Professor Dale Webber apppointed special envoy for climate change, blue economy

By Halshane Burke    

 

Professor Dale Webber has been appointed as the country's first special envoy for Climate Change, Environment, Ocean, and Blue Economy.

 

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, says Professor Webber will serve as an Ambassador in this capacity, reporting directly to the Prime Minister while working closely with the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the Foreign Ministry.  

 

Minister Samuda says the appointment speaks to the critical need for Jamaica to enhance its representation in international negotiations and agreements. 

 

"The need for this role has arisen from the significant demands being placed on all nations in the multilateral arena to participate in fora that focus on climate change, environment and ocean arrangements, as well as a stock taking and evaluating of the implementation of existing agreements, treaties and numerous technical negotiations," he told the House of Representatives on Tuesday. 

 

"In many ways this portfolio is not simply a local one. It dominates much of the multilateral bandwidth as the issues of climate change and environmental degradation are the defining challenges of our generation. It means that for Jamaica to maintain its powerful voice in these spaces, we must increase our capacity to contribute significantly," Minister Samuda added. 

 

Professor Webber is a former principal of the University of the West Indies, Mona with expertise in coastal and environmental management.