Montego Bay mayor Richard Vernon joins Coastal Cities Coalition steering group

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Mayor Richard Vernon of Montego Bay has accepted a place on the Coastal Cities Coalition (3C) Steering Group and is already weighing how the body’s initiatives can deliver stronger results on the ground.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer on Monday, Vernon said he intends to focus on shoreline erosion and flood risks that endanger jobs, public assets, and the city’s economic base. He also highlighted community resilience, greater public understanding of ocean issues, and inclusive governance so residents help shape adaptation plans.

His selection to the 3C steering group comes after he took part in the 2026 Berlin Climate Mobility Forum on June 18 and 19, with further follow-up work arising from that engagement.

Vernon said he will also pursue easier access to funding for fast-moving adaptation measures, allowing neighbourhoods to respond swiftly when climate shocks strike. Building the skills of people engaged in resilience work remains another priority.

“[Addressing] knowledge gaps, ensuring that scientific data is translated into practical tools for local decision-making is important,” he said.

Vernon is the first Jamaican mayor appointed to the steering group, which was formed in 2025. In the post, he will speak for Jamaica and the Caribbean as part of the Inter-American region.

The coalition helps coastal cities and regions confront linked pressures such as erosion and inundation, severe weather, harm to ecosystems, water stress, soil salinisation, and wider environmental threats to sustainable growth. The steering group sets strategic direction, oversees the coalition’s programme, and drives partnerships, fundraising, and advocacy. As a cross-regional forum, it is tasked with rallying global backing for the shared priorities of coastal communities worldwide.

“The feeling is one of hope, but also deep responsibility to represent Montego Bay, Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean,” Vernon said. “It affirms that our struggles and solutions are recognised globally, and it motivates me to ensure that our leadership contributes meaningfully to the coalition’s mission,” he added.

The mayor said the role should yield clear gains for Montego Bay. “My expectation is to ensure that Montego Bay’s voice, and by extension Jamaica’s, is heard in shaping global strategies for coastal resilience. I anticipate building partnerships that translate into tangible support for our communities: financing for adaptation, knowledge-sharing platforms, and capacity-building that empowers local leadership,” he explained. “It positions us as beneficiaries of international support and contributors of local knowledge and innovation,” he added.

Vernon also committed to pressing the case for the broader Caribbean. “It means representation in a coalition where small island and coastal states can influence global policy, secure resources, and highlight the unique vulnerabilities of our region,” he said.