Prime Minister Andrew Holness outlined the impact of Hurricane Melissa, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic on Jamaica, during his address at the G20 (Group of Twenty) Summit, while urging climate action to reduce disaster risk.

Holness said while the full economic toll will take months to finalise, early estimates already show catastrophic losses.

“For Jamaica, and for small island developing states across CARICOM, the climate crisis is not abstract. It is an immediate and existential threat. A single climate event can erase decades of development and destabilise public finances overnight,” the prime minister said.

He said disaster risk reduction is therefore not optional, but is central to the national survival of the island.

“Jamaica is determined to rebuild stronger and more resilient. We have activated our disaster-risk financing framework to support immediate response and recovery. But the scale of devastation exceeds what small economies can manage alone.

“I extend sincere appreciation to our international partners whose support has been critical. The unprecedented strength of Hurricane Melissa, following recent storms such as Hurricane Beryl, underscores the urgency of global action. The world must adhere to the 1.5-degree target. Failure to act will guarantee more frequent and more destructive storms for countries like ours,” Holness added.

He emphasised that resilience must guide the nation, through investing in resilient infrastructure, diversified energy systems, and preparedness, stressing that it is simply sound economics.

“We call on G20 members to provide climate finance at the scale and concessionality required to rebuild, expand risk-transfer mechanisms, and strengthen agricultural systems that sustain livelihoods. Jamaica is committed to a just energy transition and to achieving at least 50% renewable electricity by 2030.

“But achieving these goals demands partnership, technology, financing, and capacity-building from major economies. Let us build the partnerships necessary to strengthen resilience and accelerate the transition to clean energy for the benefit of present and future generations,” Holness continued.