John Agard is a Professor of Tropical Island Ecology in the Department of Life Sciences at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.  He received a B.Sc. with Honours in Chemistry and Zoology at The University of West Indies and a M.Sc. with Distinction in Pollution and Environmental Control at the University of Manchester, UK.  He is the holder of a Ph.D. in Zoology at The University of West Indies, St. Augustine Campus.  Professor John Agard is the joint recipient of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize 2007 that was awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for achievements to create and stimulate greater knowledge on climate change to humankind.  He has received numerous awards including the distinguished The University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research and Public Service and the Zayed International Prize for the Environment.

He served as Chairman of the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) from 1997 to 2008 where he was instrumental in developing the National Environmental Policy 1998 and contributed significantly to this revised policy in 2007.  His contributions at the EMA also encompass development of the Environmentally Sensitive Areas Rules of 2001, the Water Pollution Rules of 2001 and the Certificate of Environmental Clearance Rules 2001, to name a few.    Professor Agard has authored and co-authored numerous publications of which the more prominent include the “Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change” for which he jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize 2007.  He contributed significantly to the comprehensive publication entitled, “Ecosystems and Human Well-being”, which was published by UNEP in 2005 and was the coordinating lead author of the 2010 publication entitled, “Latin America and Caribbean Environment Outlook” which was published by UNEP.  While his research interests are in the subject disciplines of marine biodiversity and related ecological issues his current studies/interests are focused in seeking solutions to reduce climate change in the region.  Professor John Agard is a doting husband and father of three children.  Professor Agard continues to advise public bodies across the region on the Blue Economy.