Stakeholders contribute to Dominica’s Biennial Update Report and Biennial Transparency Report.

In an effort to strengthen the effectiveness of climate action strategies, the Government of Dominica, through its Ministry of the Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment, and Constituency Empowerment, has collaborated with the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) to engage key stakeholders in a comprehensive discussion. According to an official press release, this engagement aimed to gather insights for the country’s Biennial Update Report (BUR1) and Biennial Transparency Report (BTR1).

On January 21, 2024, a group of stakeholders convened to share their views regarding the existing climate challenges faced by Dominica, the impacts of climate change, and propose adaptation strategies. The BTR1 is critical as it represents one of the principal reporting mechanisms under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), a requirement for all nations that have ratified the Paris Agreement. This framework enables countries to present their progress on various key elements of the Agreement.

Sofia Anslem-Laroque, the National Ozone Officer, highlighted the significance of this exercise, stating that Caribbean Small Island Developing States are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. She emphasized that such discussions are vital for devising strategies to address the ramifications of climate change.

“Caribbean Small Island Developing states feel the brunt of climate change; so, this exercise is important for us, helping us to chart a way forward to deal with the issues and impacts of climate change,” she explained.

The collaborative effort reportedly seeks to ensure that the BUR1 and BTR1 accurately reflect the current climate impacts, necessary adaptation measures, and mitigation actions while aligning with both national priorities and international climate obligations.

However, as noted by Garry Auguiste, a representative of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (Dominica), and General Secretary of the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network Regional Committee, there is a pressing need for improved access to relevant data. During the discussions, stakeholders identified three critical areas: the necessity for data collection, the need for financial resources, and the importance of capacity building, especially for youth engagement in these initiatives.

Ronald Jno Baptiste, the Business Development Officer of the National Cooperative Credit Union (NCCU), echoed the calls for better data access. He pointed out that the lack of available data complicates efforts to secure financing for project proposals, indicating a need for policies that improve information sharing between the central statistical office and various organizations.

“We hope that considerations [and] policies can be implemented to ensure that information from the central statistical office [is] accessible to other organisations like ours,”

This consultation, led by PISLM with the support of the Government of Dominica and backed financially by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), endeavors to compile a wide range of perspectives regarding climate-related challenges within the country. It aims to identify significant climate change impacts spanning various sectors and to assess the adaptation requirements of vulnerable communities. Additionally, there is an emphasis on integrating gender considerations into climate planning and refining mitigation actions for greater effectiveness.

Martina Duncan, the lead consultant for the initiative, confirmed that the purpose of these consultations is to enhance the quality and relevance of Dominica’s BUR1 and BTR1. She expressed her view that the session provided valuable insights into the needs and challenges faced by stakeholders.

PISLM and the Government of Dominica thanked all participants for their contributions during this essential forum. By bringing together diverse viewpoints, they aim to ensure that climate action strategies are comprehensive, inclusive, and align with both national and international objectives. The completed BUR1 and BTR1 have been identified as instrumental in monitoring the nation’s progress in climate adaptation and mitigation, hopefully reinforcing Dominica’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.