SIDS conference adopts the Barbados Declaration

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Friday May 11, 2012 – The Barbados-hosted Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States Conference has concluded with the adoption of the "Barbados Declaration" addressing universal access to modern and affordable renewable energy services while protecting environment, ending poverty and creating new opportunities for economic growth.

Adopted just weeks before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development “Rio+20”, the declaration includes an annex with voluntary commitments of 20 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to take actions toward providing universal access to energy, switching to renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Barbados announced its plan to increase the share of renewable energy in that country to 29 percent of all electricity consumption by 2029.

"By 2029 we expect that total electricity costs would have been cut by US$283.5 million and CO2 emissions would have been reduced by 4.5 million tons," said Prime Minister Freundel Stuart. "We also envisage an overall 22 percent reduction in projected electricity consumption based on the use of energy efficiency measures."

Actions pledged by other small developing island states include Maldives’ commitment to achieve carbon neutrality in the energy sector by the year 2020; Marshall Island’s aim to electrify all urban households and 95 percent of rural outer atoll households by 2015; Mauritius’ commitment to increasing the share of renewable energy - including solar power, wind energy, hydroelectric power, bagasse and landfill gas - to 35 percent or more by 2025, and Seychelles’ commitment to produce 15 percent of energy supply from renewable energy by 2030. More