Caribbean states are in line to receive assistance with their sustainable energy programmes and developing renewable energy resources.
On Wednesday, the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) was inaugurated in Barbados to act as the coordinating regional hub and think tank for sustainable energy issues and activities.
Chairman of CARICOM, Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, said the centre would also promote a low carbon economy, reduce dependence on imported fuels and increase their resilience to climate change.
However, he cautioned that it will not be a panacea for the challenges faced by the region.
With 20 per cent of the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) being spent on petroleum imports, the CARICOM Chairman said it was necessary to deal with the challenges of petroleum-based economies in a holistic way.
