KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister with responsibility for the Environment, Matthew Samuda, has warned the international community that time is running out for countries on the frontlines of climate change, as he addressed the 7th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) this week.

Speaking under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet”, Samuda said Jamaica has endured the full force of the global environmental crisis over the past four years, culminating in the catastrophic passage of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.

“In one day, our quality and way of life was severely, some may argue irreversibly, affected,” Samuda told delegates in Nairobi.

He reported that Hurricane Melissa caused an estimated US$8.8 billion in damage, equivalent to 41 per cent of Jamaica’s gross domestic product, while also destroying 51 per cent of the island’s primary forests.

The minister stressed that Melissa was not an isolated event. Since 2021, Jamaica has weathered two tropical storms, Category 4 Hurricane Beryl, its hottest and wettest day on record, and three of its most severe droughts. Collectively, he said, these impacts have degraded soil quality, weakened pollination rates and triggered saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources, posing threats to agriculture, food security and biodiversity.

Despite these setbacks, Samuda said Jamaica is committed to rebuilding stronger and accelerating environmental protection. He outlined several major steps taken in recent months including the ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the submission of updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the country’s long-term strategy for Carbon Emission Reduction, the expansion of protected areas to 25 per cent terrestrial and 15 per cent marine, and new regulations banning additional single-use plastics.

“We have a long way to go, but we remain committed,” Samuda said.

Samuda used the platform to advocate for the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), which would assist Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in accessing financing that reflects their climate exposure rather than income alone. He urged UNEA-7 delegates to ensure decisions remain inclusive and address the full range of environmental challenges.

Jamaica formally signalled its support for three key resolutions, strengthening the role of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), bolstering global response to massive sargassum blooms, and accelerating international action to improve the climate resilience of coral reefs.

Samuda emphasised that building a resilient planet requires shared responsibility.

“This task is not the remit of any one country or group of countries, but that of all,” he said.