Climate change is one of the major challenges facing humanity today. This is especially the case for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as Jamaica, which are highly vulnerable and are often affected by the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement, signed by 175 member states in 2016, is an attempt to mitigate climate change and intensify actions and investments needed for sustainable lowcarbon future. The provision of high quality statistics related to climate change are vital to inform policy and in monitoring the achievement of sustainable development.
This report, Climate Change Statistics 2016, looks at the primary drivers of climate change; the evidence and impacts of climate change and efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and the Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES) include a series of targets, indicators and statistics related to climate change. In this report, however, the tables and graphs presented are mainly based on the statistics and indicators included in the FDES. Included are statistics that are relevant to Jamaica as well as to the global situation.
Unlike some traditional economic and social data, climate change-related statistics, much like other environment statistics, are not as complete or timely. Users of climate change-related statistics will find gaps in time series as well as out-of-date figures. In this first report Climate Change Statistics 2016, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica has gathered all available data on climate-change related statistics and presented them in an easy-to-read format. Efforts will be made to continue to update the data when available, fill the data gaps where possible and make them available on the Institute’s website.
Climate Change Statistics 2016 provides data that can be used by policymakers in the planning and implementation of environmentally-sustainable initiatives. Students, teachers and the general public may also utilise the information to enhance their understanding of the impact of climate change and ways in which they can make positive environmental contributions in their daily lives.
This publication was prepared by the staff of the Environment Statistics Unit in the Censuses, Demographic & Social Statistics Division.
The Climate Change Statistics Compendium 2016 is available in the Environment & Multidomain section at the following link: https://statinja.gov.jm/PubReleases.aspx
