Caricom Energy Month looks to promote sustainable energy in Caribbean region

CARICOM has inaugurated its Energy Month on November 1, 2023, which includes a month-long celebration that aims to support and promote sustainable energy development within the community.

The theme for CEM 2023 is ‘Accelerating Innovation- Driving Electrification’, which underscores the importance of innovation in the energy sector and supports the fast-growing market for electrification.

It focuses on the critical role that innovation holds an important spot in adapting the existing tools and technologies to keep the rapidness with the constantly changing landscape.

The observances began on November 1, 2023, with the three-day Caribbean Energies and Investment Summit (CEIS), which was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Bridgetown, in Barbados.

CEIS is being organized in partnership with the Government of Barbados under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Energy and Business.

The summit was co-hosted by other industries of Barbados which aims on the theme, ‘Sustainable Energy Paths for the Caribbean’ to strengthen and honour energy reliability, affordability and security such as,

– National Petroleum Corporation

– Barbados National Oil Company Limited

– Export Barbados

– Invest Barbados

It will support the identification of sustainable energy and investment paths for the Caribbean region to attain actionable consequences that are accorded with Vision 2030 and Net Zero Emissions by 2050.

The Eight Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF-VIII) will be set to begin from November 7-9, 2023, at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.

The theme for CSEF-VIII is ‘Powering Transport’, and the emphasis will be on sustainable transport options, which include updates on member countries’ progress and development.

Following are the participants who will take part in the three-day regional forum to talk about the practical approaches for transforming the sustainable energy which is used in the transport sector,

– International Experts

– Policymakers

– Stakeholders from the CARICOM region

Topics to be discussed in the forum

• The forum will cover a range of topics, such as
• Electrifying the transport sector
• Electrifying the Caribbean
• Integrating electric vehicles into power distribution networks
• Decarbonizing difficult-to-electrifying segments of the transport sector

CSEF VIII is supported by New Energy Events and hosted by the following,

• Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
• CARICOM Secretariat
• Jamaican Electric Vehicle Association (JEVA)
• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
• Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CORE)

The event will showcase that how individuals can contribute to the transformation towards a sustainable economy with customized knowledge and information about the products.

It will also extend an opportunity for businesses to boost their services that encourage this transition. The CEM Kilo Walk is the main highlight and is being hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat.

Notably, there will be a CEM lecture series that aims to display the latest opportunities, practices, innovations, and technologies entangled in the energy transition to both the public and academia in selected member states.

Schedule: Lectures are scheduled to be held in Jamaica on November 9, Guyana on November 16 and Trinidad and Tobago on November 23.

Town Hall Meetings will take place in Belize on November 13, The Bahamas on November 20 and St Kitts and Nevis on November 27.

All in all, the CEM seeks to raise awareness and attentiveness about the importance of sustainable energy development and inspire individuals to actively participate in the process.