Representatives of 22 countries met recently in Miami to discuss some of the topics they would like to see on the table at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). The October 2019 ministerial—to be held in Montego Bay, Jamaica—will bring together energy ministers and other high-level officials […]
Getting to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 will be not be easy and it will not be cheap, acknowledged the Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Barbados, Wilfred Abrahams. But, he said, Barbados simply cannot afford to keep buying imported oil. Setting the highest bar on renewable energy sends a clear message that […]
[Photo: International Federation] When it comes to hurricanes, the twin-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has plenty of experience—eight major storms in just over two decades, bookended by Hurricane Luis in 1995 and Hurricane Irma in 2017. “It’s a painful experience, but you learn from your experiences,” Ambassador Brian Challenger explained, as he talked […]
In an era of fierce and frequent hurricanes, few would argue with the premise that the energy sector in the Caribbean must become more resilient—and fast. But what’s the most effective way to harden the electric grid, and where’s the money going to come from? How can island nations, territories, and communities accelerate planning and […]
Natural gas production in the United States has boomed in recent years, contributing to a supply glut and reduced prices, while regulatory changes have paved the way for expanded U.S. exports. At the same time, technological innovations have provided new options for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), giving countries more flexibility to import this fuel […]
Jamaica’s Energy Authority Drives Energy Efficiency Projects in the Public Sector By Monique Martin Communications Associate, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica Jamaica’s leading authority on energy matters, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) is known for being a powerhouse when it comes to the development and promotion of Jamaica’s energy resources. Established in 1979 as a statutory […]
Costa Rica is already well-known for its green forests and green electric grid. Now, under the direction of a young new leader—38-year-old President Carlos Alvarado—the country is taking on the challenge of “decarbonizing” its entire economy, primarily the transportation sector but also agriculture, industry, and other areas. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Costa Rica’s Minister of Environment […]
One year after Hurricane Maria stripped Dominica’s trees of their leaves and turned the lush Caribbean island to brown, Ambassador Vince Henderson reports that nature is rebounding. “The island is looking green again, and I think psychologically that makes a big difference,” he said recently, just days after returning from a visit home. In an […]
Up and down the Pacific Coast of the Americas and in the Eastern Caribbean—along the region’s volcanic arcs and shifting tectonic plates—geothermal resources hold the potential to provide a steady supply of renewable energy. Mexico and several Central American countries already generate some of their electricity from geothermal power, and last year Chile opened what […]
Geothermal development doesn’t always take place around active volcanoes; conversely, not every active volcano is suitable for geothermal development. But what if those two elements do come together and there’s a volcanic eruption? Hawaii is in the process of finding out. In fact, the state’s only geothermal power plant—Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV)—has been shut down […]
It’s easy to understand the appeal of electric vehicles in places where electricity is generated from renewable sources. But even in countries that depend on fossil fuels to generate power, electric vehicles make sense, says an expert from the University of Trinidad and Tobago, who spearheaded a project to bring the first electric bus to […]
The tour was organized under the auspices of ECPA to provide participating institutions with a first-hand experience of energy efficiency testing, verification, and certification. National bureaus of standards officials from the Caribbean visited the Intertek facilities in New York State, where they met with lab managers and experts. Since 2016, the OAS implements a project […]
In most places, on most days, the ability to turn on a light relies on a large centralized power plant, a network of high-voltage transmission lines, and a local distribution system. Most people don’t even think about the electric grid that powers their everyday lives until suddenly it’s not there. Of course, that’s what happened […]
Earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, ice storms, solar storms, brush fires, cyberattacks—these are just some of the events that can disrupt or incapacitate an electric grid. But for many countries in the region, it is the threat of hurricanes that looms the largest, especially with the start of the Atlantic hurricane season on June 1 and […]
A new course of studies in “green engineering” offers students in the Caribbean the chance to explore how to design and use products, processes, and systems more sustainably. With support from the Organization of American States (OAS), teachers from around the region recently met in Jamaica for a three-day Green Engineering Boot Camp to look […]
When Mexico first started to focus on improving energy efficiency in public buildings, the most pressing concern was not how to mitigate the effects of climate change but how to cut costs. The government needed to save money, and one way to do that was to reduce its energy use. Now, with energy efficiency at […]
Consider these two seemingly unrelated problems: Solar and wind energy are intermittent, and fresh water is often in short supply. An integrated system that combines existing technologies—and that runs entirely on renewable energy—could solve both those problems at the same time, an engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology maintains. And, he says, several sites […]
The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is implementing a project to enhance the energy sector’s asset management capabilities for operational technology. This project will include the development of a reference design and use commercially available technologies to develop an example solution that will help […]
