Samuda to address UN forum on sustainable development in New York

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda departed Jamaica on Sunday, July 12, to participate in the 2026 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York.

The HLPF, convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), held under the theme, “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all”, will be held from July 7 to 15, 2026.

The forum brings together world leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to review progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Samuda will deliver an address in his capacity as president of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-8) during the ministerial segment of the forum, scheduled from July 13 to 15.

Samuda is expected to convey UNEA’s key messages and highlight its contributions to the deliberations of the HLPF, underscoring the assembly’s central role in advancing sustainable development.

While in New York, Samuda is also scheduled to engage in bilateral meetings with fellow ministers and UN officials to advance cooperation on water security, climate resilience and environmental protection.

Jamaica is among 36 countries scheduled to present its Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the 2026 HLPF, demonstrating the country’s commitment to transparent reporting on progress toward the SDGs.

The VNR process provides an opportunity for Jamaica to showcase its achievements, share lessons learned and identify challenges in implementing the 2030 agenda.