The Ministry of the Environment (MOE), through its Climate Change Directorate (DCC), held a two-day, hybrid (in-person and virtual) workshop dedicated to analyzing priority sectors and defining legally binding standards for the review of climate policies in Haiti.

Organized with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Spanish Cooperation Agency (ACEID), this workshop assessed national priorities for climate action, while taking into account sustainable development issues and the potential impact on adaptation and mitigation. It also facilitated discussions focused on developing concrete proposals for establishing standards and regulations capable of strengthening the implementation of climate policies at all levels, while strengthening the capacities of national stakeholders.

In his opening remarks, Hugo Coles, head of the technical secretariat of the Ministry's Directorate General, emphasized civic responsibility in the face of climate change, recalling that the recent update of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) sets ambitious targets for reducing emissions and increasing resilience. He also highlighted the importance of the Environmental Information System (SIE-Haiti), a tool designed to centralize and harmonize environmental data to inform decision-making. Finally, he discussed the outlook for the upcoming COP30 in Brazil, 10 years after the Paris Agreement (COP 21 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16042-haiti-environment-michaelle-jean-welcomes-the-agreement-of-the-cop21.html ), calling for concrete and collective actions to build on the achievements of this historic summit.

For her part, Ms. Blanco Reinosa Carmen, representative of Spanish cooperation in Haiti, praised Haiti's commitment to combating climate change, noting significant progress in fulfilling its commitments under the Paris Agreement. She reaffirmed her country's commitment to supporting Haiti in its resilience and mitigation efforts.

Project consultants, Vovener Edmond and Raoul Vital, highlighted the foundations of national and international climate policies, while analyzing the criteria for identifying priority sectors, the existing legal framework, and international best practices. These discussions were enriched by the active participation of Sylvain Merlen, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, as well as by the contributions of stakeholders from public administration, civil society, the private sector, and technical and financial partners such as UNDP, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The workshop highlighted several important findings, including the lack of binding standards, the limitations of inter-institutional coordination, and the challenges of implementing climate policies on the ground. These elements underscore the need to strengthen the regulatory framework to give renewed impetus to the implementation of the NDC and Haiti's climate commitments.

IH/ iciHaiti