DR exceeds climate goals, says Max Puig before the UN

 
New York.- The executive vice president of the National Council for Climate Change and Carbon Market, Max Puig, announced that the Dominican Republic has exceeded the emissions reduction target financed with public and private funds set for 2030 at the 2025 Climate Summit of the United Nations.

During his speech, Puig reiterated that the national climate policy “is focused on protecting our people and our natural resources” and insisted that the Dominican Republic is working to ensure the success of the upcoming COP30 in Belem, Brazil, and that it maintains its commitment to comply with the Paris Agreement.

“We understand our shared but differentiated responsibility, which is why, in 2020, we committed to reduce our emissions by 27% by 2030. Barely 7% of that goal was to be covered with internal resources. However, with national effort we have already achieved a reduction of 11%, which means we have exceeded by more than 50% the self-assigned goal, without waiting for external financing to achieve it and in half the time,” he affirmed.

The official emphasized that this achievement demonstrates the country’s ability to mobilize internal resources, integrate climate action into national planning and budgeting, and generate confidence in private investment. “We do not see climate action as an expense, but as an investment in our future,” he pointed out. Regarding the new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) of the Dominican Republic, which will be presented at COP30, Puig explained that “a potential reduction of almost 10 million tons of CO₂ equivalent has been identified, with an estimated investment exceeding 9.3 billion dollars; we can mobilize internal financing but we need support and cooperation to reach our full potential.”

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He said that the challenge demands greater participation from international cooperation and highlighted that “every dollar invested in climate action in a developing country not only reduces emissions, but also saves lives, stabilizes economies, fosters innovation and builds shared prosperity”. Max Puig recalled that the strategic vision of the Dominican Republic is defined in the MetaRD2036, whose objective is to double the per capita GDP by the year 2036, ensuring that this growth is compatible with environmental sustainability and climate resilience. In this regard, he insisted that such objectives are more difficult to achieve if the country does not achieve a true adaptation to the effects of climate change, for which the energy transition is crucial because it ensures the availability of energy at a low cost and without dependence on foreign suppliers.