Environment Minister Orlando Jorge Mera represented the Dominican Republic in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) being held in Glasgow, Scotland through 12 November 2021. On behalf of the Dominican government, the Minister signed the declaration “Action on Forests and Land Use” that was endorsed by more than 100 world leaders gathered at the event. The objective is to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
The initiative seeks to protect biodiversity through the conservation of forests and soils by restoring more than 13 million square miles of forests by 2030. To achieve these objectives, more than US$19 billion in public and private funds will be allocated to the countries that are party to the declaration.
Also attending the conference, the vice-president of the National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism (CNCCMDL), Max Puig, declared that the Dominican Republic is demanding at COP26 that the G20 countries move from words to deeds and fulfill their promises to provide resources to confront climate change and its negative consequences.
In an interview for Listin Diario, Puig said climate change is felt more in small island countries such as the Dominican Republic. He said the situation worsens every year, so that if the promises do not become reality, a critical situation is being worsened. He explained this is why the country is working hand in hand with an association called the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) to make common cause with the other islands, as these are the most affected by climate change.
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Ministry of Environment
3 November 2021