BRIDGETOWN– Improving the resilience of the Region’s energy sector, especially when it comes to natural disasters and the impacts of climate change, must be a priority for all countries in the Caribbean. The theme of resilience was brought into focus during the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) presentations at the 2018 Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) in Miami, Florida from November 7 to 9.

Speaking during the opening of the Island Resiliency Action Challenge event, on November 7, CDB’s Vice-President (Operations), Monica La Bennett noted that the energy sector is central to every country’s goal of achieving sustainable development, and emphasised the importance of improving the resilience of the electricity grid.

“The Region has identified improving the resilience of electricity systems and by extension, the energy sector, as a key component of its energy matrix transformation. Any plan for improving the resilience of our electricity systems must be seen as part of the overall strategy for building economic resilience. In fact, it must now be seen as an imperative linked to the very sustainability and survival of our Region,” said La Bennett.

The Vice-President noted that even as countries continue to pursue renewable energy solutions, they must seek to ensure that decisions are underpinned by careful analysis of the associated costs and benefits. She therefore encouraged stakeholders to make use of concessionary resources such as those available through the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund. La Bennett observed that determining the level of resilience to be incorporated, and the associated investment required, will require that several areas be considered…[+]