ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Dominica, seeking to become the first climate resilient country in the world, Wednesday urged developed countries that “continue to pollute the planet to take corrective action” to lessen the impact of climate change on small island developing states (SIDS).
Addressing a workshop exploring the findings and recommendations of the Climate, Ocean, Risk, and Vulnerability Index (CORVI) Rapid Assessment, the chief executive officer of the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD), Francine Baron, said the island has set the ambitious goal of becoming the first climate resilient nation in the world.
“This underpins a commitment, among other things, to preserving and conserving our natural resources. This requires us to assess our vulnerabilities and identify actions to make us more resilient”.
Baron said focusing on the vulnerability of the island’s coastline and coastal assets to sea level rise, sea surge, and currents would allow Dominica to take corrective action on reducing climate change impacts on the lives and livelihoods of citizens.
The CORVI Rapid Assessment was undertaken by the US-based nonpartisan policy research center, Stimson Center, and the London-based Commonwealth Blue Charter that helps Commonwealth countries work together on a fair, inclusive, and sustainable approach to ocean protection and economic development.
The project was undertaken in partnership with CREAD, and Baron told the opening ceremony that she was taking the opportunity of the presence of representatives from the two organizations “to let you know that Dominica has been playing its part towards building its resilience and protecting the environment.
“But there are several things that impact us (and) we have no control over, and we would like to encourage you to use your voice to tell our story of the impact that climate change has on Dominica and also to indicate how small states like ours dealing with those impacts and seeking to make ourselves more resilient.
“There is a greater responsibility on those who continue to pollute the planet to take corrective action to reduce their emissions and therefore the impact on the climate,” Baron said.
The invitation-only workshop brings key stakeholders with demonstrated critical impact and expertise to engage in substantive discussions regarding prioritizing investments in protecting coastal communities in Dominica.
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