Globally, the clean energy sector is growing exponentially with clean energy
employment surpassing t hat of fossil fuels in 2021, according to the IEA World
Energy Report 2023. This presents significant opportunities for small island
developing states, and climate policy experts are calling for the Caribbean region
to get ahead of the curve on a just transition. Antigua and Barbuda in particular is
taking a cogent approach and laid out a clear just transition pathway in its national
climate change plans.
At the Climate Analytics Caribbean session, “A Just Transition: Empowering
inclusive climate action for the Caribbean” on March 12th, Ms. Ezra Christopher,
Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Department of Environment, noted,
“The Government of Antigua and Barbuda places tremendous weight on achieving
the goals of the Paris Agreement through its gender responsive transition to a low
emission, climate resilient economy.”
“Given the risks Antigua and Barbuda faces and its vulnerability to climate trends,
the country is highly motivated to embrace an energy transition,” said Ms.
Christopher. “Antigua and Barbuda has been strategic in how it has used its
Readiness Support from multilateral climate funds and technical assistance from
such partners like the NDC Partnership and Climate Analytics to support its long-
term strategic vision for climate action, enhancing capacities and strengthening
enabling environments to translate its climate change priorities into investment
plans.”
“We have aligned key technical assistance to our country’s Readiness Preparatory
Support Programme with the Green Climate Fund to support us in investment
planning, implementation and in upscaling. This support was instrumental in
developing our climate strategies, advancing implementation of our NDCs, and
developing projects.”
Ms. Christopher highlighted the following key pillars of Antigua and Barbuda’s
just transition advancement:
• Seek to drive the transformation of sectors and creation of jobs,
• Build the entrepreneurial capacity of women, youth, and micro, small and
medium enterprises,
• Provide education, training, and certification programmes for the workforce in
mitigation and adaptation technologies,
• Develop and integrate specialist programmes into existing educational
institutions,
• Involve multi-stakeholder consultations and social dialogues,
• Promote economic diversification by providing new and innovative job
opportunities,
• Encourage participation of both men and women in just transition initiatives, and
• Establish a Just Transition Framework for monitoring, and reporting on progress
of the transition process.
Ms. Christopher was joined by Climate Analytics Caribbean’s Climate Diplomacy
Advisor, Ms. Kristin Qui, and Climate Policy Advisor, Mr. Carlon Mendoza.
Mr. Mendoza shed light on the seminal Just Transition Work Programme which
was agreed at the international climate change summit, COP28, noting this is a
prime opportunity for a focus to be placed on how small island developing states
(SIDS) will be impacted through the global just transition.
“Antigua and Barbuda has already started thinking about just transition and how
that will flow into policy. Along with the ratification of Escazú Agreement, this
just transition work programme can provide a setting point and guidance. The
decisions taken at the international level are agreed by consensus and will inform
countries’ policies and legislation. This facilitates a holistic approach to ensure no
one is left behind.”
