US launches plan to help region battle climate crisis

An initiative was unveiled on Thursday to help Caribbean countries tackle the climate crisis and boost clean energy, as regional leaders met United States Vice President Kamala Harris on the margins of the ninth Summit of the Americas underway in Los Angeles.

Dubbed the US Caribbean Partnership to address the Climate Crisis 2030, the programme will support energy infrastructure and climate resilience projects at every stage of development, from beginning to end, in four specific ways.

“First, we will work with you to identify new clean energy projects,” Harris said. “Second, we will provide technical assistance to make sure these projects are viable and appealing not only to you but to investors. We will bring them — investors — to the Caribbean on, essentially, roadshows to showcase the projects.”

Harris added that the US will also work to help the region gain access to development financing to make the projects a reality.

“We will engage with the private sector at every stage of this work because, of course, their involvement is essential to making this productive and meaningful,” she said.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett, who spoke on behalf of the regional bloc, endorsed the partnership, noting that it was critical as the region continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and rising energy prices.

Noting the region’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels, she stressed that energy security was paramount.

“We are predominantly net energy importers and, therefore, for us, energy security is a critical matter even as we seek to transition our energy systems to more modern, clean, and reliable supplies of renewable energy,” she said.

Barnett further underscored the importance of private sector investment in renewable energy given the scarce resources of governments. (SD)