Jamaica Names First Special Envoy For Climate Change

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jan 21, CMC – Jamaica's government on Tuesday named the former principal of the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) as the country’s first ever special envoy for climate change, the environment and matters of the ocean and the blue economy.

Professor Dale Webber (File Photo)Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda told Parliament that Professor Dale Webber has been appointed to the post and will have the title of ambassador.

Samuda told legislators that the need for this role has arisen from the significant demands being placed on all countries in the multilateral arena to participate in fora that focus on climate change, environment, and ocean agreements.

He said countries were also being asked to be involved in the “stocktaking and evaluating the implementation of existing agreements, treaties, and numerous technical negotiations”.

Samuda said that Webber’s duties will extend beyond Jamaica  as climate change and environmental degradation are multilateral issues, highlighting also the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s concept of the ‘triple planetary crisis’ which includes climate change; biodiversity loss; and pollution and waste, and the threat it poses globally.

“This triple planetary crisis underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and local action to mitigate these threats and to ensure sustainable development for current and future generations.

“The increasing demand for high-level participation in not just political negotiations, but also technical meetings means that for Jamaica to maintain its powerful voice in these spaces, we must increase our capacity to contribute significantly,” Samuda said, noting Webber’s appointment is a signal and a first step towards achieving this enhanced capacity.

Webber was first appointed UWI principal in 2018 and also served as pro-vice-chancellor for graduate studies between 2015 and 2018.

He has had a distinguished career as a marine biologist, conservationist, and climate change advocate, with academic specialisation in Coastal and Environmental Management.