FORMER pro-vice-chancellor and principal of The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Mona campus, Professor Dale Webber has revived endorsement from both sides of the political divide following his appointment as Jamaica’s first special envoy for climate change, the environment, matters of the ocean, and the blue economy.

In commending Webber, Prime Minister Andrew Holness acknowledged the extensive work he has done in the field of climate change.

“It was a very easy decision for me, as the minister responsible for climate change, to make the appointment. We are confident that he will represent Jamaica well in the many climate fora that are convened around the world — and particularly at this time,” said Holness during a sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Opposition spokesperson on environment Phillip Paulwell also commended Webber on his appointment.

According to Paulwell, he has no doubt that Webber will acquit himself well.

He noted that Webber is taking on the role when the globe is experiencing a climate crisis, and that there have to be ways of funding — especially developing countries — to mitigate and do the necessary adaptation.

“I wish you well, as I wish the country well, and I’m looking forward to the further dialogue that we have to engage in as, together as a country, we resolve to ensure that the impact on our country is not as severe as it seems to be,” said Paulwell.

Webber’s appointment was announced in a statement to the House by minister with responsibility for climate change Matthew Samuda.

He said Cabinet approved the appointment of Webber — who will hold the title of ambassador while serving in this role and will report directly to the prime minister while collaborating closely with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade — to represent Jamaica’s interests on the global stage.

Samuda thanked Webber for taking up this mantle to lead Jamaica’s fight internationally for climate justice, climate equity, and for financing that will support the country’s environmental protection efforts.

According to Samuda, the need for this role arose from the significant demands being placed on all nations in the multilateral space to participate in fora that focus on new climate, environment, and ocean agreements, as well as the stocktaking and evaluation of implementation of existing agreements, treaties and numerous technical negotiations.

“In many ways, this portfolio is not simply a local one. It dominates much of the multilateral bandwidth, as the issues of climate change and environmental degradation are the defining challenges of our generation,” said Samuda.

He noted that this is underscored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its concept of the triple planetary crisis, which encapsulates three interconnected and urgent challenges.

These include climate change — with rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifting climate patterns affecting millions, particularly small island developing states like Jamaica; biodiversity loss — where ecosystems critical to life on Earth are being degraded, leading to the extinction of species and the disruption of natural cycles; and pollution and waste — including the alarming levels of plastic pollution, air contamination, and untreated waste impacting both human health and the environment.

“This triple planetary crisis underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and local action to mitigate these threats and to ensure sustainable development for current and future generations. The increasing demand for high-level participation in not just political negotiations but also technical meetings means that for Jamaica to maintain its powerful voice in these spaces, we must increase our capacity to contribute significantly. These negotiations are far from a mere talk shop. The agreements arrived at in these fora have had and will continue to have profound impacts on Jamaica,” Samuda said.

He told the House that the Government is committed to increasing the capacity of the Environment and Risk Management Branch of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, significantly enhancing the Climate Change Division, and providing the necessary support to agencies such as Water Resources Authority, Meteorological Services of Jamaica, National Environment and Planning Agency, and Forestry Department so that these agencies are equipped to implement international treaties effectively.

“This announcement today [Tuesday] is both a signal and a first step towards achieving this enhanced capacity. Ambassador Professor Dale Webber… has an exemplary career as a marine biologist, conservationist, and climate change advocate. His academic specialisation in coastal and environmental management, coupled with his distinguished contributions to academia and public service, makes him exceptionally qualified for this post,” added Samuda.

— Alecia Smith