Dominican Environment Ministry launches Green Climate Fund Regional Dialogue

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic officially inaugurated the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Regional Dialogue, a high-level forum bringing together environmental authorities, international organizations, financial institutions, and civil society from across Latin America. Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Paíno Henríquez, highlighted the event as a strategic platform to strengthen regional access to climate finance, foster institutional capacity, and build a united Latin American voice in leveraging GCF resources for mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity protection.

Henríquez emphasized the country’s progress in mobilizing climate finance, noting that over the past two years, the Dominican Republic has secured more than US$754 million in green investments, issued its first sovereign green bond, and launched innovative initiatives such as sustainable ecotourism and green job creation. He also announced the Preparatory Strategy for the GCF (Readiness 2024-2027), designed to enhance the country’s capacity to access and manage climate funding, develop climate project portfolios, and strengthen long-term climate action frameworks. Kristin Lang, GCF Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, praised the Dominican Republic as a regional example of innovation and strategic cooperation.

The Regional Dialogue, attended by national authorities and representatives from countries including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and others, as well as multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, IDB, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, and IFAD, will continue with roundtables and technical sessions aimed at improving regional access to GCF resources. The GCF, as the largest multilateral climate finance mechanism under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, has committed over $18 billion globally, with more than US$2.3 billion allocated in Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting clean energy, resilient agriculture, sustainable forests, and green job creation while fostering regional cooperation and capacity building.