Report on the Dominican Republic’s Integration into Global Carbon Markets and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Dominican Republic has taken a significant step to align its climate policies with international standards and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the enactment of Decree 358-25. This decree re-establishes the primary national climate body as the National Council for Climate Change and Carbon Market, signaling a strategic shift towards leveraging carbon markets to achieve climate targets. This initiative directly advances SDG 13 (Climate Action) while creating synergistic impacts across multiple other SDGs, including SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

Legislative and Institutional Framework Enhancement

Decree 358-25 introduces critical institutional adjustments to strengthen the nation’s capacity for climate governance and participation in carbon trading mechanisms. These adjustments are foundational to achieving robust climate action as outlined in SDG 13.

• Institutional Renaming: The former “National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism” is now the “National Council for Climate Change and Carbon Market.”
• Strengthened Authority: The Council’s mandate to oversee, endorse, or reject national carbon emissions reports is officially confirmed.
• Governmental Integration: The entity is formally attached to the Ministry of the Presidency, enhancing its policy influence.
• International Representation: Its role as the designated national authority before the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is reinforced.

Alignment with Global Climate Frameworks and the SDGs

The new policy framework strategically positions the Dominican Republic to meet its international commitments and contribute meaningfully to the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

1. Commitment to SDG 13 (Climate Action): The decree aligns national legislation with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which governs international carbon markets. This transition from the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) represents a modernized approach to combating climate change and its impacts. The nation builds upon its legacy as a Caribbean leader under the CDM, where it successfully developed 15 certified projects.
2. Advancing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The country’s progress is underpinned by strong multi-stakeholder collaboration.
   • Partnership with the UNFCCC’s CIACA program and the Caribbean Regional Collaboration Centre on an Emissions Trading Pilot System.
   • Active engagement with the private sector to foster a voluntary emissions market, demonstrating a whole-of-society approach to sustainability.
3. Supporting Economic and Energy Goals (SDG 7, 8, 9): Participation in carbon markets is expected to stimulate progress towards several interconnected goals.
   • SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Incentivizing investment in renewable energy and clean technology projects.
   • SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Fostering green jobs and sustainable economic models.
   • SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Driving innovation in low-carbon industrial processes and sustainable infrastructure.

Conclusion and Outlook

Through Decree 358-25, the Dominican Republic has established a clear policy pathway for integrating into the global carbon market. This strategic move not only enhances the country’s capacity to meet its climate obligations under the Paris Agreement but also embeds the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals into its national climate strategy. By fostering international partnerships and private sector engagement, the nation is preparing to leverage market-based mechanisms to accelerate its transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The entire article is centered on climate action. It details the Dominican Republic’s efforts to update its climate policies by creating a framework for a carbon market. This is a direct measure to combat climate change and its impacts by regulating and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The text explicitly mentions aligning national legislation with the Paris Agreement and the rules of COP29, which are the cornerstones of global climate action.
2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article highlights multiple layers of partnership. It mentions collaboration with international bodies like the UNFCCC’s CIACA program and the Caribbean Regional Collaboration Centre to advance the Emissions Trading Pilot System. Furthermore, it points to a public-private partnership, where the “private sector is promoting sustainability programs to create a voluntary emissions market.” This demonstrates a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving climate goals.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The development of a carbon market and an Emissions Trading Pilot System represents an innovation in the country’s institutional and economic infrastructure. These mechanisms are designed to drive industries towards more sustainable, low-carbon practices by creating financial incentives for reducing emissions, thus promoting clean and environmentally sound technologies.
4. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Although not explicitly mentioned, the article’s reference to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) strongly implies a connection to clean energy. The article states the Dominican Republic “developed 15 certified projects” under the CDM. These projects typically focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other technologies that reduce emissions, directly contributing to the goals of promoting clean energy.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The approval of Decree 358-25 is a direct example of integrating climate change measures into national policy. This decree formally establishes the National Council for Climate Change and Carbon Market and aligns the country’s legal framework with international climate agreements, embedding climate action at the highest level of government planning.
2. Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.
   • The article describes a clear multi-stakeholder partnership involving the government (through the renamed Council), international organizations (“supported by the UNFCCC’s CIACA program and the Caribbean Regional Collaboration Centre”), and the domestic private sector (“promoting sustainability programs to create a voluntary emissions market”). This collaboration is essential for implementing the new carbon market framework.
3. Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable…and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
   • The establishment of a carbon market and an emissions trading system is a policy instrument designed to achieve this target. It creates a market-based incentive for industries to invest in cleaner technologies and more efficient processes to reduce their carbon emissions and, consequently, their compliance costs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 13.2: The article provides direct evidence for Indicator 13.2.1 (Number of countries that have communicated the establishment or operationalization of an integrated policy/strategy/plan…). The passing of Decree 358-25 and the restructuring of the National Council for Climate Change and Carbon Market is a clear, measurable action demonstrating the operationalization of a national climate policy.
• Implied Quantitative Indicators: The article mentions “15 certified projects” developed under the previous Clean Development Mechanism. This serves as a historical, quantitative indicator of the country’s capacity and success in implementing emission reduction projects. Future progress could be measured by the number of projects certified under the new carbon market rules.
• Implied Qualitative and Process Indicators: The article points to several process-based indicators that signal progress:
  • The establishment of the “Emissions Trading Pilot System.”
  • The creation of a “voluntary emissions market” by the private sector.
  • The formal attachment of the Council to the “Ministry of the Presidency,” which indicates a higher level of political commitment and institutional strengthening.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: dominicantoday.com