EDITORIAL: Renew focus on clean energy

Recent headlines have centred on Donald Trump’s stunning victory over Hillary Clinton in last week’s election. A warming world, however, waits for no man and the fact that the President-elect is not particularly keen on environmental concerns, to say the least, does not bode well. Already, activists are concerned that a United States led by Trump might back away from stated targets, which could potentially persuade other countries to follow suit.

 

By next year once the new president sets out his policies, we will be more certain of where his administration sits. Regardless, small island developing states must still continue their efforts to transform into green economies if they are to have any sustainable future. Barbados over the years has aimed to reach this ideal and has taken some steps towards making it a reality, such as a long, rich history of building and using solar water heaters. We have also embarked on projects that are expected to help reduce this island’s dependence on fossil fuels; for example, the solar photovoltaic utility plant in Trents, St. Lucy.

 

It is also encouraging that neighbouring islands are on this trend. Take Aruba, for example, which has committed to the ambitious task of becoming the first country that is 100 per cent powered by renewable energy by 2020. So far it is on a solid track with tangible projects such as: a wind farm which currently generates approximately 16 per cent of Aruba’s electricity needs, with a second wind farm on-stream; a solar park is under way where 14 000 photovoltaic panels will cover the airport parking lot; a waste-to-energy plant in the pipeline; and a solar schools project, which would see solar panels installed on at least 20 schools and government buildings. Add to that a reduction in imported oil, and more energy-efficient public lighting, among other ideas targeting the education sector, and it is clear that Aruba has fully bought into the concept of aggressively fulfilling a sustainable mandate, through key partnerships with environmental, educational, financial and other vested organisations. In addition, several Caribbean islands have taken the lead by enacting specific legislative policies, such as Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda, banning styrofoam containers and plastic bags, respectively. 

 

A greener, cleaner Barbados, therefore, must be on the forefront of everyone’s minds but it cannot happen without the full support of the public and several strategic partnerships. We hope the recent Barbados Renewable Energy Association Conference acts as a vital link in building on the framework – regulatory, legislative and financial – that must exist before Barbados can transform as it should. 

 

Equally as important, it must not be business as usual for our people to dump indiscriminately on land or at sea. It cannot be accepted that persons normalise throwing garbage out of a vehicle’s window. And, there should also be a crackdown on those vehicles that belch out noxious fumes, which irritate those with respiratory conditions in addition to filling the atmosphere with deadly carbon dioxide. Those attitudes need a major overhauling and fast if we are to build on the progress made so far. 

 

By working together, Government, stakeholders, investors and citizens can move Barbados on a forward trajectory with other developing nations committed to going green.