Dominica has invited international partners to use the island as a demonstration ground for climate resilience, with President Sylvanie Burton calling for research, technology and investment to help show what a resilient small island economy can achieve.
Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Burton proposed making Dominica “a living laboratory for climate resilience and sustainable development.”
The partnership she described would cover resilient housing and infrastructure, renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, modern water management, digital public services and nature-based adaptation.
Burton said the aim was to develop approaches that could offer lessons beyond Dominica.
“Bring us the technology; Bring us the research; Bring us the investment; Bring us the innovation,” she said.
Burton framed the invitation as a partnership based on shared learning. Dominica has experience to offer from its efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Maria, she said, while still needing the resources to carry its resilience plans further.
She also linked the proposal to jobs and opportunities for young people, saying investment in energy, connectivity, tourism and agriculture must ultimately help them build careers and businesses at home.
