The Dominican Republic is vulnerable to natural disasters, which are exacerbated by climate change. Hurricanes, drought, flooding, heat waves, rising sea levels, and wildfires have affected the country in the last decade. In order to help the country face those climate challenges, while maintaining the livelihoods of its citizens, the United States Government, through USAID, has been working to reduce the impact of climate threats.

Learn three ways USAID is combating climate change in support of its Dominican neighbor, partner and friend.

Aid Clean Cities to achieve Blue Oceans

Through its Clean Cities, Blue Oceans program, USAID is working to respond to the global crisis of marine plastic pollution. Around 8 million metric tons- -the equivalent of one garbage truck per minute- of plastics end up in the oceans every year, which affects not only the water quality of watersheds, but also represents a threat to marine biodiversity and livelihoods. Activities like tourism and fishing are threatened by plastics reaching the ocean, including over 1,500 humpback whales who inhabit the waters off the northern coast of the Samaná Bay and Atlantic Ocean between December and March. Solid waste from the Samaná Peninsula currently enters the bay and the ocean from multiple sources without monitoring systems to measure the true impact of this solid waste on marine ecosystems.