Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, has voiced profound disappointment with the results of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), held in Belém, Brazil. Leading Jamaica’s delegation, Samuda criticized the conference for failing to address the escalating global climate crisis with the urgency it demands. Speaking at a virtual press conference titled ‘Islands, the climate finance gap, and COP30 reflections,’ Samuda highlighted the severe impact of Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica on October 28, as a stark reminder of the devastation caused by extreme weather events. He emphasized that the lack of commitment from major global carbon-emitting nations has exacerbated the challenges faced by vulnerable countries like Jamaica. Samuda pointed out that Jamaica has endured record-breaking heatwaves, droughts, and storms in recent years, underscoring the tangible effects of climate change. While he acknowledged some positive developments at COP30, such as the progress on the Loss and Damage Fund and Brazil’s Tropical Forest Forever initiative, Samuda stressed that these efforts fall short of the transformative action needed. He expressed hope that Jamaica would receive targeted funding to rebuild with greater resilience, but reiterated that the global community must take the plight of small island nations more seriously.