ROSEAU, DOMINICA – 31 JANUARY 2025, As part of efforts to enhance the relevance of Dominica’s climate action strategies, the Government of Dominica through the Ministry of the Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment in collaboration with the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) gathered several Key Stakeholders, to provide input on the nature isle’s Biennial Update Report (BUR1) and Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1).
On Tuesday 21st January 2024- Stakeholders participated in the exercise, sharing their perspectives on the current climate challenges, key climate change impacts, as well as recommended methods and practices for adaptation. The biennial transparency report (BTR1) is one of the main reporting instruments under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), mandated for all countries that have signed under the Paris Agreement enabling them to report on progress towards all substantive aspects of the Agreement.
“Caribbean Small Island Developing states feel the brunt of climate change; so, this exercise is important for us, helping us to chart a way forward to deal with the issues and impacts of climate change,” explained Sofia Anslem- Laroque- National Ozone Officer.
While collaborative effort aims to ensure that the reports reflect the latest climate impacts, adaptation needs, and mitigation actions, aligning to Dominica’s national priorities and international climate commitments, there lies the need for more access to data. Gary Augiste- representative of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (Dominica) and General Secretary of the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network Regional Committe said the discussion with stakeholders, identified “Three important conclusions- the need to collect data, need for finance and capacity building as youth remain important parts of completing these activities.”
“The business unit requires data for projects, so it makes it difficult for us to sell the prospective business that would require finance. We hope that that considerations that policies can be implemented to ensure that information from the central statistical office to be accessible to other organisations like ours,” posited Ronald Jno Baptiste, Business Development Officer of the NCCU, as he echoed the sentiments of Augiste.
This activity led by the Partnership Initiaitive for Sustainable Land Management (Dominica), with support from the Government of Dominica, funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implementation support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); aims to gather diverse perspectives on the country’s climate challenges, identify key climate change impacts across sectors, and better understand the adaptation needs of vulnerable communities. Additionally, there is a focus on integrating gender considerations into climate action planning and ensuring that both current and future mitigation actions are refined for maximum effectiveness.
Lead Consultant Martina Duncan confirmed that the consultation would aim to improve the quality and relevance of Dominica’s BUR and BTR. “It was a particularly good session to gather information with the stakeholders, hearing their needs, challenges, and recommendations for improving the process, provided positive feedback overall.”
PISLM and the Government of Dominica thanks all stakeholders that utilized this critical opportunity to come together and ensure that our climate action strategies are robust, inclusive, and aligned with our national and global goals. By incorporating diverse voices and insights, PISLM is hopeful that, Dominica’s response to climate change is both comprehensive and effective.
The final BUR and BTR will serve as key tools in tracking Dominica’s progress on climate adaptation and mitigation and will contribute to the country’s ongoing commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience, as the country aims to become the first Climate Resilience Nation.
About the Strengthening Resilience Of Agricultural Lands And Forests In Dominica In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Maria
The Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) is an independent inter-governmental organization dedicated to supporting Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in their participation in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Since its inception, PISLM has been crucial in executing various Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects aimed at sustainable land management. The PISLM is currently executing two medium size projects in the Commonwealth of Dominica entitled ‘Sustainable Land Management in the Commonwealth of Dominica’ and ‘Strengthening resilience of agricultural lands and forests in Dominica in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria’ which began in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
