UWI mourns passing of Professor John Agard, leading Caribbean climate scientist
Key Points(5)
- The University of the West Indies (UWI) has joined the international academic and environmental community in mourning the death of Emeritus Professor John Agard, a pioneering Caribbean scientist and environmental policy advocate who died on Friday at the age of 71.
- UWI officials described Agard as a “giant in the intellectual world,” highlighting his decades-long contribution to environmental science, climate change research, and sustainable development across the Caribbean and beyond.
- “He was a brilliant, innovative, enterprising person who gave so much to The UWI, his community and beyond,” said Pro Vice-Chancellor and St Augustine Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine.
- She noted his lifelong commitment to mentorship and knowledge-sharing.
- A professor of Tropical Island Ecology, Agard was widely recognised for his work on sustainability science, biodiversity conservation, pollution management, and climate change adaptation, with a strong focus on small island developing states.
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has joined the international academic and environmental community in mourning the death of Emeritus Professor John Agard, a pioneering Caribbean scientist and environmental policy advocate who died on Friday at the age of 71.
UWI officials described Agard as a “giant in the intellectual world,” highlighting his decades-long contribution to environmental science, climate change research, and sustainable development across the Caribbean and beyond.
“He was a brilliant, innovative, enterprising person who gave so much to The UWI, his community and beyond,” said Pro Vice-Chancellor and St Augustine Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine. She noted his lifelong commitment to mentorship and knowledge-sharing.
A professor of Tropical Island Ecology, Agard was widely recognised for his work on sustainability science, biodiversity conservation, pollution management, and climate change adaptation, with a strong focus on small island developing states.
He played a key role in shaping environmental governance in Trinidad and Tobago, contributing to landmark legislation including the Certificate of Environmental Clearance Rules (2001), the Noise Pollution Rules (2001), and the Water Pollution Rules (2001). He also helped advance the designation of protected areas such as the Matura Natural Park, Nariva Swamp Managed Resource Protected Area, and the Aripo Savannahs Strict Scientific Reserve.
Agard held several senior academic and advisory roles, including Head of the Department of Life Sciences at UWI’s St Augustine Campus and Director of the Office of Research, Development and Knowledge Transfer. He was conferred emeritus status by UWI in 2023.
Internationally, he served as a lead author on major global scientific assessments, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. He also contributed to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the UNEP Global Environmental Outlook, and was involved in biodiversity-focused work with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Agard also worked closely with regional organisations, including CARICOM, and served multiple terms as Chairman of Trinidad and Tobago’s Environmental Management Authority, where he helped shape national environmental policy frameworks.
Colleagues remembered him as a relentless advocate for environmental protection, often noting his personal commitment to his work. In a previous interview, he said he “doesn’t sleep in pursuit of his crusade” to protect the planet.
“My passion is to make the world a better place,” he once said. “To make my country a better place. To make my region a better place.”
