National Environment & Planning Agency

Jamaica has been implementing strategies to address air pollution since 2010. A major milestone, which has bridged an almost 30-year regulatory gap, is the recent amendment to its ambient air quality standards, which now include ambient limits for PM2.5.To support the implementation of these new standards, this project will expand PM2.5 monitoring by deploying a network of over 10 low-cost sensors at strategic locations across Jamaica with little or no previous air quality data. The expanded network will provide real-time air quality data to the public to improve transparency, awareness, and personal decision-making. This will also help to identify possible pollution hotspots for targeted intervention. In addition, this project will assist in providing data-driven guidance to support the revision of national emissions policies and further strengthen air quality governance in Jamaica.

This project will provide critical support to Jamaica’s Air Quality Management Programme. By expanding the air quality monitoring network to areas with little or no air quality data, we will be able to better assess ambient air quality across Jamaica, identify and ensure targeted intervention in areas that may be exceeding the recently revised ambient air quality standards. More importantly, the project will enable us to share air quality data with the public to guide personal decisions and provide the empirical data needed to inform national policy that safeguards public and environmental health.

Mrs. Jody Ann Marston, Team Lead and Manager, Air Quality Management, National Environment & Planning Agency