Dominican Republic

Core analysis conducted and presented by Gabriela Taveras in October 2022.

Executive Summary

On youth and gender inclusion, the Dominican Republic is rated as: above average.

With a score of “NDC We Want” in the World Wildlife Fund’s NDC Assessment checklist, the Dominican Republic’s (DR) 2020 NDC Update showcases significant progress over its predecessor. As Central America and the Caribbean’s second largest economy, it must lead by example. The DR increased its emissions reduction goal, from 25% to 27% by 2030, and completed its update following a national campaign that brought together a wide range of viewpoints following countrywide climate vulnerability assessments. 

On youth inclusion, in its updated NDC, the country devotes an entire section to youth and guides readers through the country’s legal frameworks supporting the strategic role of young people. The NDC mentions the 2010-2030 National Development Strategy and 2020-2030 National Youth Plan, which dictate youth’s participation at the highest level through the National Youth Council. The NDC lays out five specific youth goals, including ensuring youth participation in climate decision-making, developing a youth network on climate change, and providing climate education.

On gender mainstreaming, in the updated NDC, the country makes significant strides by deeming gender equity, youth and human rights cross-cutting elements of the country’s climate change sphere. One of the main implementation roadmaps for the NDC’s gender equity goals is the Gender and Climate Change Action Plan for the Dominican Republic (PAGCC-RD). Recognising the role of women as agents of change and encouraging their participation is a step in the right direction.

On Loss and Damage, the country has strengthened its efforts. It expects to improve disaster vulnerability analyses through the National Emergency Commission’s Integrated Information System. The NDC will strengthen capacities to manage slow onset events (i.e droughts).

Key Recommendations:

  • Equip teachers in the country’s most vulnerable learning institutions with the tools to teach climate change in their classrooms.

  • Involving students in the learning process by asking what they know about climate change, how it affects them and what they would like to learn about it.

  • For the DR’s actions to reflect its NDC commitments, the National Statistics Office (ONE) should conduct gender-disaggregated research in the sciences and engineering sectors, as well as other key areas, involved in deploying mitigation and adaptation-oriented climate solutions.

  • Encourage the country to continue creating spaces where vulnerable communities can take meaningful climate action, such as through enhancing the Operation COP Program that brings young people to COP.

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NDC Ambassador Gabriela is a Project Analyst who specialises in advocacy, research and climate change. She holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies, majoring in the Environment, Resources and Sustainability from the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, and a Bachelor of Science in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University. She was born in the United States and raised in the Dominican Republic, and has worked for institutions such as the United Nations, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the U.S State Department.