Climate change in the UKOTs an overview of the ... - JNCC - Defra

Some territories have taken steps towards
improving fuel efficiency and diversifying
their sources of energy. In Bermuda, for
example, the power company, BELCO, has
taken steps to diversify its energy sources
in order to become less dependent on
fossil fuels. A government-operated incinerator
is diverting waste from landfills and
turning rubbish into energy sufficient to
power 2,500 homes (Government of
Bermuda, 2007). Three wind turbines on
St. Helena contribute up to 240Kw to the
total demand for electricity. According to
the Public Works and Services Department,
this accounts for approximately 20
per cent of the supply during peak load
and 45 per cent off-peak. The saving in
diesel fuel is approximately GBP150,000 a
year. A proposed hydro-electric power
plant on South Georgia island would
reduce carbon emissions there. Plans are
also in progress to erect two additional
wind turbines on Ascension by 2011, which
would bring to nine the total number of
wind turbines in use there. Actions such as
these not only reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, they have the added benefit of
reducing fossil fuel dependency,
decreasing dependency on imports and
lowering a country’s oil bill.
Towards a sustainable energy
agenda for UKOTs
In order for mitigative actions to be truly
meaningful for UKOTs, they have to be
compatible with the territories’ sustainable
development goals, supporting, for
example, efforts towards sustainable
energy through efficiency, conservation,
and diversification.
Areas which UKOTs could consider as priority
for mitigation through energy efficiency
include:
• development and application of renewable
energy technologies, especially
solar and wind;
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• improved efficiency in energy-use by all
users (public sector, private sector,
households); and
• strengthened institutional capacity for
energy management (Challenger,
2002).
4.3 Policy responses and
options
Everyone has a role to play in addressing
climate change and everyone can make a
difference.
Governments have an important role to
play in setting a national agenda and providing
a framework for action by individuals,
communities, the public and the
private sector and putting incentives, institutions
and instruments in place to support
adaptation and mitigation as well as
ensuring that the right information is available
to all.
4.3.1 Incentives
Encourage and reward early action
It is important to have incentives in place
that encourage appropriate early action,
rather than promote remedial action.
Some countries have set up disaster
recovery funds, for example, and while this
is essential, it is also important to have
funds in place that support preventative
action at all levels.
The right incentives can also support physical
planning regulations, encourage the
uptake of technologies as part of an
energy agenda, and encourage businesses
and individuals to take action to
reduce damage or losses from weather
events.
4.3.2 Institutions
Having the right institutions in place to promote
and facilitate adaptation is important.
The appropriate institutional arrangements
will vary from territory to territory, but there