Environment and Sustainable Development Ministers of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in a special session of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Antigua and Barbuda, 30 April 2025.

The Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph, Minister of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, chaired the one-day meeting, which deliberated on regional environmental and natural resources governance, and sustainable ocean-based economic development.

As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) pursues the blue economy as a feature of its economic development strategy, it recognises that marine biodiversity conservation, restoration of ecosystems, and the reduction of plastic pollution, are critical to this effort.

Sir Molwyn Joseph, Chair of the 118th Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), delivered the keynote address at the opening of the meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, 29 April 2025. Sir Molwyn chaired in his capacity as Minister of Health, Wellness, the Environment and Civil Service Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda.

Please read his remarks below:

A regional policy framework on the environment, which CARICOM Ministers responsible for the Environment have approved, was launched on Tuesday, 29 April, in Antigua and Barbuda.

Government representatives, policy experts, and key stakeholders from across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met in Miami, Florida, last week to chart a coordinated approach to implementing the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). The BBNJ Agreement, which focuses on conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction, is regarded as a landmark treaty in advancing equitable global ocean governance.