In transitioning to a green and blue economy Barbados must ensure that no one is left behind.
The emphatic statement was delivered by Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Colin Jordan, at the start of the national symposium on Just Transition and Job Creation in the Green and Blue Economy, held recently at Hilton Barbados, Needhams Point, St. Michael.
Stressing that a just transition includes justice that makes sense and must be for those “who are weaker”, Minister Jordan said: “Our transition must be inclusive, equitable, and mindful of the diverse needs of our society. Simply put, it must be human-centred. It must prioritise the well-being of our citizens, particularly those most vulnerable to the impacts of environmental degradation and economic dislocation.
He noted that central to this vision is the creation of green and blue jobs which are not merely employment opportunities but pathways to a more sustainable and prosperous future.
The Minister, in elaborating, said that by investing in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, marine conservation, and eco-tourism, we can unlock new sources of economic growth while safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.
Mr. Jordan added: “Moreover, these industries have the potential to generate meaningful employment across a range of skill levels, from manual labour to high-tech innovation to research and development.”
Participants also heard that the commitment to a just transition extends beyond job creation and encompasses the protection of workers’ rights, the provision of social safety nets, and the promotion of lifelong learning and skills development.
While also stressing the need to ensure workers in declining industries are not left stranded but are supported through retraining, reskilling, and redeployment programmes, the Minister noted this would require the creation of a regulatory framework that incentivizes green and blue investments while holding corporations, businesses generally, accountable for their environmental and social impact.
“Our transition [to a green and blue economy] must be inclusive, equitable, and mindful of the diverse needs of our society. Simply put, it must be human-centred. It must prioritise the well-being of our citizens, particularly those most vulnerable to the impacts of environmental degradation and economic dislocation.”
Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan
He stated that significant steps had already been taken towards this change with the 2024 Budget, where Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced that with effect from April 1, 2024, an additional 25 per cent nonrefundable tax credit would be provided to boost the 50 per cent research and development tax credit for projects related to the ocean and to the greening of the economy.
Lauding this, Mr. Jordan said: “Also with effect from April 1, 2024, a 50 per cent refundable tax credit will be afforded to projects resulting in net zero emissions in Barbados.”
The Labour Minister, while pointing out that the transition to a green and blue economy was a moral imperative, noted we had all added significantly to the environmental issues we face today and must address them.
He stressed: “We are now obligated to fix the problems that have been created – most of them not created by us but we are impacted and so we have to be on the cutting edge of fixing these problems. It is the responsibility of all of us to safeguard the natural splendor of our beautiful island for future generations.
“We owe it to our children and grandchildren to preserve our beaches, our coral reefs, our gullies, our flora and fauna, and other elements of our natural environment that define us as Barbadians. We owe them better lives than what we have today and we have to remember what our parents and grandparents did for us. In doing so, we must not only protect our environment but also reaffirm our commitment to social justice, equity, and human dignity.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Environment, National Beautification and the Blue and Green Economy, Adrian Forde, who welcomed participants, stated: “Just Transition requires a holistic approach with all hands on deck, working together to ensure that our country Barbados achieves its transformational objectives in an inclusive manner.”
Noting the genesis of the concept of Just Transition was widely attributed to the American labour and environmental activist, Tony Mazzocchi, he added: “At that time, it was devised to allow for discussions on the kinds of social and economic interventions needed to secure workers’ livelihoods in the shift from high-carbon to low-carbon technologies in a climate resilient atmosphere.”
The three-day symposium was a collaborative effort with the International Labour Organization, which involved the input of the Ministries of Environment and National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy; Labour, Social Security and Third Sector; Energy and Business; and Education, Technological and Vocational Training.