News

New York, 17 July 2025 – Representing the Dominican Republic, Martín Francos, Vice Minister of Planning and Public Investment, delivered a joint statement at the 7th Meeting of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), on behalf of 13 Member States and one Associate Member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). The statement was presented on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the Dominican Republic, as well as Guadeloupe, an Associate Member.

In the statement, the Vice Minister emphasized that the sargassum phenomenon, once natural and cyclical, has escalated into a regional crisis exacerbated by climate change, nutrient pollution, and disruptions in ocean currents. This crisis threatens marine ecosystems, endangers public health, and disrupts vital economic sectors like tourism and fisheries, directly impacting the livelihoods of thousands of families across the Greater Caribbean.

The 14 countries and territories collectively called for urgent, coordinated regional and international action to address this transboundary issue. Key priorities include expanding scientific research, improving monitoring and management capacities, sharing technologies, and establishing inclusive financial mechanisms to support affected countries in implementing sustainable responses.

Vice Minister Francos also highlighted the potential of sargassum as a resource for biofuels, fertilizers, bioplastics, and other innovative products, urging the international community to view this crisis as both a challenge and an opportunity for sustainable innovation.

The statement concluded with a call for greater visibility and prioritization of the sargassum crisis within the multilateral system, emphasizing its wide-reaching impact on the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainable development.