About Low-Carbon Development Strategies for the Caribbean
Worldwatch's Sustainable Energy Roadmaps for Small-Island States of the Caribbean aim to develop and communicate low-carbon energy strategies that empower these countries to reduce their consumption of, and dependence on, fossil fuel imports. By collaborating with local stakeholders in each country, Worldwatch helps determine effective ways for decision makers to increase energy security; reduce energy costs, local pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions; and create new business opportunities as well as high-quality jobs. The program began with a focus on the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica, but has since expanded to include work covering the larger Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The nations of the Greater Antilles (the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the island of Hispaniola as well as the Republic of Jamaica) are among the Caribbean’s highest consumers of energy. With no fossil energy resources of their own, these countries are highly dependent on fuel imports to supply their energy needs. This dependence has resulted in enormous economic and environmental costs. Worldwatch’s Sustainable Energy Roadmaps show ambitious, but realistic and practicable avenues toward an energy future that is more sustainable from any perspective – socio-economic, environmental, or security. The roadmaps will serve as important strategic blueprints and as reference points for the necessary partnerships of governments with technical experts, utilities, business leaders, investors, and local communities.
Worldwatch’s Caribbean program currently includes the following initiatives:
- CARICOM - Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy Defining achievable short-, medium-, and long-term goals for renewable energy, bio-energy, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for the member states of the Caribbean Community, and thus providing a general framework for the attainment of these national targets. Coordinated by the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) and supported with funding by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
- Assessing and Harnessing Renewable Resources: Empowering Decision Makers in the Dominican Republic Analyzing the wind and solar potentials of particular zones around the Dominican Republic. Supported by the Alianza en Energía y Ambiente con Centroamérica (Energy and Environment Partnership with Central America, EEP).
- Designing and Communicating Low-Carbon Energy Roadmaps for Small Island States of the Caribbean Examining the potentials of different energy solutions including solar, wind, and biomass, as well as energy efficiency and storage opportunities for the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. Funded by International Climate Initiative (ICI) of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
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