Valéry Fils-Aimé, Haiti’s Minister of the Environment, participated in the 124th Special Meeting of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) in Georgetown, Guyana, which focused on the environment and sustainable development.

This high-level summit brought together environment ministers from the region, partner institutions, and international donors to discuss issues related to environmental governance, biodiversity, and climate change, in the lead-up to COP31.

During his address on March 26, 2026, Minister Valéry Fils-Aimé emphasized that, for Haiti, climate change is a daily reality that increases the vulnerability of the population. He reiterated that each climate shock represents a challenge to survival, directly impacting infrastructure, livelihoods, and community security.

In his speech, Valéry Fils-Aimé advocated for direct, simplified, and equitable access to climate finance, an essential condition for strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable countries. He also emphasized the need to develop concrete adaptation measures, including reforestation, sustainable management of natural resources, and investments in environmental infrastructure.

Underlining the importance of climate justice, he noted that countries like Haiti, which have low CO2 emissions, are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, and called for strengthened regional solidarity within CARICOM.

In summary, the Minister encouraged member states to mobilize for a genuine "survival agenda" focused on adaptation, climate finance, and climate justice, in order to present a strong collective voice at upcoming international negotiations.

HL/ HaitiLibre