AT least 12 world leaders and approximately 50 ministerial-level delegations are among more than 5,000 delegates expected to head to Montego Bay for the 13th staging of the Our Ocean Conference, come June 2029.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda made the announcement at a post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday as he provided an update on his visit to Mombasa, Kenya, for the 11th Our Ocean Conference from June 16 to 18.

Samuda described the conference as the largest international gathering focused on ocean protection and the blue economy outside of the United Nations Oceans Conference.

“This is a major, major event that establishes Jamaica’s thought leadership on the issue of marine protection and the issue of developing a sustainable blue economy,” Samuda said. He later told the Jamaica Observer that this will be the first time the Caribbean.

He argued that the conference validates Jamaica’s work in tourism, fisheries, shipping and logistics, as well as environmental protection.

Samuda said Montego Bay was selected not only because of its tourism infrastructure, accommodation capacity, and convention facilities including the Montego Bay Convention Centre, but also because of its historic significance in international ocean governance.

He pointed out that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea — often regarded as the constitution for the world’s oceans — was adopted in Montego Bay in 1982.

“Montego Bay, Jamaica, has always been the centre of ocean governance and we are re-establishing it as such in 2029,” declared Samuda.

He told the media briefing that while attending the conference in Kenya, he represented Jamaica which joined several ocean and environmental initiatives.

These include the Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism — a regional framework anchored by the United Nations Environment Programme — to coordinate environmental management of the Caribbean Sea.

In addition, Jamaica signed up for the Ocean Acidification Alliance — which focuses on scientific collaboration to address the impacts of ocean acidification; the Action in Blue Regional Network — which seeks to coordinate efforts to protect 30 per cent of the Caribbean Sea; and the Mangrove Breakthrough Initiative — aimed at strengthening mangrove conservation and restoration efforts.

Samuda said Jamaica’s participation in the mangrove initiative is particularly important given the role mangrove ecosystems play in protecting vulnerable coastal communities from storm surges and climate related impacts.

The minister further disclosed that Jamaica secured approval for an additional US$2.1-million grant through the Green Climate Fund.

This money will be managed through the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre to support the strengthening of Jamaica’s climate response mechanism project and assist local agencies in preparing climate-related projects for submission to larger funding programmes.

According to Samuda, the initiative will involve agencies including the Development Bank of Jamaica, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the Planning Institute of Jamaica and the Jamaica Climate Change Division.

He said preparations for the 2029 conference will begin with the establishment of a planning secretariat over the next year, with further updates to be provided as the country moves forward with hosting one of the world’s most significant ocean-focused events.