Haiti is one of the most climate-impacted countries in the Caribbean. Extreme heat and less rainfall have led to droughts that worsen the food insecurity impacting around half of all Haitians. The climate crisis also exacerbates the humanitarian hardships, violence, and poverty that Haitians face. Despite the fact that Haiti benefits from abundant sunlight all through the year, it is still very dependent on imported fossil fuels which are expensive and create pollution and health problems.
Photo credit: © Wender Sénélus / 350.org
Photo credit: © Wender Sénélus / 350.org
In 2023, the Haiti Climate Network in partnership with 350.org organized a workshop to provide training in renewable energy and solar panel installation to over 60 young activists in Port-au-Prince. Following the workshop, they applied the skills they learned to install a solar-powered street light in a part of the city that was previously unsafe to walk in at night. The activity helped to ensure safer communities through access to sustainable electricity.
Photo credit: © Wender Sénélus / 350.org
Haiti is one of the countries that is least responsible for the climate crisis yet it is one of the worst impacted by it. The rich countries and polluters that created this crisis have a moral obligation to pay up and finance a just transition to clean, renewable energy in Haiti, in order to reverse decades of catastrophic climate impacts and allow Haiti to implement climate adaptation measures and create a fair and sustainable energy system for all.
