Jamaica will host the Caribbean’s first ever symposium on Climate Change and World Heritage in May.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, made the announcement during her message to mark World Heritage Day being celebrated on April 18, under the theme, ‘Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism’.
Coming out of the symposium will be best practices to safeguard heritage sites based on the impact of climate change, Grange said.
She added that the decision to host the symposium was part of the ministry’s strategic thrust to strengthen Jamaica’s presence in World Heritage.
“We recognise the importance of cultural heritage in our nation’s development and the impact that climate change can have on heritage sites. Through the symposium we will be able to coordinate efforts and resources in the Caribbean to improve awareness and collaboration in preserving and safeguarding our tangible and intangible heritage resources,” Grange said.
The symposium will bring together forty delegates from 12 Caribbean nations with existing World Heritage properties, as well as policy makers and experts involved in Climate Change.
Funding support is provided through the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO – Participatory Project, UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office for the Caribbean and the Climate Change Division of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.
