Transcript Public Policy and Climate Change: Land

Public Policy and Climate Change: Land-use
adaptation strategies in Jamaica
Ms. Kamille Dwyer
Public Policy and Climate
Change: Land-use Adaptation
Strategies in Jamaica
by
Kamille Dwyer
Presented at the
Climate Change: Impacts on the Caribbean Conference.
Sponsored by the University of the West Indies, Mona and the
Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, June 15-17, 2007
University of the West Indies, Mona.
Outline of Presentation
Potential Impacts of Climate Change
Jamaica’s Vulnerability to Climate Change
The role of Physical Planning in Jamaica
The Challenges facing Jamaica’s Physical Planning System
The role of Jamaica’s Planning System in facilitating
Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change
The Challenges
Recommendations
Projected Impacts of Climate
Change
Expected climatic changes in the region
include:
Sea level rise
Saline intrusion into freshwater aquifers
Coastal flooding and erosion
Increased temperatures
Heat stress
Coral bleaching
Biodiversity loss
Increased emergence of vector borne diseases
Changes in rainfall patterns
Droughts or floods
Decreased fresh water availability
Increased intensity of storm activity
Direct damage of infrastructure
Loss of lives
Jamaica’s Vulnerability
Jamaica’s Vulnerability to climate change is due to
several key characteristics:
Geography
Small Physical Size and the fact that it is surrounded by
large expanses of water
Proneness to natural disasters
Large Populations with high growth rates and densities
Limited financial and human resources, which have
ultimately limited our adaptive capacity
Sea Level Rise Scenario for the Kingston Harbour
Physical Planning in Jamaica
Planning’s Primary Goal is to ensure public health and safety
through the rational use of land.
In more recent times, planning has adopted a more modern approach to
facilitating land development, and has been used to guide economic
development and provide economic incentives aimed at stimulating growth. In
the last 10 years planning has become a major avenue for facilitating public
participation.
Planning has two Functions:
Development Planning
Development Control
The Planning System in Jamaica is supported by three frameworks:
Legislative Framework
The Institutional Framework
The Administrative Framework
Current Planning Framework
Legislative Framework
The planning legislation of Jamaica provides for a planning
system with national management (development planning) and
control of planning (development control). Enacted into law in
1957, the Town and Country Planning Act, mandates planning
though a system of development orders.
Though not mandated by law, the government saw it necessary
to prepare a National Physical Development Plan to inform the
preparation of development orders and local plans, but more
importantly to guide land development in a manner considered
rational and sustainable
A Manual For Development was prepared in 1973 to inform developers
of existing planning standards and guidelines; a strategy aimed at
expediting the approval process. The manual was reviewed in 1982,
and again in 2005.
In addition to the Town and Country Act, other acts are used to support the
planning framework:
The Local Improvements Act, 1914 – setting out provisions for
subdivisions;
The Urban Development Corporation Act, 1968 – providing the
Urban Development Corporation an exemption from building
permitting processes in its designated areas;
The Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act, 1991 –
providing for environmental permitting and environmental impact
assessments; and
The Parish Councils Building Act, 1908 and 1949 – providing for
parish councils to make bylaws for building erection, alteration and
repair (and thus enabling councils to control building development
where there are no development orders in force).
Other Acts include the Beach Control Act (1956), The Wildlife Protection Act (1945),
The Public Health Act (1975), National Heritage Trust Act (1985), Watersheds
Protection Act (1963, incorporated into NRCA Act of 1991, currently under review),
Water Resources Act (1995), The Forest Act (1996), the Land Valuation Act and the
Registration of titles Act.
National Policy on Ocean and Coastal Zone Management, and
Action Plan (first five years) 2000*—provides for an integrated
approach to coastal zone management
Mangrove and Coastal Wetlands Protection (Draft policy and
Regulations, 1996)- addresses issues affecting wetlands in
Jamaica
The Natural Resources Conservation Regulations, 2000- regulates
activities in the protected Portland Bight Protected Area
Policy for Jamaica’s System of Protected Areas, 1997management tool used in ICZM and environmental protection
purposes
Towards A Beach Policy for Jamaica (Draft, 2000)- addresses
issues related to beach access and oil and sewage pollution, solid
waste disposal, beach erosion, coastal water quality and wild life
protection.
Towards A Watershed Policy for Jamaica (1999)—provides for
watershed management as an environmental management model
for Jamaica.
