Photo caption: Professor Dale Webber (2nd left) and the Honourable Minister Matthew Samuda (3rd left) in attendance at Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya

Professor Dale Webber, Jamaica’s first Special Envoy and Ambassador for Climate Change, Environment, Ocean, and the Blue Economy, has continued to elevate Jamaica’s voice in key international forums that shape global environmental policy and action. Appointed in January 2025 to this pioneering diplomatic and advocacy role, reporting directly to the Prime Minister and working closely with the Ministries of Economic Growth and Job Creation and Foreign Affairs, Webber brings decades of academic and practical experience to the complex challenges of the climate and environmental emergency.

From 5 to 7 December 2025, Professor Webber represented the Jamaican Prime Minister at the 43rd Sherpa Meeting of the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, hosted by the Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi. The Sherpa meeting brought together senior representatives from member countries to explore how the Ocean Panel can enhance global ocean observation systems and deepen collaboration among science networks, panel members, and multilateral partners, crucial steps to safeguard the health of the world’s oceans. The panel’s work is central to advancing sustainable policies that balance environmental stewardship with economic opportunity across coastal and ocean-linked sectors.

Immediately following this, Webber was part of the three-person Jamaican delegation led by the Honourable Minister Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment, Climate Change, and the Blue & Green Economies — to the Seventh Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya, held from 8 to 12 December 2025. Under the theme “Advancing Solutions for a Resilient Planet,” the assembly convened global leaders to address the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and to chart practical pathways toward sustainable development. Jamaica’s contributions at UNEA-7, including support for resolutions on strengthened UNEP leadership and enhanced environmental resilience, reflected the urgency faced by Small Island Developing States and nations on the climate frontlines.

Professor Webber’s participation in these strategic engagements highlights the importance of sustained high-level representation for Jamaica in global climate and environmental diplomacy. 

As Ambassador for climate, environment, ocean, and the blue economy, Webber continues to build on his lifelong commitment to environmental stewardship, helping to position Jamaica as an active and influential voice in the collective effort to build a sustainable and resilient future for all.