Santo Domingo.– The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources announced the launch of the 2026 National Environmental Award, an initiative aimed at recognizing the
best practices of environmental protection,
sustainable use of natural resources and innovation in
sustainability in the Dominican Republic.
This award, driven under the leadership of Minister
Paíno Henríquez, and based on article 66 of the
General Law on the Environment (64-00), broadens its scope compared to previous editions —held under the name of National Cleaner Production Award— to integrate a
more inclusive vision that encompasses not only the productive sector, but also
research, innovation and sustainable public management.
In previous statements, the Minister of Environment, Paíno Henríquez, highlighted that, “The National Environmental Award marks the path towards a sustainable Dominican Republic, where economic development and environmental protection are not opposites, but strategic allies; only in this way can we build a more resilient future, based on efficiency, innovation and respect for our natural resources”.
The coordination of the National Environmental Award will be in charge of the Directorate of Sustainable Production and Consumption of the Vice Ministry of Climate Change and Sustainability, headed by
Carlos Daniel Taveras, with the support of various dependencies of the Ministry and possible allies from the
public and academic sector.
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“From the Production and Sustainable Consumption Directorate, we are promoting this award as a platform to showcase and scale initiatives that are transforming the way we produce, research, and manage our resources. We are committed to recognizing concrete solutions that provide environmental value and can be replicated throughout the country,” expressed director Carlos Daniel Taveras.
The National Environmental Award, supported by
Resolution No. 0011/2026, will have four main categories:
Cleaner Production, aimed at the business sector;
Research, focused on the academic field at technical, secondary, and university levels;
Innovation, open to individuals, organizations, and NGOs that develop solutions to environmental challenges, and
Institutional Management, intended for public entities that promote improvements in their environmental performance.
With this initiative, the Ministry seeks to promote
sustainable competitiveness, encourage the
circular economy, foster research applied to
environmental issues, and strengthen the articulation between the
productive, academic, and institutional sectors. Likewise, the award aims to position
environmental management as a key axis of the
economic development of the country.
The award process will last for
eight months, structured in three stages: promotion and application of projects, technical evaluation and selection of winners, and finally the presentation of awards, scheduled for
December 2026. Participants may opt for
statuettes, certificates and public recognition, in addition to benefits associated with the strengthening of their reputation and environmental compliance.
In its seven previous editions, the award has registered
more than 270 applications, granting recognition to initiatives that have managed to reduce
water and energy consumption, decrease carbon emissions, optimize waste management and promote the use of
renewable energies, contributing significantly to the environmental sustainability of the country.
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With this new edition, the Ministry of Environment reaffirms its commitment to promote a
sustainable development model that integrates the
protection of natural resources with economic growth and social well-being.
