Small Island States Take Steps to Become Energy Independent and End Poverty

High-level forum in Barbados to chart a new 'Sustainable Energy for All' roadmap ahead of "Rio+20" Conference, UNDP

The Government of Barbados, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States will host from 7 to 9 May 2012 the High-Level Conference of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in SIDS and the Rio+20 Informal Ministerial Meeting.


Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart and UNDP Resident Representative in Barbados Michelle Gyles-McDonnough will open the Conference which will discuss policy strategies leading to universal access to energy, increase in renewable energy production and energy efficiency.

Convened less than two months before world leaders gather in Brazil for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development "Rio+20", the Bridgetown Conference brings together high level representatives of 39 countries from the Caribbean, the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Africa, that belong to the Small Island Developing States group.

"Small island developing states can leap toward the goal of a poverty free and prosperous future by changing their energy sectors," said Prime Minister Stuart. "Just weeks before the Rio+20 Conference, our countries can rally the international community with a unified voice, sharing our aspiration to become fully sustainable, and to contribute to a meaningful outcome of the meeting in Rio de Janeiro." More