Businesses committed to tackling climate crisis

by Marlon Madden

The business community remains committed to helping Barbados tackle issues relating to climate change, Executive Director of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI Misha Lobban-Clarke has assured.

In fact, she said the organisation, which represents companies of all sizes and sectors, is already a key player in helping to address “this existential crisis” and will continue “to be a key partner in advocating for businesses in Barbados to become more environmentally conscious in adopting effective measures to mitigate the current climate crises”.

Lobban-Clarke was addressing the recent launching ceremony of the Barbados Youth Climate Action Summit and Expo on World Environment Day. She said the issue of sustainability and the green economy has been a primary focus for the BCCI since 2010 when the organisation formed its first Green Committee “as a response to the need for all of us to take meaningfully action to address the climate change crisis”.

Further pointing to the BCCI’s involvement in promoting a green culture, Lobban-Clarke said it supported the ban on plastics, while pointing out that “many businesses within the Chamber’s membership adapted to this market-driven change, with plastic bags and straws being replaced in the supermarkets, retail outlets and restaurants across Barbados.”

“We also committed to supporting the national goal of generating 100 per cent of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2030. We have been raising awareness among the business sector regarding energy efficient practices and contributing to public education through webinars like the one we hosted last year on ‘Turning Adversity into Sustainable Economic Opportunity’,” she said.

She said the business community was also playing its part by providing relevant feedback to government on how it can “make the regulatory procedures and process for energy efficiency more practical and user friendly”.

The BCCI was also instrumental in lobbying for a reduction in duty and taxes on electric vehicles, pushing for greater energy efficiency, and providing substantial inputs on the power purchase agreement for renewable energy systems from 1 megawatt to 10 megawatt, said Lobban-Clarke.

“The importance of forging and sustaining collaborative partnerships is a key strategic pillar for the Barbados Chamber. We strongly believe that it is critical for us to work together to develop strategic partnerships that will enable Barbados to achieve its goals of becoming a sustainable green economy,” he said.

“In this regard, the BCCI collaborates closely with the Barbados Renewable Energy Association (BREA) and we have representation on the board of the Barbados Environmental Sustainability Fund – a fund that looks to provide funding for green and blue businesses,” added Lobban-Clarke.

She also noted that the BCCI has a seat on the board of the Land Conservancy – a recently formed nongovernmental organisation that seeks to protect and enhance places of natural beauty on the island.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb