Vernon urges St James youth to amplify their voices on climate change
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:21 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Montego Bay’s Mayor Richard Vernon is calling on the youth of St James to embrace climate action and take the lead in climate change mitigation efforts.
During a recent ceremony at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, Vernon recognised the top three projects from a pool of 12 youth groups that implemented climate action initiatives under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund over a seven-month period last year.
Rosemont Youths, who constructed a playhouse for children using plastic bottles, was declared the overall winner. The Salt Spring group secured second place with its rainwater harvesting project at Salt Spring Primary School, while third place went to Champions for Change, who built a greenhouse at Spot Valley High School.
Emphasising the significance of youth-led climate action, Vernon praised the innovative solutions demonstrated by the top projects. He noted that their creativity and willingness to think outside the box are invaluable in tackling environmental challenges.
“Your involvement in this initiative is commendable, but more importantly, necessary for driving meaningful change. The future belongs to those who act today; therefore, I am calling upon more youth groups across the parish to get involved,” said Vernon.
The Bloomberg Climate Action Fund, implemented through the office of the Mayor of Montego Bay, is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies in collaboration with United Cities Local Governments (UCLG) and the Bloomberg Centre for Public Innovation (BCPI) at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
With approximately 1.8 million, or 60 per cent, of Jamaica’s population under 35 years old, Vernon urged young people to make their voices heard on climate change, stressing their crucial role in ensuring sustainable practices are upheld.
“Youth-led action is the catalyst for a sustainable tomorrow, and we need to hear from you. I don’t think that, where climate change is concerned, our youth are loud enough. You need to get loud; you need to be very critical of things that are affecting our environment, affecting you, and affecting your future,” Vernon urged.
RAISE THE BAR HIGHER
Congratulating the youth climate action participants, Vernon encouraged them to raise the bar higher as they prepare for the second phase of the project.
“I am expecting more innovative, more adventurous, and more impactful projects for phase two, because Montego Bay will continue to lead the way in youth-led climate action. The Bloomberg initiative and those who come after you will see your work and, importantly, you will secure your future,” Vernon continued.
“But as you embark on the next phase of this journey, it is essential to recognise the critical role that youth-led climate action plays in addressing the pressing environmental challenges we face today. The climate crisis is not a distant threat; it is a reality that impacts our communities, our livelihoods, and our future,” he added.
Under the Paris Agreement, first negotiated in 2015, countries worldwide committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. The agreement, signed in 2016, covers climate change mitigation, adaptation, and finance. It was negotiated by 196 countries at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in France.