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The UWI congratulates new UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Grenada’s Senator Simon Stiell

For Release Upon Receipt - August 24, 2022

UWI


The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica W.I. Wednesday, August 24, 2022— The University of the West Indies (The UWI) congratulates Grenada’s Senator Simon Stiell on his new role as Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat. 

His appointment was announced by UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on August 15. He is said to have described Senator Stiell as “a true champion” of creative approaches to tackling the global climate crisis. 

The new climate chief has been among a handful of prominent figures from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) lobbying rich countries to step up their efforts to combat climate change and help those around the world who are most vulnerable. 

Given the urgent climate action needs of the region, The UWI is particularly proud and pleased to have this level of representation here in the Caribbean to continue advancing efforts to limit global warming to 1.5° and preserve the lives and livelihoods of Caribbean people. 

Executive Director of The UWI’s recently established Global Institute for Climate-Smart and Resilient Development Professor John Agard noted “Caribbean islands are in the front line with regard to climate change effects from hurricanes and tropical storms which cause impacts on human health, agriculture and the destruction of infrastructure. The Institute welcomes this opportunity to collaborate with the new UN Climate Change Executive Secretary who is from the Caribbean.” 

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About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.

The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

For more, visit www.uwi.edu. 

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