UWI mourns death of Emeritus Professor John Agard

The University of the West Indies (UWI) and the international community are mourning the loss of Emeritus Professor John Agard, a towering figure in environmental science who passed away at the age of 71.

Professor Agard was celebrated for his decades of work in environmental science, with significant contributions to sustainable development and climate change research, especially concerning small island nations. Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal at the St Augustine Campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, described him as "a brilliant, innovative, enterprising person who gave so much to The UWI, his community and beyond. A giant in the intellectual world... he was committed to sharing his knowledge and worked just as tirelessly as a mentor."

His influence extended to policy and lawmaking in Trinidad and Tobago. Agard was instrumental in the creation of legislation such as the Certificate of Environmental Clearance Rules 2001, the Noise Pollution Rules 2001, and the Water Pollution Rules 2001. He also played a crucial role in designating protected areas, including Matura Natural Park, Nariva Swamp, and Aripo Savannahs.

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He was a brilliant, innovative, enterprising person who gave so much to The UWI, his community and beyond. A giant in the intellectual world, especially in relation to the environment and climate change sciences, he was committed to sharing his knowledge and worked just as tirelessly as a mentor.

Globally, Agard was recognized for his leadership in major scientific publications. He served as a lead author for the Small Islands Chapter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report, a work that contributed to the IPCC sharing the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He also authored chapters for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the UNEP Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-4).

Agard's commitment to environmental protection was profound. He co-led the Caribbean Sea Assessment (CARSEA) and chaired the Environmental Management Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, helping to establish the nation’s National Environmental Policy. He was conferred the title of professor emeritus by UWI in 2023. An interviewer once noted that he "doesn’t sleep in pursuit of his crusade" for the environment.

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doesn’t sleep in pursuit of his crusade