Jamaica's environment minister, Matthew Samuda, looks like a lock to run the UN Environment Assembly after getting backed by Caribbean and American countries. He's the only person up for the gig heading into the vote, and regional delegates seem pretty locked in on supporting him for the top spot at the world's main environmental decision-making body.
Samuda told the assembly that Jamaica got absolutely wrecked by Hurricane Melissa earlier this year, with damages hitting $8.8 billion and wiping out half the country's primary forests. He said the island has been getting hammered by climate disasters lately, with two tropical storms, a Category 4 hurricane, record heat, extreme rain, and multiple brutal droughts all hitting in just four years.
The minister pushed delegates to make real moves at the meeting, saying small island nations are running out of time to deal with climate change, pollution, and biodiversity collapse.
Samuda told the assembly that Jamaica got absolutely wrecked by Hurricane Melissa earlier this year, with damages hitting $8.8 billion and wiping out half the country's primary forests. He said the island has been getting hammered by climate disasters lately, with two tropical storms, a Category 4 hurricane, record heat, extreme rain, and multiple brutal droughts all hitting in just four years.
The minister pushed delegates to make real moves at the meeting, saying small island nations are running out of time to deal with climate change, pollution, and biodiversity collapse.
