Jamaica backs global action on sargassum and coral reefs at UN environment assembly

Jamaica has thrown its support behind two global environmental resolutions on coral reefs and sargassum seaweed, citing the country’s escalating climate-related losses, including the US$8.8-billion devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda delivered Jamaica's position at the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Kenya on Thursday.

He said Jamaica strongly supports the resolutions targeting the massive influx of sargassum seaweed and the strengthening of global action to build climate resilience for coral reefs.

“These matters before this assembly are of incredible importance to Jamaica, and indeed all SIDS (Small Island Developing States,” Samuda told delegates. “Mr President, time is not our friend.”

He said the back-to-back extreme weather events that affected Jamaica over the last four years, including Hurricane Melissa in October, Hurricane Beryl, two tropical storms, record heat and rainfall. He also noted that Jamaica experienced three of the worst droughts on record show that Small Island Developing States are now grappling with the full force of the “triple planetary crisis.”

“In one day, our quality and way of life was severely, and some may say irreversibly affected,” Samuda said of Hurricane Melissa, which caused damage equivalent to 41 per cent of Jamaica’s GDP and destroyed 51 per cent of the island’s primary forests.

Samuda warned that the cascading impacts include deteriorating soil quality, reduced pollination, and salt-water intrusion in water sources, all of which heighten the country’s vulnerability.

he said Jamaica views UNEA-7 as a crucial moment for countries to “demonstrate collective will” on issues that disproportionately affect SIDS, including sargassum inundation and the accelerating collapse of coral ecosystems.

“For those reasons, Jamaica wishes to add its voice of support to the following resolutions: strengthening the role of UNEP ( United Nations Environment Programme); strengthening global response on the massive influx of sargassum seaweed blooms; and accelerating global action to promote climate resilience of coral reefs,” Samuda said.

The minister also highlighted steps Jamaica has taken in recent months to strengthen its own environmental governance, including ratifying the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, updating its Nationally Determined Contributions, submitting its long-term emissions reduction strategy, expanding protected areas to 25 per cent terrestrial and 15 per cent marine, and introducing new bans on single-use plastics.

“Jamaica remains committed to working with UNEP and other global partners in promoting a low carbon and environmentally sustainable future,” he said. Quoting the late reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, Samuda closed: “you can get it if you really want, but you must try, try and try, you’ll succeed at last….”

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.