conference magazine - Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

11
CARICOM
Energy
Programme
Joint Message from Thomas Scheutzlich, Principal Advisor, CREDP-GTZ and Joseph Williams, Manager, CARICOM
Energy Programme
On behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Energy Programme and the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development
Programme (CREDP) it is our pleasure to welcome you, the participants to the Second Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum
(CSEF-2), the Fifth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum and Exhibition (CEF-5) and the Fifteenth Annual Wider Caribbean
Waste Management Conference (ReCaribe).
This is the second staging of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (C-SEF). After its successful inception in 2008 in Grenada,
we see this becoming an established bi-annual Energy Forum: one of the premier biennial sustainable energy events in
the Region.
The overall theme for the CEF-5 and C-SEF-2, “Coping with Copenhagen”, is quite apt given that the Copenhagen Climate
Change Conference in 2009 did not deliver on the expectation that it would set the stage for aggressive actions to fight Climate
Change. The outcome of the Conference was considered particularly important to the energy sector in light of the implication
for the availability of financing for technology transfer and sustainable energy development in developing countries such as the
countries of CARICOM. Notwithstanding, the failure of the Conference in Copenhagen, vulnerable countries like those of CARI-
COM must maintain the call for ambitious actions on part of developed countries while seeking to migrate to a more sustainable
energy development path.
A careful observation will reveal that some positive sustainable energy developments are taking place in the Caribbean Region.
Implemented photovoltaic plants in Grenada and St. Lucia, geothermal power development in Nevis and Dominica, approved
Sustainable Energy Policies in several Member States, feed-in policies developed and implement by electric utilities like in Grenada
and Barbados, and the extension of Wigton Wind Farm in Jamaica at are some of the notable successful renewable energy
development in the region.
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However, much more needs to happen and at a more expedited pace, especially in the area of energy efficiency. We feel that
the time is due to undertake a realistic analysis of the achievements in the employment of Renewable Energies and energy efficient
technologies on one side but also have a critical look at developments that are far behind schedule and the reasons for
such lag. Why does it take years to develop and implement Wind Farms in some countries despite very favourable wind conditions,
and despite financing offers from international banks? Of what nature are the specific barriers that hamper wind development
and what can/should be done to overcome these barriers, and can they be removed at all? Similar questions arise in the
area of hydro power development in several countries where a number of projects have been engineered right up to tender
stage, showing technical and financial viability and but years elapse before implementation could commence.
These and more questions have to be carefully analysed and the lessons learned be distilled in order to guide future sustainable
energy developments in the region. For this reason, we have attempted to focus the CSEF-2 on initiatives that were implemented
successfully despite the many challenges and barriers, so that these may serve as lessons and encourage other developments
as we seek to “leapfrog” sustainable energy development in the Region.
May we wish all, a successful CEF-5 and CSEF-2.
FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM AND EXHIBITION