Mr. Didier Trebucq, Resident Representative, a.i of the UNDP, Guyana
Members of the Steering Committee and National Focal Points
Mr. Joseph Williams and the Staff of the Secretariat’s Energy Programme
I wish to use this opportunity on behalf of the CARICOM Secretary-General to welcome you all to this important joint Meeting of the Project Steering Committee and National Focal Points of the CREDP.
The Caribbean Community Secretariat has developed an Energy Programme for the period 2009 – 2010 with the goal of increased regional co-operation in energy to address a number of critical issues particularly matters relating to energy security and the transformation of the Region towards a more sustainable energy path.
A key output towards this goal will be to see that national energy plans are designed and implemented in such a manner to include and indeed facilitate sustainable energy practices.
In light of recent high oil and gas prices, it is important that if the region is to continue on a path of economic and social development then energy sources should be economically affordable and equitably distributed. On the basis of these principles, the Secretariat energy programme is structured in a manner to build the foundations that could lead the Region to provide its people with available, affordable, reliable and sustainable energy sources based on the Region’s indigenous resources.
To achieve this, adequate institutional capacity and financing must be in place for the development of energy resources and the supporting industries, services and legislative and policy frameworks.
Further, it is the vision of the Energy Programme that through its own efforts and those done in conjunction with International Development Partners such as the UNDP, GTZ, IADB and the OAS, there will be a broadening of the regional energy mix such that the amount of renewable energy sources will be increased from present levels. In fact, the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative for Sustainable Development (ILAC) has set a goal to ensure that by the year 2010 the region as a whole will have at least 10 per cent of its energy consumption met by renewable sources.
In a study conducted for UNECLAC by GTZ in 2004 across the Latin American and Caribbean region, the Member States of CARICOM with the exception of Haiti, have about 4 per cent of their total energy consumption met by renewable energy sources. This is a major step but it is significantly below the ILAC 10 per cent target. This is in stark contrast to other countries in the region (mainly the Latin American group of countries) that have all surpassed the 10 per cent goal. As a result, a greater level of effort needs to be made by CARICOM Member States if the 2010 target is to be achieved.
CREDP is but one activity under the Secretariat’s Energy Programme which seeks to bring about the move towards a sustainable energy path. The efforts of the past four years have brought about an increased awareness of the work that needs to be done if we are serious about increasing the use of renewable energy. Questions are being asked and responses demanded by the region’s people, policy makers and businessmen of its technicians and technocrats as to how renewables can be integrated in a sustainable manner into our society. Additionally investors are increasingly showing a willingness to look at renewable energy projects and more utility companies are willing to integrate these into the energy generation mix.
While this change is indeed welcome, there is still much work to be done.
At the 25th Special Meeting of COTED (Environment), held in Georgetown, Guyana, 14 – 18 April 2008, an initiative was announced and endorsed for the preparation of a Regional Climate Change Strategy. This strategy will include adaptation and mitigation measures as these are both important to the region. The mitigation measures will focus in part on reducing the region’s dependence on fossil fuels. This will coincide with the efforts of the Regional Energy Policy, and hence creating a synergy in the efforts that are to be made towards a sustainable energy path for the Region.
Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, the remaining period for the implementation of CREDP/UNDP component of this project will continue to focus on assisting developers of renewable energy projects to bring those projects to a stage where they can obtain financial backing for the projects. Additionally, work will be provided to countries to improve the legislative framework for the management of the energy sector.
These tasks will be facilitated while working alongside other initiatives being undertaken by the GTZ component of CREDP Phase II. An important addition to Phase II is the inclusion of energy conservation. Energy conservation is a means to obtain direct gains to the consumer and the national economy and we look forward to the work to be conducted in this area.
In addition, many of you would have attended the launch of the OAS project, namely the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Programme. This project offers another opportunity to the Region by providing assistance in the development of a sustainable energy path. The CARICOM Secretariat is working with the OAS in the coordination and implementation of this initiative.
Another initiative in this area is the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative of the Inter-American Development Bank. The objective of this initiative is to expand the development and use of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency technologies and practices, and carbon finance in the Region, as well as to promote and financing climate change adaptation strategies that could contribute to reducing the Region’s climate vulnerability. The CARICOM Secretariat is also working closely with the IDB to develop collaborative arrangements to make best use of this initiative in the region.
In conclusion, please bear in mind that during your deliberations that the CREDP/UNDP project which is a central theme of the meeting will come to an end in the coming year and we need to continue to make the best use of the available resources. The work undertaken by this project has already laid the foundation for many of the issues I have raised and will continue in various forms in the initiatives mentioned and others still in the development stages. The CARICOM Secretariat will continue in its role to coordinate and facilitate these initiatives for the benefit of the Community to ensure that the goal of a sustainable energy path for the region has been formally established.
Finally, I wish to use this opportunity on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community to wish you every success in your deliberations.
