COMMUNIQUÉ – 123rd Special Meeting of COTED – Environment and Sustainable Development

The One Hundred and Twenty-Third Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) – Environment and Sustainable Development was convened via videoconference on 30 January 2026. Under the chairmanship of the Honorable Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Solid Waste Management, Ministers addressed debriefed key international environmental negotiating processes from 2025 focused on climate change, global environmental governance, and the urgent international efforts to eliminate plastic pollution.

Climate Change: Reflections on COP30 and the Road to COP31

Ministers reviewed the outcomes of the Thirtieth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. While the adoption of the “Mutirão” decision and a package of 56 other decisions was noted, the Council expressed concern regarding the increasing evidence of an impending overshoot of the 1.5 degree temperature goal. To ensure a robust regional response for COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, the Council agreed to strengthen technical leads within CARICOM delegations to fill gaps in high-level priority areas. Furthermore, the Council called for greater alignment across the multilateral environmental and diplomatic agendas, including calling for a joint meeting between COTED – Environment and Sustainable Development and the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) to boost high level coordination.

Advancing Global Environmental Governance: UNEA-7 and UNEA-8

The Council celebrated the significant leadership roles assumed by CARICOM Member States during the Seventh Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi. Hon. Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change of Jamaica was warmly congratulated on its election as President of UNEA-8, while The Honourable Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment of St. Kitts and Nevis was recognised for her election as Vice President and Bureau Member. Ministers welcomed the adoption of resolutions critical to the Caribbean, particularly those calling for global support to the Sargassum seaweed crisis, climate resilience of coral reefs, and the environmental impacts of antimicrobial resistance. The Council reaffirmed the necessity of leveraging CARICOM as a unified bloc to counteract the erosion of established principles, such as “Polluter Pays” and “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities” and to continue to advocate for the special circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the deliberations. To sustain this momentum, the CARICOM Secretariat will continue providing technical support for the regional preparatory process leading to UNEA-8.

Ending Plastic Pollution: The International Legally Binding Treaty

Ministers emphasized that plastic pollution remains an existential threat to Caribbean health, tourism, and marine ecosystems, highlighting the alarming projection that global plastic waste could triple by 2060 if unchecked. The Council received an update on the ongoing negotiations for an International Legally Binding Instrument, noting that while consensus was not reached at the resumed INC-5.2 session, over 100 countries now support global phase-outs of problematic plastics and plastic-related chemicals. In preparation for resumed sessions, the Council continued regional coordination and committed to defending the special circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in managing a plastics crisis where the major producers and polluters resist committing support for clean-up and reduced production targets.

Multilateral Environmental Agenda 2026

The Council considered the calendar of multilateral environment engagements for 2026 with a view to enhancing coordination amongst Member States, sharing technical resources and ensuring CARICOM representation and priority engagements

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Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat

30 January 2026

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