Ministers of environment are in Santo Domingo for the 11th Iberoamerican Ministers of Environment Summit. The ministers understand more resources need to be available to combat climate change. 22 countries are participating.
Speaking at the opening of the event, Minister of Environment Miguel Ceara-Hatton urged that sustainable funding be available for actions to tackle adverse climate change. He called for more private participation. “Governments need to institute long-term funding, and policies, and guarantee transparency in the use of the funding,” stated Ceara-Hatton.
The regional coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean for the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), Gustavo Mañez said that the need for funding in the region is enormous. Nevertheless, he said that only 7% of the funds dedicated to respond to te pandemic in the region are aligned with criteria of sustainability. “We are losing the opportunity to recovery in a sustainable way,” he said. He explained that in developed countries, 20-30% of the funds follow sustainability criteria.
The meeting is taking place 18 to 19 July at the Hotel El Embajador and is part of the preparations for the 28th Iberoamerican Summit that will take place in the Dominican Republic in 2023.
The Dominican Republic is also hosting representatives of Latin American and Caribbean countries for discussions on solutions to the crisis of climate change with the Regional Climate Week (LACCW 2022) also taking place in Santo Domingo.
Max Puig, vice president for National Council for Climate Change said the event turns Santo Domingo into the “climate capital of Latin America and the Caribbean.” In addition to the meeting of Ministers of Environment, the Dominican Republic is hosting as of Monday, 18 July, the Regional Climate Week (LACCW 2022), a prelude to United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27) to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
The three themes that serve as the basis for the event are: resilience against climate risks; the transition to a low-emissions economy and alliances to solve the most urgent challenges. The organizers say participants will engage in 120 activities during these five days in the Embajador hotel facilities.
LACCW 2022 brings together regional stakeholders with the potential to shift the needle on the climate challenge. The event opens space for governments, private sector leaders, development organizations, youth and civil society to join solution-oriented dialogues, find common ground and forge partnerships for climate action. An Action Hub features inspiring examples of actions happening right now to avert the worst climate impacts and build resilient communities.
Read more in Spanish:
Ministry of Environment
Presidency
Iberoamerican Secretariat
UNFCCC
19 July 2022