UN Climate Change News, 7 July 2026 - When Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica in October 2025, the damage was staggering. The storm caused an estimated US$8.8 billion in economic losses, around 41 per cent of the country's 2024 GDP.
But as Jamaica assessed the impact, another figure stood out. The estimated cost of implementing the country's planned adaptation measures was roughly comparable to the losses caused by that single hurricane.
For those involved in Jamaica's climate planning efforts, the comparison reinforced a clear message: investing in resilience before disaster strikes can cost far less than rebuilding afterwards.
That lesson is now shaping the country's long-term climate action. Jamaica is advancing its 2050 Long-Term Emission Reduction and Climate-Resilient Strategy (LTS), which sets out a pathway to reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and support sustainable national development over the coming decades.
"Jamaica's Long-Term Strategy provides a framework for aligning climate resilience, emissions reduction and national development priorities. It helps ensure that the actions we take today support a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come," said Omar Alcock, Acting Principal Director, Climate Change Branch, Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change.
The strategy was developed through a broad consultative process involving government institutions, academia, civil society, development partners and the private sector. Consultations across the country helped identify priorities, refine technical analysis and ensure that the strategy reflected both Jamaica's long-term ambitions and the realities faced by communities and key economic sectors.
"We don't think about climate action in Jamaica as something that happens in silos. We take a whole-of-economy, whole-of-society approach, bringing together different voices to help shape the country's future," said Taneque Heslop, Jamaica NDC Partnership In-Country Facilitator.
Regional and international cooperation also played an important role. Through support provided under the NDC Partnership's Climate Action Enhancement Package and other initiatives, Jamaica gained access to technical expertise and analytical support. The Regional Collaboration Centre Caribbean helped connect national institutions with regional and international partners, facilitate knowledge exchange and support the country's transition from strategy development to implementation.
Today, the focus is on turning long-term plans into practical action. Jamaica is advancing an operationalization plan, conducting economic assessments and developing investment plans to help translate its climate goals into concrete measures. These efforts are helping demonstrate that investments in resilience and low-emission development can generate long-term economic benefits while reducing the costs associated with future climate impacts.
Jamaica's experience offers valuable lessons for countries across the Caribbean and beyond. By investing in resilience, strengthening partnerships and planning for the long term, the country is showing how climate ambition can be transformed into practical climate action. Through its continued support to countries across the region, RCC Caribbean is helping turn long-term climate strategies into implementation that delivers lasting benefits for people, economies and ecosystems.
Learn more about Jamaica's Long-Term Strategy and the country's path towards a more climate-resilient future by reading the full case study.
