Basseterre, Saint Kitts, October 31, 2025 (SKNIS) – The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis has taken a major step forward in its journey toward sustainable development with the passage of the National Conservation and Environmental Management Act (NCEMA).
The new legislation, introduced by the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action, Honourable Dr. Joyelle Clarke, replaces the National Conservation and Environment Protection Act (NCEPA) of 1987. It establishes a modern, science-based framework for environmental conservation and sustainable growth, aligning directly with the government’s Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The passage of this Act is a tremendous leap forward in our Federation’s strategy toward holistic sustainability and the successful implementation of our National Development Planning Framework,” said Minister Clarke. “For 38 years, our environmental legislation remained unchanged. The NCEMA finally bridges that gap—modernising our policies, integrating climate resilience, and ensuring that our environment is managed in a way that benefits our people and future generations.”
The NCEMA strengthens Saint Kitts and Nevis’ capacity to conserve biodiversity, protect coastal and marine environments, manage pollution, and safeguard both natural and cultural heritage. It advances national progress toward several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water), by integrating climate resilience into the management of protected areas and coastal zones. It also supports SDG 15 (Life on Land) through the protection of forests, watersheds, and terrestrial ecosystems, and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by securing freshwater resources through the preservation of watersheds and wetlands.
In addition, the NCEMA contributes to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by providing a modern framework for the preservation of heritage and cultural sites for future generations, and to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by establishing a strong pollution control regime that holds polluters accountable and promotes responsible environmental management.
“The old 1987 Act is a relic of a different time,” Minister Clarke noted. “This new Bill is the legal engine that will drive SISA forward—modern, science-based, and rooted in the principles of intergenerational equity.”
Minister Clarke emphasised that the NCEMA also represents a cultural shift in how Kittitians and Nevisians value their environment.
“No longer should we perceive our natural environment – the elements that literally surround us, nourish us, sustain us, house us, secure us, enrich us – as a separate or isolated entity because the language and spirit of NCEMA makes it clear that everything is interconnected,” Dr. Clarke said. “This is the energy behind our vision and our intended trajectory for our nation’s environment.”
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis reaffirms its unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and the creation of a resilient island state. The passage of the NCEMA reflects the Federation’s leadership in the Caribbean and its determination to meet the challenges of climate change through innovation, inclusion, and responsible governance.
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