Think of Jamaica, and it’s likely you think of sun. But the country has another source of renewable energy too, in the form of steady trade winds. Wigton Windfarm Ltd. operates the largest wind energy facility in the English-speaking Caribbean, and its training center is working to spread the news about all types of renewable […]
Air pollution can have deadly consequences; in fact, it accounts for an estimated 93,000 deaths each year in low- and middle-income countries in the Americas and another 44,000 deaths in high-income countries in the region, according to the Pan American Health Organization. As serious as the problem is, many cities and countries are still not […]
Just as many cities in Latin America and the Caribbean are striving to become more sustainable, so are many ports. That seems only appropriate, since ports are often big enough and busy enough that they could almost be considered cities unto themselves. The Inter-American Committee on Ports encourages sustainable practices in the industry, and every […]
As they strive to meet ambitious targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency, many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have turned to the Clean Energy Solutions Center for no-cost advice and guidance. Through its “Ask an Expert” service, the Solutions Center makes consultants available to help governments develop, design, and implement climate-friendly policies […]
Think “energy poverty” and the first image that comes to mind is likely a remote village with no electricity. But it’s quite possible to be connected to the grid—even to live in a large city—and still be in a state of energy poverty. In a recent interview for the ECPA newsletter, a researcher in Mexico […]
The Paris Agreement, adopted two years ago this month, laid the foundation for the world to tackle the “urgent threat” of climate change. Recently, representatives of several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean participated in a workshop in Argentina to assess how they’re doing so far and what steps they can take to bridge […]
Latin America is doing a lot of things right on the energy front, both in terms of policy and technology, according to David L. Goldwyn, Chairman of the Energy Advisory Board at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center. But often it’s the “last mile” that’s the most difficult, he said, as countries that have already […]
Belize is on a “fast pace” to produce more electric power from renewable sources, as part of a strategy to bolster its energy independence and ensure that everyone in the country has access to electricity. The head of the country’s Ministry of Public Service, Energy and Public Utilities, Frank Mena, sat down for an interview […]
Building Resilience in the Face of Disaster The names are all too familiar by now: Harvey. Irma. Maria. Nate. This year’s list of tropical storm systems strong enough to get a name started with Arlene in April and barreled on through Rina in early November. The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends on November 30, […]
VIÑA DEL MAR, Chile—After announcing that her country will host the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), Jamaican Ambassador Audrey Marks spoke in an interview about the importance of energy issues to the Caribbean region. “We are determined as a country and as a region to get to […]
VIÑA DEL MAR, Chile—For a window into the region’s energy diversity, look no further than the working sessions held during the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). Delegations from the 25 countries represented talked about a wide range of energy-related challenges and opportunities they are facing, from the […]
VIÑA DEL MAR, Chile—Meeting here to discuss the “Energy Transition in the Americas,” energy ministers and other high-level officials from 24 countries in the region reaffirmed that they share “a common path” toward cleaner energy, as Chilean President Michelle Bachelet put it. That message was always going to be central to the Third Ministerial Meeting […]
For almost a decade, the Department of Sustainable Development of the Organization of American States has managed several projects under the ECPA umbrella to support national and regional energy priorities in energy efficiency, metrology, and donor coordination. Economic growth in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean is driving an increase in the demand […]
Since 2009, the ECPA Technical Coordination Unit (TCU) facilitates clean energy dialogue, coordinates activities and supports the exchange of information and best practices. This newsletter edition explores the role of the TCU, a fundamental body within ECPA. Take a read at the following articles to learn more about its inception, evolution, responsibilities and achievements. ECPA […]
One of ECPA’s greatest achievements lies with its ability to build strategic partnerships with diverse institutions as a means to expand the Partnership’s reach. By joining forces with local, regional and international partners with common interests and objectives, ECPA was able to use its resources more effectively in promoting dialogue, knowledge sharing, and best practices […]
ECPA IN ACTION Building Sustainable Communities More than four out of five people in Latin America and the Caribbean now live in cities. This creates major challenges—more pollution, snarled traffic, decaying infrastructure, rising energy demands, and greater vulnerability to natural disasters, to name just a few—and is prompting local government officials to take the lead […]
A Sustainable Cities Competition held in Miraflores, Peru, drew more than 100 proposals on how to make that part of Lima even more environmentally friendly than it already is. The competition—held in conjunction with the Sustainable Cities Course that took place in that city in April—ended on Earth Day, with a project fair in a […]
What does it mean to become a more sustainable community? In a small island country like Saint Kitts and Nevis, it means that challenges such as marine conservation, beach protection, and resilience to natural hazards have a prominent place on the agenda, alongside more traditional urban concerns such as traffic congestion and waste reduction. All […]
The OAS Sustainable Cities Course in Miraflores, Peru—an affluent district within the sprawling capital city of Lima—was supposed to take place in March. Then came the punishing rains and floods brought by an especially severe version of a localized climate phenomenon known as a “Coastal El Niño.” The course took place April 19-22 instead, with […]
Enough sunlight reaches the earth’s surface each minute to satisfy the world’s energy demands—for an entire year. http://facts.randomhistory.com/energy-facts.html
