Caribbean News
UN and OECS hosts Caribbean Waste Management meeting held in Jamaica
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#Jamaica, September 24, 2023 – Caribbean countries met in Kingston, Jamaica, to take part in a regional training and technical exchange activity, courtesy of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to address the growing challenges of waste management and environmental sustainability in the Caribbean region; this is announced by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Held on the September 12-14, the workshop included the following objectives:
- Share good practices and lessons learned in the Caribbean for the improvement of waste data and statistics and associated indicators, especially from the four case study countries of the project.
- Strengthen waste information systems and capacity to deliver waste statistics by facilitating the integration of the Caribbean countries in the Waste and Circular economy Hub for Latin-America and the Caribbean.
- Promote the harmonisation of waste information systems in the Caribbean, strengthening their sustainability and enhancing regional cooperation in this field.
- Prepare draft work plans to improve the availability and reliability of data related to waste management and the circular economy.
- Network with peers, experts, and organisations involved in waste management and environmental
In the statement, the OECS highlighted that the region is faced with various unique challenges in relation to waste management, and environmental conservation. It continued to express that as resource demand rises, the responsible management of waste becomes more essential.
However, it pointed to the Zero Waste in the Caribbean initiative, which it says was launched “to promote integrated and sustainable waste management in the context of a circular economy in the Caribbean.”
The Zero waste project is funded by the European Union, in collaboration with CARIFORUM, co-financed by the German cooperation and implemented by AFD, GIZ and UNEP, in partnership with the OECS.
Present at the opening of the meeting was H.E. Marianne Van Steen, European Union Ambassador who pointed to the importance of solid waste management strategies in the Caribbean. Her Excellency was pushing attention to the “Small Island Developing States”, which she says are facing specific roadblocks in finding effective ways to handle solid waste due to “their limited size and because of their limited waste management capacities.”
Considering the aim of the meeting, she continued to say that, “in order to face these challenges, waste data collection and management are key and the sharing of good practices and exchange of experiences during this workshop are essential and extremely valuable”.
The event was made possible through collaboration with the European Union, CARIFORUM, the German Development Cooperation, UNEP, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the French Development Agency (AFD), OECS and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), all committed to supporting sustainable waste management practices throughout the Caribbean.
It saw in person and virtual sessions as well as participants and saw the attendance of Government officials, environmental professionals, waste management experts and representatives from relevant organisations and institutions from across the Caribbean region.