How can a country responsible for barely 0.02% of global greenhouse gas emissions be among the countries hardest hit by the climate crisis? This is the full extent of the climate injustice facing Haiti, as Xavier Michon, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Haiti, pointed out at the closing workshop of the project to support the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), held on August 11, 2026, in Port-au-Prince.

While Haiti’s contribution to global warming is almost negligible on a global scale, the consequences are very real : more destructive hurricanes, floods, droughts, agricultural losses, and considerable economic damage.

In this context, investing in prevention is not a luxury, but a strategic choice. As Michon reminded everyone, "[...] every dollar invested in prevention and risk reduction can prevent up to seven dollars in disaster-related losses."

For eighteen months, the Ministry of the Environment, UNDP, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) joined forces to support Haiti in implementing its climate commitments. Beyond the activities carried out, this partnership strengthened national capacities, improved climate governance, and created a framework for dialogue bringing together ministries, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, and technical and financial partners.

National consultations, technical workshops, and eight strategic deliverables have thus consolidated the foundations for more coherent, better coordinated, and more effective climate action.

The Spanish Ambassador to Haiti, Marco Antonio Peñín Toledano, emphasized that the true legacy of a project lies not only in the funding mobilized, but also in the skills transferred, the institutions strengthened, and the partnerships that endure.”

Valéry Fils-Aimé, the Minister of the Environment, called for translating commitments into concrete results. As Haiti prepares its future NDC 3.0, he emphasized the need for stronger national ownership to make climate action a true driver of sustainable development.

Beyond the project's assessment, this workshop highlighted a crucial reality: for the most vulnerable countries, climate justice is not simply about recognizing their vulnerability. It also means empowering them to anticipate risks, adapt to them, and act before disasters strike.

HL/ HaitiLibre