Nairobi, Kenya, CMC – Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment, and Climate Change, Matthew Samuda, has been elected as the new president of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), indicating that environmental matters are no longer an “isolated” agenda item.
“The critical role of UNEA as the critical decision-making body for matters relating to the environment should not be lost on any of us. This is a platform that engenders collaboration, coordination, and partnership between and among governments and major groups, “ Samuda said, praising the tenure of his predecessor, Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Amri of Oman.
Samuda, sole nominee for the position, had the formal endorsement of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) and was elected by acclamation to the world’s highest-level decision-making body on environmental matters, with a membership of all 193 UN member states.
Established in 2012, UNEA meets every two years to address urgent challenges such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change, and to promote sustainable solutions, with its seventh session (UNEA-7) ending here on Friday.
Samuda said he is honoured and grateful for the trust placed in him by electing him president of the UNEA-8 meeting, extending his “heartfelt thanks for the vote of confidence, and I accept this responsibility with humility, determination, and a clear sense of purpose.
“Today we gather at a moment when the world is asking not only for solutions, but for leadership…encourage cooperation and conviction. Environmental stewardship is no longer an isolated agenda item. It is the defining challenge of our century,” said Samuda, who will have among his vice presidents, St. Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Development Minister, Joel Clarke, who was also elected by acclamation.
“The decisions we make within the Assembly will continue to shape economies, societies, and the lives of generations yet unborn,” Samuda said, acknowledging that his election to the position is not an individual achievement, but the collective reflection of the achievement of the Latin America and Caribbean region and my home, Jamaica.
“I stand here on behalf of all countries that understand from lived experience the urgency of protecting our natural world. Our voices carry the weight of communities on the frontline of climate impacts, communities that cannot afford delays and do not have the luxury of indifference.”
Samuda pledged to bring all stakeholders together, adding “we must work to strengthen the science policy interface, scale of financing for adaptation…and accelerate the transition to sustainable production and unwavering commitment to implementation.
“Let this Assembly demonstrate that multilateralism, when guided by equity and shared purpose, is still the most powerful tool we possess,” Samuda said, adding that his new team was looking forward to working with all delegations, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector, the scientific community, and other stakeholders, including young people.
“Together, let us rise to the moment. Together, let us ensure that the environment is not only a global priority but a global responsibility. One we meet with integrity, innovation, and unity,” he added.
According to the UNEA document, Samuda has been a trailblazer in environmental advocacy, championing policies that protect Jamaica’s natural resources. As a founding partner of One Jamaica Recycling, the country’s first full-service recycling company, he spearheaded initiatives that advanced waste management and conservation.
It said that his commitment to sustainability was further exemplified in 2016, when he successfully tabled a Private Members’ Motion in Parliament, leading to Jamaica’s historic ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam in 2019.
Despite his busy schedule, he is currently pursuing his Master of Philosophy in environmental management at the University of the West Indies.
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