As minister counselor for the Permanent Mission of Haiti to the United Nations, Marie Altagrace “Astride” Nazaire works with key public policymakers and business leaders to identify and research issues relating to migration, sustainable development goals, financing for development, and education. Additionally, Astride Nazaire is well-versed in climate change. While its actions in the past are said to have contributed to the speed of climate change, petroleum giant BP is taking baby steps in preparing for a low-carbon future. In April, the company's chief executive, Bob Dudley, announced plans for a cap on carbon emissions up until 2025. Even with continued growth, BP has pledged to limit its carbon emissions to the total recorded in 2015, when the Paris Agreement was signed. Moreover, the company intends to cut carbon emissions by 3.5 million tons by 2025 through reduced flaring at oil and gas sites and an increase in energy-efficiency investments.Should those measures fail to help the company meet its carbon emission-reduction goal, it plans to invest heavily in high-quality carbon-offset projects. The announcement comes on the heels of BP working to grow the low-carbon portion of its business with upwards of $500 million of annual investments in clean technologies and renewable energy, including the construction of more solar and wind farms.
Since 2005, public policy expert Marie Altagrace “Astride” Nazaire has represented Haiti as a diplomat at the United Nations. In her work, Astride Nazaire addresses policy regarding issues such as poverty, international migration and development, and climate change. She is particularly interested in how climate change affects small-island developing states (SIDS). While climate change represents a threat to the health of all nations, the 52 SIDS around the world are especially vulnerable to its effects on the planet. Evidence suggests that a sea-level rise caused by climate change could force some coastal populations to relocate within the next 10 years.In addition to raising sea levels, climate change affects weather patterns, leading to increased temperatures and rainfall. A continued rise in sea-surface temperature will eventually degrade coral reef ecosystems, which many SIDS depend on to provide food and support activities related to tourism. Increased heat, rainfall, and extreme weather events can also contaminate drinking water and facilitate the spread of infectious diseases. To assess risks and help SIDS adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, groups around the world are partnering to take action. At the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2017, the World Health Organization, along with the U.N. and the president of Fiji, announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at protecting SIDS residents. The initiative will focus on ensuring that all SIDS develop “climate-proof” health systems by 2030.
