KINGSTON, Jamaica — A renewed call for innovation and action in the face of climate change took centre stage on Thursday as the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation hosted its Climate Action Conference and Expo at the AC Marriott Hotel.

Held under the theme “Road to Resilience: Energy, Disaster Preparedness and Food Security”, the event brought together students, stakeholders and members of the public, with a strong focus on engaging young people in shaping Jamaica’s climate response.

Originally scheduled for November 2025, the conference was postponed following the passage of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, a disruption organisers said emphasised the urgency of climate resilience.

Head of the JPS Foundation, Sophia Lewis, in her opening remarks, described the staging as timely given the country’s recent experiences.

“We want you to leave here today not just informed but inspired,” she said. “We don’t just want you to be aware of the challenges, we want you to be motivated by the solutions. We want you to be ready to play your part in building a more resilient and sustainable Jamaica.”

She stressed that resilience requires collective effort.

“Resilience is not the responsibility of one organisation, it is a shared commitment,” Lewis said. “At the JPS Foundation we are proud to stand as an environmental steward…committed to empowering communities, supporting innovations and advancing solutions that will help Jamaica not just withstand climate change but rise stronger together because of it.”

Remarks were also delivered by JPS Foundation Director Winsome Callum, who spoke on behalf of Chairman Damian Obiglio. She highlighted the organisation’s ongoing focus on youth engagement and empowerment.

“The little things you do make big, big differences,” she said. “We do this at the foundation by creating opportunities for learning by encouraging volunteerism and by building partnerships that allow people to move from awareness to action.”

Callum emphasised the foundation’s key areas including climate resilience; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education; and community empowerment.

“When you tie all of that together it comes back to our investment in young people… the future that we are discussing today is not theoretical, this future belongs to you,” she said.

The director also pointed to ongoing initiatives such as environmental clean-ups, tree planting, STEM scholarships and school-based energy clubs, noting that while progress has been made, more work remains.

“This event is not just another event on the calendar; it is our flagship initiative,” Callum said. “[It’s] a space where ideas, innovations and action come together… and where the JPS Foundation continues to position itself as a thought leader in climate action.”

Noting that recent extreme weather events signal a worrying trend, she shared, “The passage of Hurricane Melissa is not just an isolated event…It is part of a growing pattern… one that tells us clearly that the stakes are getting higher.”

Keynote speaker, Special Envoy on Climate Change, Environment, Ocean and Blue Economy, Professor Dale Webber, emphasised the far-reaching implications of climate change for small island developing states like Jamaica.

Special Envoy on Climate Change, Environment, Ocean and Blue Economy, Professor Dale Webber giving the keynote speech during the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation Climate Action Conference and Expo at the AC Marriott Hotel on Thursday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

“Climate change is no longer an environmental issue alone…It is a developmental issue, it is an economic issue, it is a social issue and… it is a national security issue,” he said.

He highlighted the scale of recent climate impacts, pointing to Hurricane Beryl in July 2024 and Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. According to Webber, Melissa caused an estimated $1.9 trillion in damage, destroying more than 200 buildings, affecting over 40,000 hectares of agricultural land, severely disrupting the electricity distribution network and impacting more than 600 schools.

Webber urged Jamaicans to rethink their use of critical resources and to act decisively to build resilience.

He also noted Jamaica’s climate commitments under its nationally determined contributions (NDCs), noting that the country aims to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

“That means we will be having fewer greenhouse gases. We will be contributing even less to what’s happening,” Webber said, adding, “We have a national energy policy which is directed where Jamaica is going… and it’s a clear path to that resilience.”