A government sets energy policy, determines the country’s long-term needs, and builds a foundation of laws and regulations—but in most cases, it is the private sector that handles implementation. That’s why business will have a seat at the table when the region’s energy ministers meet for the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate […]
Trinidad and Tobago has been producing oil for more than a century—commercial production began in 1908, in a field located near Pitch Lake, in La Brea—and today, 100 percent its electricity comes from fossil fuels, chiefly natural gas. That is about to change, as the country looks toward a future that includes renewable energy sources. […]
With momentum building for the upcoming meeting of the region’s energy ministers—the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA)—representatives of 28 countries met on April 20 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to discuss their priorities, needs, and potential for increased cooperation. Franklin Kahn, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister […]
With momentum building for the upcoming meeting of the region’s energy ministers—the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA)—representatives of 28 countries met on April 20 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to discuss their priorities, needs, and potential for increased cooperation. Franklin Kahn, Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister […]
Energy is also found in food, and measured in joules. How long would you have to plug yourself into the wall to get the same amount of power as a day’s worth of food? Well, the average adult male needs 10 million joules of energy a day. When you consider that your laptop probably charges […]
As preparations intensify for the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, the Energy Working Group of the Americas Business Dialogue offers a private sector perspective on the opportunities for the region’s energy development. The Americas Business Dialogue (ABD)—a private sector-driven initiative facilitated by the Inter-American Development Bank—seeks to foster […]
What is ECPA up to? The next stop before Viña del Mar will be Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where representatives from countries around the region will gather April 20 to prepare for September’s Third ECPA Ministerial Meeting. In a sense, Port of Spain is the birthplace of ECPA; the Energy and Climate Partnership […]
It’s official: Energy ministers from around the region will gather in Viña del Mar, Chile, on September 7-8 for the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). Chilean President Michelle Bachelet invited all Member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) to participate, noting that “we share the […]
What energy could be more cost-effective than energy that’s never used in the first place? No wonder governments are increasingly looking at energy efficiency as the “first fuel” and “a source of energy in its own right,” as the International Energy Agency puts it. For this month’s newsletter, the Energy and Climate Partnership of the […]
Far too many people in Latin America and the Caribbean live in substandard dwellings, often built with poor materials and lacking basic infrastructure services. A study by the Inter-American Development Bank put the number at 59 million people, or one in three families. An organization called Weatherizers Without Borders (WWB) is working in Argentina and […]
In Valdivia, a city of about 160,000 people in southern Chile, a university research team set about analyzing how best to cut energy use in public buildings. Seeking the biggest bang for the buck, the team focused on three schools and City Hall. First, a bit of context. Valdivia sees more than its share of […]
In Mexico, a widely accessible financing mechanism—the “Green Mortgage”—makes it easy for homebuyers to install energy-efficient appliances, low-flow toilets, LED lighting, solar water heaters, and a host of other “ecotechnologies.” Through its Green Mortgage program, the housing lender Infonavit—the name stands for the Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers—provides a loan add-on, on […]
Caribbean countries should take better advantage of the “vast pool of expertise” in the region and the Caribbean diaspora, as well as throughout the hemisphere, to increase technical cooperation on energy, a high-level official of the Organization of American States (OAS) told the Fifth Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum. “I am of the firm view that […]
The first street in the world to be lit by electric light bulbs was Mosley Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1879. (Source: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/top10facts/506854/Top-10-facts-about-electricity)
The Miraflores district located in Lima, capital of Peru, will host the twelfth edition of the “Sustainable Cities” regional course. The Organization of American States (OAS) is organizing the course with the support of the Town Hall led by Mayor Jorge Muñoz Wells. This joint effort will allow Miraflores’ Town Hall staff to work in […]
Electric vehicles are popping up on streets and highways from Barbados to Uruguay and points in between, as governments and consumers look at ways to reduce their carbon footprints. While the trend is still largely in the nascent stage—here a few taxis, there a public bus—in some places electric vehicles are starting to pick up […]
Sixty participants and 39 speakers gathered in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on December 6-9, 2016, for the Sustainable Cities Course 10th Edition, hosted by the Organization of American States (OAS) in coordination with the Mayor of Montego Bay, St James Parish Council, and the Jamaica Solar Energy Association (JSEA). Geared toward government officials and members of […]
Google accounts for roughly 0.013% of the world’s energy use. It uses enough energy to continuously power 200,000 homes. Google data centers used 260 million megawatts of power in 2010. Source: http://facts.randomhistory.com/energy-facts.html
Costa Rica—the latest country to join the Steering Committee of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA)—has set a global example on renewable energy. In 2016, for the second year in a row, it generated more than 98 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. As enviable as that feat may be, it […]
2010-04-21Nuestra visión es un futuro energético y climático sostenible para el Hemisferio
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