Conventions & Treaties

Conventions & Treaties

Overview

The Government of Jamaica recognises that as a small island developing state, Jamaica faces many environmental challenges and as such, is committed to addressing these environmental issues. Some of these issues are, but are not limited to:

  • Loss of species and biodiversity
  • Ozone depletion
  • Hazardous waste management
  • Pollution from land-based sources

The Government of Jamaica is addressing these international and global concerns through Multilateral and Regional Agreements with other States. By taking steps to ratify or accede to the many environmental Conventions discussed hereafter, the Government is committing itself to adopting administrative policy, and legal mechanisms to implement these Agreements, as one step in promoting sustainable development at the national level.

 

International Agreement, date entered into force and main UN institution involved Main Objectives/Area of Action Date of Accession for Jamaica
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 01/07/1975 (UNEP)

Aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

 07 Jan. 1975
Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn Convention)

Conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species, their habitats and their migration routes. The Convention maintains lists of threatened migratory species and those which could significantly benefit from agreements to protect them and their habitats.
Convention of Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (RAMSAR Convention), 21/12/1975, (UNESCO)

a) Work towards the wise use of all wetlands        

b) Designate suitable wetlands for the list of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar list) and ensure their effective management;         

c) Cooperate internationally on trans-boundary wetlands, shared wetland systems and shared species

 20 Dec. 1975
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, 29/06/2004 (FAO)

The Treaty aims at:

a) recognizing the enormous contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world;
b) establishing a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials;
c) ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials with the countries where they have been originated.

 29 Jun. 2004
Convention on International Plant Protection, 02/10/2005 (IPPC Secretariat in FAO)

Protect plant resources from harmful pests (and weeds) which may be introduced through international trade.

 10 Feb. 2005
Convention on Biological Diversity, 29/12/1993 (UNEP)

a) Ensure the conservation of biological diversity
b) Ensure the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity
c) Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources 

 29 Dec. 1993
Millennium Development Goals (Goal 7), 08/09/2000 (UNDP)

7A)  Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programmes and reverse the loss of environmental resources, in particular forests which are recognised as a “safety net” for the poor;
7B) Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving a significant reduction in the rate of loss by 2010
7C) Halve the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015;
 7D)  Achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.

 08 Sep. 2000