of youth activists in Jamaica has come together to address these issues and the ongoing effects of climate change. Migration and Adaptation to Climate Change Organization (MACC) is a civil society organization that focuses on empowering young people and their communities to develop programs to address socioeconomic and environmental issues. The group aims to address issues such as poverty, unemployment, health, climate change, the impact of natural disasters/hazards, access to potable water, conservation, waste management, and more.
With $5,000 from Global Greengrants Fund, MACC is seeking to increase the number of environmental clubs in schools in Potmore and Kingston, Jamaica at the secondary level to engage youth in local environmental issues.
To encourage sustainability, these groups will also develop kitchen gardens where the produce can be used to supplement food in the school’s canteens. As an incentive, the top five schools that are most progressive in displaying their efforts in sustaining their clubs and gardens will receive rainwater harvesting equipment and tools to assist in the maintenance of their gardens.
Youth activists play an important role in developing solutions to environmental issues that will ensure a healthy planet for generations to come. By activating school-aged children, MACC is helping youth in Jamaica get involved in their future and the future of their island from an early age, learning directly about the impacts of climate change and stepping up to act now – the time when it matters most.
