Santo Domingo – In a significant development, Félix Reyna, the Director of Strategic Communication for the Presidency, announced that President Luis Abinader will not attend the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. The event, scheduled from November 6 to 21, will see the Dominican Republic represented by an official delegation, though specific leadership details remain undisclosed. President Abinader’s decision to remain in the country underscores his commitment to addressing pressing domestic issues. This move marks a shift from earlier plans, where the president intended to lead a substantial delegation to spotlight the disproportionate impact of climate change on Caribbean island nations. Despite contributing a mere 0.01% to global emissions, the Caribbean region bears approximately 20% of the damage from climate-related disasters. President Abinader has consistently emphasized the region’s vulnerability, noting that Caribbean nations have fulfilled their emissions reduction commitments yet continue to face escalating threats from severe storms and rainfall. He reiterated the Dominican Republic’s alignment with the collective stance of CARICOM member states on climate issues, reinforcing the need for global recognition of the region’s unique challenges.