Professor Dale Webber, Chairman, Climate Change Advisory Board of Jamaica and Director, Centre for Marine Sciences in the Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies Mona attended the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York as advisor to Jamaica’s delegation and representative of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly marks a crucial milestone in the global effort to accelerate progress towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 'Summit of the Future', held during UNGA, underscores the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation to address pressing challenges such as climate change, poverty and inequality, while also tackling the impacts of ongoing conflicts and global health crises. 

Meetings attended at UNGA and Climate Week by Professor Webber as a member of the Jamaican Delegation:

• Saturday September 21, 2024: Summit of the Future: Action Days Opening Ceremony and Day 1 
• Sunday September 22, 2024: Summit of the Future Day 2 - Transforming global governance and turbocharging the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. 
• Monday September 23, 2024: High Level Ocean of the Future Meeting | Breaking Silos: Uniting Policy, Finance, and Action for Mangroves | The Return on Ocean Investment Roundtable | Ocean Evening Reception.
• Tuesday September 24, 2024: High Ambition for the High Seas: Accelerating Political Momentum for Ratification and Implementation of the High Seas Treaty | Side Event on “Governing Marine Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction: Accelerating Ratification and Exploring Opportunities for stakeholders investments” | Jamaica Signs BBNJ  - Pinned HMFAFT with High Seas Treaty insignia | Preparatory Meeting for the Annual Ocean Panels Meeting | CHAMP High-Level Political Dialogue: Delivering Climate Action through National-Subnational Collaboration | The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition to a discussion and Reception ‘Honouring the Past, Shaping the Future’.
• Wednesday September 25, 2024: Ocean Panel Annual Leaders Meeting 2024 | Ministerial Consultation Meeting on Plastic Pollution Treaty - Spoke | UNGA High-level plenary meeting on Addressing the existential threats posed by sea-level rise | The Annual Ocean Retreat -Spoke | Shaping the future of Energy: A Conversation with Industry Leaders | Side Event by the Maldives re: Renewable Energy Transition for Resilient SIDS.
• Thursday September 26, 2024: Leaders’ Dialogues: Global Partnership for Doubling Down on Climate Adaptation Action | Side Event “ Road to Riyadh” to raise awareness of the importance of land for food & water security, biodiversity & adaptation to climate change + the major challenges resulting from land degradation & drought & their environmental action | Blue Planet Alliance Fellowship “Island Partnership Dinner.
• Friday September 27, 2024: Informal Ministerial Dialogue on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance | Bilateral Meeting with the Honourable Ralph Regenvanu, Special Envoy for Climate Change for Vanuatu and Mr. Arnold Kiel Loughman, Attorney General of Vanuatu | Delivery of Jamaica’s national policy statement to the UNGA Plenary.  
• Saturday September 28, 2024: Invitation to Working Lunch with the Foreign Minister of Germany on the repercussions of Climate change in the Caribbean. 

Photo caption: From left to right standing, Professor Dale Webber (Chairman, Climate Change Advisory Board of Jamaica), Ambassador Brian Wallace (Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the UN), Ambassador Angela Comfort and David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section, Office of Legal Affairs, United Nations observe Kamina Johnson-Smith HMFAFT (seated) conducting Jamaica’s signing of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty at the United Nations General Assembly September 24, 2024.

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