The Climate Change Partnership project was successfully launched in late 2012 when the City of Hagen Environmental Department made contact with Dr. Conrad Douglas, Chairman of the Climate Change Advisory Committee, Kingston, Jamaica, a part of the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change.
The first joint talks were subsequently held during the network meeting in Costa Rica, and initial joint plans were discussed and ideas discussed and noted. On that occasion Councillor Renair Benjamin, of the City of Portmore, who on behalf of the City Council, under the leadership of His Worship, Mayor George Lee was representing the interests of the city.
In February 2013 a team from Hagen led by Dr. Christian Schmidt, visited Portmore to conduct a Situational Analysis. Further to the Germans visit, a delegation from Portmore visited the City of Hagen in July 2013. During this visit various site visits were organized and implemented and information presented on project topics, which were of primary interest to Portmore team. These included:
- Design and implementation of Renewable Energy Systems (RES) such as wind turbines. This involved using GIS system of the Planning Department of the Hagen to identify the location and planning for the installation of wind turbines.
- Involvement of schools and students in order to initiate the establishment of partnership between similar school levels in the Cities of Portmore and Hagen.
Emanating from these discussions came this reality - the Portmore HEART Academy Solar Panel Project; the pilot project of the program. The other two components of the program are training of Solar Technicians and a Climate Awareness Campaign. The system to be installed is a 15KW 3 PHASE Solar PV System.
The HEART Trust has a constant load requirement on the campus that by far exceeds the solar capacity, even on the weekends and during holidays. It is therefore not expected at all that the system will be able to export any energy to the grid. The savings that the solar system will produce therefore can be calculated at the current JPS rate of +/- JMD$40.00 per KWH. The percentage of useful solar energy over a one year period is 25300KWH, while the energy savings based on current electricity price (100% direct use) is $1,011,994.93.
This is the Itinerary of Activities that the Germans did while they were in Jamaica :
- On Friday February 28, 2014 the German Team arrived at the Norman Manley International Airport they were met by the acting Mayor Cllr. Leon Thomas and Dr. Conrad Douglas and taken to the Four Sesons hotel in Kingston.
- On Saturday March 1st they toured the Black River Safari and Little Ochi.
- On Sunday March 2nd a visit was made to the dovecot Memorial where the remains on the Late Mayor His Worship George Lee to pay their last respects.
- A Visit was made to the Portmore Community College followed by a meeting in the Council Chamber on Monday March 3rd
- On Thursday March 6th the German launched the opening Ceremony of the Portmore Heart Solar Project followed by a tree planting at Heart , Portmore Community College and the Proposed Climate change Park.
- On Friday march 7th a visit was made to the National Irrigation Commission followed by a visit to the Scientific Research Council Re: waste water treatment and Solar Technology
- The German Team departs
The engagement of citizens in Portmore and Hagen is virtually important for climate change a real partnership is dependent on the willingness of the public to make contribution to climate justice and prepare the people for active involvement in this process.
Climate Change is creating major challenges for municipalities worldwide. At the same time local actors have a key role to play in measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Climate Change is creating major challenges for municipalities worldwide. At the same time local actors have a key role to play in measures for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The project is initiating a bottom up process that will take up the challenges posed by climate change. By supporting strategic climate partnerships agreed on between municipalities we intend to help transfer existing municipal expertise and generate new knowledge.