NAIROBI – In a landmark environmental diplomacy achievement, the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) has formally adopted the world’s first resolution addressing the escalating sargassum seaweed crisis. Spearheaded by the Dominican Republic with co-sponsorship from Barbados and Jamaica, the resolution titled “Strengthening the global response to massive sargassum influx” establishes the first international framework to combat the massive seaweed blooms devastating coastal regions across the Caribbean and West Africa.
The groundbreaking resolution officially recognizes the sargassum surge as a severe multidimensional threat, explicitly acknowledging its damaging impacts on marine ecosystems, tourism economies, fisheries, public health systems, and community livelihoods. The UNEA has mandated the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to produce a comprehensive global assessment report, organize high-level international meetings, and strengthen cooperative mechanisms among affected nations.
Claudia Taboada, lead negotiator for the Dominican Republic, characterized the resolution as the culmination of a persistent four-year campaign to elevate the issue onto the global stage. “While the final text does not encompass all our initial ambitions, it represents a decisive milestone – both our nation’s first resolution before UNEA and the planet’s first dedicated international instrument on sargassum,” Taboada stated.
The adoption establishes a critical foundation for coordinated action, though its practical effectiveness hinges on implementation. Affected governments must now develop monitoring systems, cleanup operations, and sustainable management protocols, while securing essential financing and technical expertise. The Dominican Republic’s diplomatic leadership has created an unprecedented platform for response, but tangible relief for vulnerable coastal communities will require sustained commitment and resource mobilization across international boundaries.