By María Josefina Arce

Cuba has an active and outstanding participation in the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Caribbean nation has taken to Dubai the various projects it is carrying out in its national territory to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon.

Given its high vulnerability due to its condition as a small island country, the largest of the Antilles is developing, supported by science and technology, multiple initiatives to protect the lives of Cubans and their biodiversity.

All these programs are in line with its Action Plan against climate change, called Tarea Vida, which includes five strategic actions and 11 tasks aimed at counteracting the effects on vulnerable areas of the Cuban territory.   

Among the initiatives is the Adaptation Plan for Havana's coastal area, presented at the Cuban Pavilion at the UN Conference. It benefits 700,000 inhabitants of the northern coast of the Cuban capital, which is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather phenomena.

The plan includes six coastal municipalities, has an implementation period of just over four years and is financed with three million dollars, supported by the Green Climate Fund.

And to the United Arab Emirates also came ECOVALOR, a project that promotes the generation of multiple environmental benefits based on the economic valuation of goods and services.

Since 2018, 30 municipalities in 15 Cuban provinces have been implementing this tool, which seeks to contribute to the environmental, economic and social development of the archipelago.

Also present is the IRIS Foundation, the first of its kind in Cuba, which is linked to science, technology, innovation, training and development activities, through the management of funds and the promotion of research related to this field.

The IRIS Foundation focuses on encouraging local development and promoting the active participation of broad sectors of society in the fight against climate change.

These, like other projects being implemented in Cuba, are an example of the State's interest and commitment to protect the environment as it moves towards socioeconomic progress and the well-being of its citizens.

With its commitment to the environment, Cuba, which also shares its experiences and knowledge with other nations, contributes to caring for the planet and humanity, which is in danger of disappearing, as the historic leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, warned more than three decades ago.