Jamaica’s Matthew Samuda vows inclusive leadership as new UNEA President

Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Matthew Samuda, has pledged that his two-year term as president of the 193-member United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) will be defined by inclusivity, transparency, and practical action.

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Samuda made the commitment in his acceptance speech after his election was announced Friday morning by outgoing UNEA President Abdullah Bin Ali Al-Amri. UNEA is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on environmental issues, bringing together all 193 United Nations member states to set the global environmental agenda and guide the work of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

“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,” Samuda said. “And, we must do so while ensuring that no State — large or small — feels excluded from the solutions we craft.”

While leading Jamaica’s delegation to the seventh session of UNEA (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Samuda emphasized that his presidency represents a collective achievement rather than a personal milestone.

“I am 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,” he said. “I stand here on behalf of all countries that understand, from lived experience, the urgency of protecting our natural world.”

Samuda acknowledged the complexity of global environmental challenges but stressed that the path forward is clear.

“The environmental challenges before us are complex, but our pathway is clear: heightened ambition, deeper cooperation, and unwavering commitment to implementation,” he said. “Let this assembly demonstrate that multilateralism — when guided by equity and shared purpose — is still the most powerful tool we possess.”

He urged UNEA member states to work collectively to ensure environmental protection remains a shared global responsibility.

“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,” Samuda said.

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In closing his remarks, Samuda referenced his favourite childhood cartoon, Captain Planet, quoting: “Blaming each other is a waste of time. The only thing that matters is changing what’s wrong.”