Dominica: environment

How much damage did Hurricane Maria do to Dominica?

Hurricane Maria killed 30 people in Dominica in 2017 and caused an estimated EC$2.51 billion of damage, according to the Central Statistics Office's table of natural disasters, fatalities and estimated damage, 1979 to 2017. Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 killed 11 people and caused EC$1.3 billion of damage, and Hurricane David in 1979 killed 42.

The table draws on disaster assessments by the Disaster Coordinating Unit, the OECS Secretariat and the Department of Local Government; some events have no damage estimate. The Pan American Health Organization's country profile says Maria, a category 5 hurricane, made landfall on 18 September 2017. Damage figures are in current Eastern Caribbean dollars, so older and newer events are not adjusted for inflation.

Official sources: CSO: Natural disasters, fatalities and estimated damage 1979 to 2017 · PAHO: Dominica country profile

What are Dominica's climate change targets?

Dominica's updated nationally determined contribution, submitted in July 2022, commits to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 45% below 2014 levels by 2030, according to the UNDP Climate Promise summary for Dominica. UNDP says the country is developing plans to use geothermal energy and other sources such as biomass and waste, and keeps its actions on conserving forests to store carbon.

The updated contribution widens the adaptation measures and adds a resilience pillar. UNDP lists the main gaps as finding the resources to carry out the actions and setting up systems to monitor, report and verify progress, including climate finance. A nationally determined contribution is the climate plan each country submits under the Paris Agreement.

Official sources: UNDP Climate Promise: Dominica

How much of Dominica's electricity comes from hydropower?

Hydropower produced about 32.5% of Dominica's electricity in 2016, 36.4 million of 111.8 million kWh generated, with diesel producing the rest, according to the Central Statistics Office's table of electricity generation, sales and consumers, 2003 to 2017. In 2015 the hydro share was about 22.8%.

The shares are worked out from the generation figures in the table. The table gives earlier years in thousands of kWh and 2016 and 2017 in kWh. The 2017 figures are lower in every row; Hurricane Maria struck in September that year. Hydro output changes with rainfall, so the share moves from year to year. The table is the latest on the office's energy page.

Official sources: CSO: Electricity generation, sales and consumers 2003 to 2017 · CSO: Energy statistics

How much CO2 does Dominica emit per person?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 1.3 tonnes. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 2.3 tonnes; Dominica is 27th highest of 33. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 122nd highest.

How much greenhouse gas does Dominica emit?

According to the European Commission's EDGAR database, total greenhouse gas emissions in Dominica was 0.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024. The peak was 0.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2019 and the low 0.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 19.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Dominica placed 33rd highest of 33. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 181st highest.

How much renewable energy does Dominica use?

In 2022, the renewable share of final energy use in Dominica was 8.9%, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2011, at 13.8%; its low point was 2009, at 7.5%. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 7.2%, and Dominica placed 5th highest of 10. Of 53 countries with 2022 data, 40th highest.

What is Dominica's forest cover?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2024, is 76.4%. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 3rd highest of 32 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 50.6%. Of 190 countries with 2024 data, 8th highest.

What is air pollution like in Dominica?

The latest figure from the Global Burden of Disease study, for 2023, is 11.5 micrograms per cubic metre. Since 2005 it has ranged from 9.0 micrograms per cubic metre (2014) to 13.2 micrograms per cubic metre (2010). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 15.7 micrograms per cubic metre, and Dominica placed 24th highest of 33. Worldwide: 142nd of 192.

How much of Dominica is in national parks and reserves?

According to the UN Environment Programme, the share of land in protected areas in Dominica was 21.4% in 2025. That is the lowest since at least 2013. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 20.1%, and Dominica placed 15th highest of 33. Of 192 countries with 2025 data, 76th highest.

Is Dominica short of water?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2022, is 10.0%. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 13th highest of 32 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 7.7%. Worldwide: 90th of 175.