sustainable development 20 years on from the ... - José Eli da Veiga

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compiled national inventories of coastal resources, established databases of climate-related
parameters and benefited from the design and establishment of a sea level monitoring
programme (Trotz, <strong>20</strong>08). Furthermore, in <strong>20</strong>09 the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Heads of Government approved the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre Regional
Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change (CCCCC, <strong>20</strong>11). The
Centre is also preparing an implementation plan for the regional framework.
(iv) Mitigation. As part of their climate change mitigation efforts, Caribbean SIDS have focused
on increased efficiency in the energy and transport sectors and have worked on national
awareness-building and incorporated several new initiatives utilizing renewable energy
technologies. In addition, Caribbean SIDS have targeted both supply- and demand-side
measures for energy mitigation, such as energy conservation and efficiency, cogeneration,
modernization of thermoelectric utilities, improvement of transport infrastructure,
enhancement of energy efficiency in lighting and air conditioning and implementation of
demand-side management programmes. In the transport sector, Caribbean SIDS have
attempted mitigation through the introduction of electric or compressed natural gas vehicles,
encouragement for early adoption of hybrid vehicles and the introduction of vehicle
emissions standards (Trotz, <strong>20</strong>08). These efforts will not only improve transport sector
efficiency but will also create positive spillovers for other policy goals, such as reducing
local pollution, energy costs and traffic congestion. Despite their low contributions to global
greenhouse gas emissions and the efforts mentioned in (i) above, however, Caribbean SIDS
face challenges in moving to clean energy. An increase in energy consumption resulted in
carbon dioxide emissions increasing by an annual average of 3.0% between 1990 and <strong>20</strong>08. 3
3. Convention on Biological Diversity
The Caribbean countries have consistently reported progress in implementing the Convention on
Biological Diversity. Almost half of the Caribbean SIDS 4 have submitted all four national reports, and the
majority of the remaining countries have submitted at least three national reports since 1998. In addition
to national reporting, the principle mechanism for implementing the Convention at the national level is
through national biodiversity strategies and action plans. 5 Over half of all Caribbean SIDS 6 have
completed an initial strategy and action plan since 1998, and an additional four countries 7 are revising or
have revised their strategy. The process of mainstreaming biodiversity into national <strong>development</strong>
planning has been relatively successful, with most countries rating their progress in this regard as medium
to high. Specifically, Belize, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica and Saint Lucia have reported high levels of
Convention implementation. 8 In particular, Saint Lucia has achieved near complete implementation of its
first strategy and action plan, with the success of implementation due in large part to an active
biodiversity focal point in government; strong inclusion of sectors, communities and stakeholders in a
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ECLAC calculation based on carbon dioxide emissions data from the Millennium Development Goals Indicators
database, [online] http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx [date of reference: December <strong>20</strong>11].
Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana and Saint Lucia.
National biodiversity strategies and action plans under the Convention on Biological Diversity [online]
http://www.cbd.int/nbsap/ [date of reference: December <strong>20</strong>11].
Barbados, Belize, Dominca, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Cuba, Guyana, Bahamas and Saint Lucia.
National reports under the Convention on Biological Diversity [online] http://www.cbd.int/reports/search/ [date
of reference: December <strong>20</strong>11].