NEW president of the of the 193-member United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda, has vowed to ensure that his two-year term is marked by inclusivity, transparency, and practical action.

“We must work to strengthen the science-policy interface, scale up financing for adaptation and resilience, and accelerate the transition to sustainable production and consumption systems. And, we must do so while ensuring that no State — large or small — feels excluded from the solutions we craft,” declared Samuda in his acceptance speech after his election was announced Friday morning by Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Amri, the outgoing president of the assembly.

UNEA, the world’s highest-level decision-making body on environmental issues, brings together all 193 UN member states.

It sets the global environmental agenda, provides policy guidance and determines strategies to address emerging environmental challenges. The assembly also reviews policies, fosters partnerships, and guides the work of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Samuda, who is currently leading the Jamaican delegation to the seventh session of the UNEA (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya, declared that he is mindful that this presidency is not an individual achievement, but a reflection of the collective commitment of the Latin American and Caribbean region, “And of my home, Jamaica. I stand here on behalf of all countries that understand, from lived experience, the urgency of protecting our natural world.”

He added: “The environmental challenges before us are complex, but our pathway is clear: heightened ambition, deeper cooperation, 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.

“Together, let us rise to the moment. Together, let us ensure that the environment remains not only a global priority, but a global responsibility — one we meet with integrity, innovation, and unity.”

In closing, Samuda quoted from his favourite cartoon as a child, Captain Planet, “Blaming each other is a waste of time. The only thing that matters is changing what’s wrong.”

Samuda will preside over UNEA-8, which is scheduled for December 6 to 10, 2027, at the UNEP headquarters also in Nairobi.