NEPA Marks 25 Years With Green Recovery Lecture On Climate Resilience

The National Environment and Planning Agency marked its 25th anniversary on World Environment Day with a distinguished lecture focused on greener disaster recovery and stronger climate resilience for Jamaica. The event, held during National Environmental Awareness Week 2026, was staged under the theme, “Recover stronger, recover greener: integrating ecosystem solutions in post-disaster planning.”

Speakers framed the discussion around the damage caused by recent hurricanes, including Melissa, and the need to rebuild in ways that reduce future risk rather than simply replace what was lost. NEPA’s work over the past quarter-century was highlighted across environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, sustainable land-use planning, watershed management, coastal protection and climate resilience.

Christopher Whyms-Stone, chairman of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority and the Town and Country Planning Authority, said Jamaica must treat healthy watersheds, mangroves, coral reefs and forests as critical infrastructure. He pointed to the Hope-Yallahs watershed’s importance to the Kingston metropolitan area and warned that development in the hills can worsen risks downstream and along the coast.

Audley Gordon, executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, said Jamaica’s disaster vulnerability is worsened by poor waste habits. He linked blocked drains and flooded communities to plastic bottles, food boxes and other improperly discarded garbage, and outlined Operation CALM, a hurricane-season initiative aimed at clearing waste from flood-prone communities, advising residents, working through local leaders and maintaining a presence in vulnerable areas.

Andre McLaren, representing the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, said Jamaica’s recovery from hurricanes Beryl and Melissa must strengthen communities, protect ecosystems and lower future exposure to floods, droughts, coastal erosion and storm surge.

NEPA also launched its Junior CEO of the Day programme, a youth initiative conceptualised by CEO Leonard Francis. Students will submit three-minute videos on sustainable development, with the winner serving symbolically as junior CEO and shadowing senior NEPA executives. The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information endorsed the programme.

The distinguished lecturer, UNDP resident representative Dr Kishan Kaday, said small island developing states remain on the front line of climate impacts despite contributing little to global emissions. He said Hurricane Melissa caused severe losses across communities, infrastructure and ecosystems, and urged Jamaica to use recovery planning to restore forests, mangroves, coral reefs, coastlines and watersheds while supporting livelihoods and reducing poverty risks.