In the continuing pursuit of its goal to create a Green Economy, Government has partnered with the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to erect photovoltaic systems on polyclinics and community centres.
The GEF is providing non-reimbursable financing in the sum of US$2 million to meet the cost of the project which will be executed with the UNDP as administrator.
Minister of Energy and Telecommunications, Senator Darcy Boyce, made the announcement today at a ceremony held to mark World Environment Day, which will be officially observed on Thursday, June 5.
Senator Boyce thanked the international organisations for their support and urged the international community to continue to partner with small island developing states in their efforts to combat climate change and preserve the environment.
???The initiatives that this country is taking with respect to establishing a viable renewable energy and energy-efficient sector must be seen within the context of our intention to create a Green Economy. This effort is being made as part of Government???s attempt to reduce the importation of fossil fuels which in 2012 cost the country in excess of BDS$800 million, seven per cent of Gross Domestic Product,??? he disclosed.
Senator Boyce noted that in an effort to support renewable energy and energy efficiency as one of the engines of the economy, Government had established an extensive system of tax and other concessions.
Additionally, it was further seeking to restructure the economy through the development of new skills, with a view to creating hundreds of ???green jobs???. To this end, he revealed, labour market analyses were being undertaken to establish short, medium and long-term needs for the Green Economy.
joy.springer@barbados.gov.bb