KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda has called for urgent, coordinated global action to accelerate progress toward the sustainable development goals (SDGs), delivering the official message of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) at the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development on Wednesday.

Addressing the forum in New York, in his capacity as president of the UNEA, Samuda underscored that with only four years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda, environmental sustainability can no longer be viewed as a separate issue but must instead be recognised as the foundation upon which sustainable development depends.

“The environment cannot be treated as a peripheral concern,” Samuda told delegates. “It is the very foundation upon which sustainable development rests, and progress on water, energy, cities and industry depends on confronting the three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”