Alliance members are working to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, accelerating action, centering equity, and tracking progress. 

Explore Puerto Rico's policies and actions across the Alliance's 10 key policy areas. Numbers presented below only reflect the number of policies in this database and thus may not reflect all climate policies pursued.

puerto_rico

GHG Targets + Governance

Just Transition + Equity

Industry

Pricing Carbon + Valuing Damages

Electricity

Transportation

Resilience

Natural + Working Lands

Climate Finance

Buildings

total

Environmental Public Policy Act

Puerto Rico has a mini-NEPA statute, called the Environmental Public Policy Act (EPPA) which applies to a variety of entities involved in projects that may significantly impact the environment. Under EPPA, the Proposing Agency must prepare an Environmental Impact Statement which “shall contain a description of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the project, including an assessment of whether the project could disproportionately affect vulnerable or underserved populations, such as low-income and minority communities, and strategies to mitigate such impacts." Further, “The Proposing Agency shall ensure that the environmental impact assessment process includes consideration of environmental justice issues. Special consideration should be given to how proposed projects could affect historically marginalized and disadvantaged communities, taking into account the cumulative effects of the project on public health and well-being."

Solar Incentive Program

The Puerto Rico Department of Housing (PRDOH) has designed the Solar Incentive Program. The purpose of this Program is to incentivize eligible households to acquire a photovoltaic system with a storage battery or only a storage battery in the case of those applicants who already have a photovoltaic system in their homes, thus promoting the well-being of Puerto Rican citizens.

This program will promote energy resilience in households with an income between 0% and 200% of the Area Median Family Income (AMFI).

Total Trees Pledged: 3,919,508
This pledge will take place from: 2020 to 2030
Pledge by Para la Naturaleza

Puerto Rico 1 Trillion Trees Pledge

natural_and_working_lands

Puerto Rico gets $3M allocation to continue fighting climate change

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a $3 million allocation from the Inflation Reduction Act to aid Puerto Rico in addressing climate change.

The funding is designated for two federal agencies to develop local initiatives.

The U.S. Geological Survey will receive $2,750,000 to help alleviate workforce capacity challenges and increase the climate expertise of Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER).

The allocation will support the development of the island’s climate workforce through training, fellowships and practicum opportunities for recent graduates, enabling DNER staff to pursue advanced degrees in climate adaptation.

Meanwhile, $250,000 will go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to further the National Seed Strategy in Puerto Rico. The effort will fund seed collecting teams and seed production to ensure an adequate supply of native seeds for restoring ecosystems affected by fires, hurricanes, drought and other natural events.

electricity

Strategic Plan 3.0 for 2021-2024

The Puerto Rico Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency’s Strategic Plan 3.0 for 2021-2024 developed post-Hurricane Maria, emphasizes the importance of sustainable recovery in vulnerable communities. Environmental justice principles are embedded in rebuilding efforts, ensuring that energy infrastructure is more resilient and equitable.