National Strategy on Biological Diversity in Jamaica (2000) and
supporting Action Plan—outlines plans and programs for the
sustainable use of Jamaica’s biodiversity
National Hazard Risk Reduction Policy (2006)- provides for the
integration of hazard risk-reduction into national development
strategies
Policy on Strategic Environmental Assessment (2003/6)—provides
an accepted tool of environmental management for assessing the
environmental implications of proposed policies, programs and
plans (PPPs), and is used to complement the EIA, which is more
geared towards a specific project, rather than the PPPs.
Forest Policy and Plan (2001)—provides for the management of
Jamaica’s terrestrial resources.
Institutional Framework
There are several institutions involved in planning in Jamaica:
The leading authority on physical development in Jamaica is
the Town and Country Planning Authority
Ministry of Local Government and Environment
National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)
Planning Institute of Jamaica
Cabinet Office
Local Government Authorities
Administrative Framework
Administrative responsibilities are achieved through the two
planning functions:
Development Planning- developments plans are comprehensive
plans used to guide development. Development Plans represent a
vision and statement of criteria for future development and land-use in
an area - they set out the planning policies and proposals which
together form a spatial framework which largely determines where,
how and what development takes place. The policies set out in the
plan can also have a deeper influence on the precise design or layout
of developments, the uses they involve, and the issues which local
authorities will expect developers to tackle or address in drawing up
their proposals for development.
Development Control- Within the Jamaican planning
system, development control is achieved via the use of
development orders as the development regulation
mechanisms during the process of reviewing applications. The
development orders which are used to address all matters
related to land use are applicable at the local and regional
planning level. The development control process begins at the
local level, where development applications are received by
local authorities, and where necessitated, referred to NEPA for
their assessment and recommendations.
Challenges Facing the Planning
System
Legislative
Several Pieces of Legislation governing the land development process,
conflicting and overlapping responsibilities for the various planning agencies
at the central and local government level has contributed immensely to the
confusion, neglect of duties, lack of coordination and unclear responsibilities
within the planning system of Jamaica.
Outdated legislation: development plans and development orders
There is no provision for public participation
Administrative
Lack of Financial Support
Lack of Human Resource capacity
Limited Skilled Staff, particularly trained planners
Limited Office Space
What should be the Role of
Planners?
Guide development: influence where development
ought to take place
Control development/ enforcement
Helping to build communities
Provide opportunity for people to participate in
the planning process
Provide a planning system that bridges the gap
between environment and economic development
Facilitating Adaptation to Climate
Change
Land use planning because of its multi-disciplinary approach and
functions- environmental planning; urban design and renewal; landscape
architecture (built and physical environment); regional and spatial
planning; transport planning; and sustainable development- can
effectively identify and implement climate change adaptation strategies
,given that the planning process can provide a very effective tool for
taking a longer term view on where and when development should take
place under a changing climate
Use of Basic Planning and environmental tools
Development Orders/Plans (Integrated coastal zone management
plans)
Use of setbacks (particularly coastal setbacks)
Use of Building Codes
Use of GIS as a planning tool (mapping)
Strategic Environmental Assessments
Environmental Impact Assessments
Challenges
Political interference in the planning system
Outdated planning legislation guiding development
Lack of Government Policies on climate change
Capacity issues:
size of establishment
Lack of trained planners and skilled staff at all levels: impedes research capacity etc.
Not enough specialist training in issues to do with planning
Financial constraints
The gap between planning and environmental management has not
been bridged (economic vs. environmental management)
Planning system is supported by reactive initiatives
Recommendations
Develop coordinating mechanisms to ensure that physical
planning and environmental plans are implemented at the
central, local and private sector level
Introduce national building codes that account for climate
variability and change
Development Comprehensive Land-use plans
Develop and implement integrated coastal management
plans
Integrate regional disaster mitigation strategies with national
physical planning
Employ a “retreat approach” to planning and development in
high hazard areas along the coastline
Advocate the use of market-based incentives to promote
sustainable economic development
Link property insurance with construction quality
Eliminate subsidies and incentives that continue to promote
development in fragile and hazardous coastal areas
Improve public awareness and education concerning
planning and Jamaica’s vulnerability to climate change
Promote increase use of GIS and remote sensing/ spatial
planning applications
Expand Hazard mapping of coastal areas, based on climate
change
Continue to build research capacity by facilitating long-term
monitoring programs.
We need to start by promoting Compliance!!
Thank you!