Faced with the effects of global warming, the Dominican Republic is increasingly vulnerable to extreme natural phenomena such as hurricanes, floods and droughts. In this context, it is essential to discuss and implement a plan to counter these challenges in the coming years.

Under this premise, the forum “Climate emergency: immediate action for a more sustainable Dominican Republic” was organized by the Santo Domingo Institute of Technology (INTEC) and ACCIONA, a leading company in the development and management of resilient infrastructure and renewable energy solutions. The panel was held at the Observatory of Social Security Hall (OSES) on the INTEC campus and focused on the conclusions of the recent United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP29), and how to translate them into strategies applicable to the Dominican reality.

“Accelerating the just energy transition and developing sustainable infrastructure is key to mitigating the effects of climate change. This requires new projects to renew and adapt the construction sector to this reality. Climate infrastructure, such as that related to energy, transport and the circular economy, represents an opportunity to move towards decarbonization through public-private partnerships,” said Angel Llorente, business development manager for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean in ACCIONA’s Infrastructure division 

For his part, the Rector of INTEC, Julio Sánchez Mariñez, stressed the urgency of addressing the climate risks facing the country. “Although the Dominican Republic, is responsible for a small proportion of carbon emissions, it faces a disproportionate impact due to its geographical vulnerability. Investing in sustainable and resilient infrastructure will not only help reduce this risk, but will also drive significant social and economic progress”.

Lucy Peralta, business development manager for Mexico and Central America at ACCIONA Energy, said that although the country’s contribution to carbon emissions is small, institutions such as the World Bank stress the urgency of promoting more sustainable development to prevent economic damage, combat deforestation and promote social progress. In addition, according to the World Bank, achieving 70% of the UN Sustainable Development Goals requires significant investment in various types of infrastructure.

During the debate, participants discussed scientific solutions in areas such as decarbonization, water management and the circular economy. They also discussed reforms and investment strategies needed to build resilient infrastructure to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in the country.

The event concluded with the participation of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Paíno Henríquez, who addressed the issue of sustainable land management and the importance of combating desertification in the most vulnerable regions of the country.

Among the issues discussed was the need to adopt comprehensive approaches to mitigate the effects of global warming, promote long-term sustainability and ensure a more secure future for future generations.