KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness used the G20 summit to deliver a stark warning on the growing threat of climate change, outlining the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever recorded.

Holness told world leaders that while the full economic cost will take months to determine, preliminary assessments show “catastrophic losses” for Jamaica. He stressed that for Small Island developing states across the Caribbean, climate change is “an immediate and existential threat,” noting that a single extreme weather event can reverse decades of development progress and destabilise national finances overnight.

“Disaster risk reduction is not optional. It is central to our national survival,” Holness said.

The prime minister confirmed that Jamaica has activated its disaster-risk financing framework to support immediate relief and recovery efforts but emphasised that the magnitude of destruction exceeds what small economies can manage alone. He expressed gratitude to international partners who have already offered support.

Holness said the unprecedented strength of Hurricane Melissa, following storms such as Hurricane Barry, reinforces the urgency of limiting global warming.

“The world must adhere to the 1.5-degree target,” he said, warning that inaction will lead to more frequent and destructive hurricanes for vulnerable nations.

He urged the G20 to scale up climate finance, expand risk-transfer mechanisms, strengthen agricultural resilience, and prioritise investments in climate-proof infrastructure and clean energy systems.

Holness reaffirmed Jamaica’s commitment to achieving at least 50 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 as part of a just energy transition. However, he stressed that meeting these targets requires deeper partnerships with major economies, as well as access to technology, concessional financing, and capacity-building.

Following the summit, Holness reported productive meetings with the IMF, the World Bank, and several global leaders, including the president of France, the prime minister of Canada, and the vice president of Nigeria, all of whom he said pledged support for Jamaica’s recovery.

Speaking Sunday evening during the I Love Jamaica Telethon, Holness said he is encouraged by the commitments made and confident that the country will achieve “the most phenomenal reconstruction of our economy.”

“The disaster was great,” he said, “but the country is going to use it as an opportunity to put Jamaica on a firm footing.”