Haiti 2040: Structure and Scope
Haiti 2040 has two main components:
- Core research and publications: proposed
- Research and policy network support: ongoing
Core research and publications
Climate Change Both recent events and climate change models indicate that in the future Haiti will face more frequent extreme rainfall events and more intense hurricanes. At the same time, Haiti's increasing population and decreasing environmental stability contributes to the country's ever escalating vulnerability to fast-forming and devestating floods. What was rare 30 years ago may be unfortunately routine in 30 years time.
The central outputs of Haiti 2040 will be the promotion of a technical but solution-oriented dialogue, the publication of related papers and articles. The initial focus will be on interviews, analysis of pressing issues, and publication of a series of technical but accessible papers on specific long-term issues. In 2013 this work will coalesce into a major book project, which will include various associated communication activities.
The first round of issues to be addressed by Haiti 2040's core research includes population, migration and remittances, deforestation, fisheries, climate change and climate risk, earthquake risk, foreign aid, and the manufacturing and tourism industries. The interlinked nature of the many chronic challenges facing Haiti is well understood; therefore, it is imperative that the solutions be similiarly interlinked. Bringing together the top 20 issues and recommended solutions is the goal of the book proposed for release in 2013.
Many challenges presented in Haiti 2040 are already the subject of intense debate and short- to medium-term government planning. The Haiti 2040 approach does not seek to duplicate or contradict this, but instead provide policy input through an evidenced based and long- to very long-term outlook, ranging from three to thirty years on.
A further distinct feature of the 2040 research approach is to place the future of Haiti in a global and regional context. Events and trends at the global and regional level are expected to have a critical influence on the future of Haiti; not all problems facing Haiti, nor the solutions by which to overcome them, will originate from inside its borders.
Research and policy network support
The Haiti 2040 team will also join in the existing applied research and policy support networks and, dependent upon funding, will also provide support for such activities.
To begin, the Haiti 2040 team is supporting a new joint project of the WorldWatch Institute and the Government of Haiti for the production of a Low-Carbon Energy Roadmap for Haiti. This is a 12-18 month project, which began in June 2011.
