What did President Sylvanie Burton of Dominica say at the UN General Assembly (UNGA 81)?
Dominica’s President Sylvanie Burton said the test of the UN is not only how it responds to suffering but how well it prevents it, and asked for climate money to build resilience before disasters strike, not only after.
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She addressed the general debate on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as the sixth speaker of the afternoon session.
The speech in brief
- Before, not after. Since Hurricane Maria in 2017, Dominica builds resilience before disaster: in roads, institutions, public finances and energy.
- A partner. Dominica wants to be seen as a partner in climate change, not only as a victim of it.
- Geothermal. Its geothermal plant is running, renewables supply about 84% of its electricity, and the goal is 100% by 2030.
In her own words
The true test of this organization, therefore, is not only how well we respond when people have suffered. It is how well we can work together to prevent that suffering in the first place.
“Our ambition is to use clean energy to transform our economy.”
Worth knowing
- Coverage of this speech is limited. The video below is the UN’s own.
Watch and read the full speech
Video of the address:
Dominica: President Sylvanie Burton at the UN General Debate, 81st session
The UN’s video of the whole day:
UN Web TVWatch Day 1 of the UNGA 81 general debate on UN Web TVThe UN posts the statement on its general debate website.
Every Day 1 speaker, in order: What happened on Day 1 of UNGA 81.
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