Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today said the United States and the Caribbean are making tangible progress in energy and climate cooperation.
At the High-Level Caribbean-U.S. Conference in Jamaica, Ms. Clinton said climate change may be affecting everywhere on earth. She stressed that climate change will have a disproportionate impact on small island nations as well.
“In 2009 to collaborate and to spark creative solutions, President Obama launched the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, so called ECPA. ECPA now consists of 40 different projects throughout the Americas focusing on everything from developing renewable energy sources to mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change. And today, I am pleased to announce two new efforts under ECPA.” – Ms. Clinton
According to Ms. Clinton, the United States has selected six countries to receive grants that will support Carribean’s pilot projects in efficient and renewable energy sources such as solar panels to heat water, wind turbines to power irrigation systems and so much more.
Ms. Clinton congratulated Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines on their successful proposals.
She also announced the new Caribbean Climate Change Adaptation Initiative. She said the University of the West Indies has agreed to partner with American universities to expand research on problems and solutions specific to the Caribbean and to serve as a hub to connect scientists from across the Caribbean, from the United.
“Our goal is to build local capacity so that you have the tools you need to meet your own challenges and even to contribute to solving regional and global climate change challenges as well.” -Ms. Clinton
