Jamaica: Waking up to urgency of a national climate policy

As increasingly extreme and erratic weather driven by the earth's changing climate exacts a heavy toll on Jamaica's population, economy and infrastructure, a consensus has emerged among scientists and policy makers here that adaptation measures must include hazard mitigation, reports Zadie Neufville for IPS.

"We can no longer use the very limited resources to chase the purchase of relief supplies for the large number of persons who reside in vulnerable conditions. We need to look at reducing the number of people in the country who are vulnerable," said Ronald Jackson, who heads the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).