Today, Suriname celebrates its 49th year of Independence! Recognized as the most forested country in the world and a global carbon sink -Suriname – shared between South America and the Caribbean, is a major contributor to mitigating the adverse effects of global warming.
The country’s extensive rainforest makes up part of the Amazon Basin, making its carbon storage stock globally significant. According to its most recent Nationally Determined Contribution, the country has deepened commitments to tapping into renewable energy with a strategy for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation.
Connecting to forests and wetlands under protection, the nation has increased and quantified targets with a goal of protecting at least 17% of the terrestrial area by 2030.
The tropical nation, highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, has taken strides to safeguard its people and environment. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and Suriname have worked closely to combat these impacts.
A sub-data node of the CCCCC’s Regional Clearing House was established in Paramaribo in 2019 to support the largest repository of climate data in the region. The CCCCC worked with staff from the Meteorological Service of Suriname to digitize historical documents using equipment provided by USAID.
Following a workshop hosted by the CCCCC in Suriname in November 2024 under the Enhancing Ecosystem and Coastal Protection for Climate Change Resilience in the Caribbean (ECP-Caribbean) project, a National Implementation Committee was established in Suriname.
The aim of the workshop was to raise awareness about the ECP-Caribbean project and gather input from stakeholders to shape the project’s focus areas. This newly established committee, in collaboration with the Project Steering Committee, will ensure effective coordination of the project in Suriname.
In Suriname, and across the Caribbean, addressing the effects of climate change is at the top of the development agenda. We applaud the people and nation of Suriname for its efforts to foster a safer future for the Caribbean and the world. Happy Independence Day, Suriname!
