Haiti - Environment : «When Haiti acts on climate challenges, it builds a safer future»
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, as part of the preparation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and the Third National Communication, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Haiti), with financial support from the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AECID Haiti), supported the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) in organizing a national workshop aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, defining an operational governance framework, and identifying priority regulatory adjustments for more effective implementation of the NDC.
The workshop was launched by Economist Hugo Coles, Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of the General Directorate of the MOE, in the presence of representatives of public institutions, civil society organizations, and technical partners. In his speech, he emphasized, "When Haiti acts to address climate challenges, it doesn't just react : it builds a safer and more just future for all," recalling that the NDC is not just a text but a compass that guides our climate resilience toward sustainable development.
Consultants Vovener de Verlin and Raoul Vital put the political and sectoral challenges of the NDC into perspective. They emphasized the importance of the Paris Agreement and its update cycles, as well as Haiti's particular vulnerability in key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and coastal areas. They recommended strengthening the legal framework, integrating seismic and climate standards into the building code, and implementing risk zoning.
This workshop highlighted that, although Haiti is not a major emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG), it is among the countries most exposed to the impacts of climate change (hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, sea level rise). Participants unanimously urged institutions to develop greater synergy to make the NDC a decisive tool for climate governance and national resilience.
