United Nations Development Programme Country: Regional project document1
Situation analysis 1.1 Context and global significance: Environmental, policy and institutional
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1. Situation analysis1.1 Context and global significance: Environmental, policy and institutionalMost Caribbean islands import oil for the bulk of their electricity needs, exposing these countries to the volatility of international markets and all of the associated economic consequences. Local generation plants are often old and a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, while the islands’ greatest indigenous energy resources – the sun and the wind – remain untapped. Building a sustainable energy infrastructure, however, is challenging. Even in the most developed countries, large-scale investment in renewable energy requires a supportive policy and economic climate. But if the right framework can be put in place, renewable power can be cost-competitive with traditional electricity generation. This is particularly true in the Caribbean, where electricity can cost as much as US$0.50/kWh. For instance, Saint Lucia imports almost 100% of its oil needed to run its sole power plant on the island. According to the Caribbean Electricity Service Corporation (CARILEC), electricity prices average at least US$0.34/kWh, in a context where the average annual household income is US$12,800 (2011).2 The dependence on imported fossil fuels is a familiar story throughout the region and the lack of diversified resources leaves the Caribbean islands greatly constrained in its economic opportunities – see Figure 13 with global comparisons. 
Figure 1. Average price of electricity (US cents/kWh). Directory: docs -> pdc -> Documents docs -> United Nations E/C. 12/Esp/5 docs -> 9th May 1950 the schuman declaration docs -> Getting To Outcomes® in Services for Homeless Veterans 10 Steps for Achieving Accountability Documents -> United Nations Development Programme Country: Maldives Project Document Documents -> United Nations Development Programme Country: Solomon Islands Project Document Documents -> Annual Progress Report Documents -> 2015 Progress Report Award 50457 – Strategic Ecosystems and Biodiversity protected through the implementation of Economic Valuation methodologies, payment of environmental services and adoption of new technologies as of December 2015 Documents -> United nations development programme Documents -> Project document (pims 3600) United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility Ministry of Environment Documents -> Final report. Dipecho project Download 0.75 Mb. Share with your friends:
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