Online roundtable: “Beat Air Pollution: a Caribbean perspective”

Following the celebrations of World Environment Day 2019 under the theme Beat Air Pollution, the UN Environment Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean, will host an online roundtable to highlight how air pollution affects this subregion and how Small Island Developing States can reduce their vulnerability to this global problem that causes 7 million premature deaths every year.  

During the broadcasted meeting, experts will discuss the impacts of air pollution in health and climate, the importance of cross-sectoral approaches to address the issue, successful solutions in sectors such as transportation, and practical steps governments, NGOs and the private sector can take to curb air pollution in the Caribbean.

Around 13,600 people die prematurely in the subregion, every year as a result of air pollution, according to the UN Environment’s report Air Quality in the Caribbean. Indoor air pollution is the leading cause of these deaths and many health issues.

Air pollution doesn’t just impact health and economic growth. Many of the toxic emissions that harm humans also accelerate global warming.

The roundtable will take place on July 17, at 10:00 H (Jamaica Time), and will be streamed live through the United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Facebook page.  

Please see below the list of speakers that will join the discussion:

• Dr. Ruth Potopsingh, Associate Vice President-Sustainable Energy & Head, Caribbean Sustainable Energy and Innovation Institute (CSEII), University of Technology, Jamaica.
• Mr Anthony Headley, Director (Ag), Environmental Protection Department, Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Barbados.
• Dr. Azad Mohammed, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.
• Dr. Anthony Greenaway, Representative, Jamaica Environment Trust.
• Moderator: Mr. Vincent Sweeney, Head, Caribbean Sub-regional Office, UN Environment.