Saint Kitts and Nevis Advances Global Consensus at World’s Highest Deliberative Environmental Body

Nairobi, Kenya – In Nairobi, Kenya, considered by many to be the environmental capital of the world, the 7th United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA7) is underway, bringing together global leaders and environmental stakeholders under the theme “Advancing Sustainable Solutions for a Resilient Planet”.

The Assembly, the world’s highest deliberative body on environmental matters, kicked off deliberations with the establishment of a Committee of the Whole (CoW) where the Hon. Dr Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, was endorsed and selected as Chair of the Committee. The Minister is charged with guiding member states toward consensus and formal adoption – an especially essential imperative as the world continues to wrestle with the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

The Committee of the Whole is the primary negotiating engine of UNEA, functioning as a crucial working body established to manage and finalize negotiations on essential resolutions and decisions before their Adoption.

Saint Kitts and Nevis’ selection as Chair is a clear demonstration of not only the level of trust that the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) reposes in the Federation’s environmental governance leadership, but indeed also the capacity of small island developing states to engender action and move the needle of international commitment forward when placed at the helm.

Dr. Clarke’s Chairmanship is expected to usher in the adoption of key resolutions targeting global environmental crises that have direct impact on the everyday lives of Kittitians and Nevisians. One such matter is the sargassum crisis which has been afflicting coastal communities across the Federation and affecting the productivity of key earning sectors such as Tourism and Fisheries.

Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Inger Anderson, put the strategic importance of UNEA7 into perspective by underlining that, “recent UNEP data show emissions continue to rise as the impacts of global environment and climate challenges are accelerating and growing ever more extreme. We see it in record heatwaves, disappearing ecosystems, and toxins in our air, water and soil. These are global threats that demand global solutions”.

Minister Clarke signalled that “the chairmanship of the Committee of the Whole is not just a procedural post; it is a ringing endorsement of the leadership of small island states like St. Kitts and Nevis to push global action toward environmental equity and justice.” She further added, “any opportunity for St. Kitts and Nevis to lead globally is a win for Kittitians and Nevisians.”

Dr. Clarke is also GRULAC’s candidate to sit on the Bureau of the 8th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly which will gavel the new Bureau at the end of the week.