Climate change could affect local agri sector, says Pickersgill

Jodi-Ann Gilpin, Gleaner Writer

MINISTER OF Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Robert Pickersgill, is calling for a renewed focus on the importance of climate change, pointing out that the poor are often adversely affected.

Speaking at the launch of the video 'Climate Change and its Impact on Jamaican Farmers' at the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in Kingston on Wednesday, Pickersgill said that decisive actions and strategies must be put in place to raise awareness.

"Climate change is a real issue. We have to drive home that the issue of climate change is everybody's business as we will all be affected. Climate change is likely to exacerbate these impacts on the agricultural sector, and, by extension, other businesses," he said.

"A lot of persons in the lower economic strata of society depend on the agricultural sector for their livelihood, and climate change has a direct correlation with agriculture especially, so there has to be some urgency in addressing the issue," he said.

"It is my firm belief that climate change will not be taken seriously until the media highlights its significance. The limited coverage it has received thus far means that the public will not see that the issue requires immediate and decisive action," said Pickersgill.

He added: "The focus is always on crime, economics, health and finance, but I want to point out that climate change affects all those factors, and as such, we all should play a role in addressing the issue."