(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 20. The Dominican
Republic reiterates its firm commitment to the Paris Agreement and
the urgent need for collective action in response to the global
climate crisis, said Ana Emilia Pimentel Rodríguez, Vice Minister
of Climate Change and Sustainability, as she addressed the COP29
summit in Baku, Trend reports.
"In the past three years, the Dominican Republic has faced
devastating storms, massive flooding, and extreme periods of
drought, with serious economic and social consequences," Pimentel
Rodríguez stated. She highlighted the direct impacts of climate
change on the country, which has seen its crops reduced,
communities destabilized, and development opportunities severely
limited.
She also drew attention to the challenge posed by sargassum, a
type of seaweed, which affects the Dominican Republic's coastal
areas, directly impacting the tourism industry. "Beach pollution
from sargassum has resulted in millions of dollars in losses,
threatening the stability of a key industry for our economy," she
said. The growing costs of collecting sargassum are further
straining local resources.
Despite these challenges, Pimentel Rodríguez called for greater
international efforts to address the climate crisis. "How can we
build resilience when the resources to do so are so elusive?" she
asked, pointing to the imbalance in global efforts to limit
warming. "The results of the global balance are clear. We are not
doing enough to limit global warming."
In her national statement, she also highlighted the Dominican
Republic's commitment to environmental protection, including its
goal to protect 30% of its marine and terrestrial territories. "We
have raised the ambition of our Nationally Determined Contribution
and reaffirmed our commitment to protect 30% of our marine and
terrestrial territory," she confirmed.
Addressing the issue of climate finance, Pimentel Rodríguez made
it clear that the Dominican Republic is not asking for charity but
for justice. "We are not asking for charity; we are asking for
justice. Justice for our communities, our ecosystems, and our
future generations," she said, urging the international community
to deliver adequate and accessible financial support for climate
action.
"The system is fragmented and too complex for the most
vulnerable countries. Without timely financing, we will not be able
to face losses and damages or implement adaptation and mitigation
solutions," Pimentel Rodríguez warned. She reiterated that global
commitments must translate into immediate and tangible actions.
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