PRESS RELEASE - May 28, 2008

June 1-7 will be celebrated in Jamaica this year as National Environmental Awareness Week (NEAW) under the theme: “Breathe Your Oxygen: Don’t Burn It! Reduce Your CO₂ and Save Our Air”. It is part of Jamaica’s efforts to mobilize local support for global warming and climate change awareness issues, internationally. It is a modification of the theme selected by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): “Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy.” 

 A number of activities have been planned by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to mark the event. There will be a church service to mark the start of the week on Sunday, June 1 at the Boulevard Baptist Church, in St. Andrew. The service gets underway at 9:00 a.m. The World Environment Day Message will be read by Dr. Leary Myers, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEPA. 

As part of efforts to raise awareness about climate change issues, locally, a concert and expo will be held on World Environment Day (WED), Thursday, June 5, on the North Lawns of Devon House in Kingston. A total twenty-one Government agencies and private sector organizations have confirmed their participation in the event which will also showcase the talents of several schools, community and cultural groups.  

The WED concert will feature prominent acts from ongoing national Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) festival competitions in the fields of dance, drama and music. Admission is free. The concert starts at 2:00 p.m. Students, teachers, community based organizations and other members of the public are especially invited to attend. A debating competition has also been planned. 

A National Environmental Awareness Week (NEAW) newspaper supplement highlighting the work of the Agency is also slated for publication in the Gleaner newspaper on the WED. The feature will offer a wide array of environmental and planning information.  

 Throughout the week, posters will be distributed to various parish libraries, via the Jamaica Library Service (JLS) 

NEAW celebrations were instituted under the auspices of the Natural Resources Conservation Department (NRCD), which preceded the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), one of three entities which currently form NEPA. NEAW coincides with WED, an annually observed environmental festival by member countries of the United Nations, on June 5. World Oceans’ Day is also celebrated on Sunday, June 8.

Click here so see NEAW 2008 schedule of activities.