By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

The Turks and Caicos Islands has joined several other territories in adopting a Sustainable Energy Roadmap at the recent inaugural Summit of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT).

The OCT Roadmap addresses key strategies and actions that support a path towards decreasing fossil fuel dependency and the improvement of energy efficiency through the use of renewable technologies.

“The endorsement of the OCT Roadmap is a crucial deliverable in confirming funding for renewable energy, which is one of the focal areas for both the Caribbean Regional Programme ($44.2M) as well as the Thematic Programme ($17.7M-$19.9M), by the European Development Fund,” said Energy and Utilities Commissioner Malike Cummings.

Cummings served as part of the TCI’s delegation to the Summit, where he made a presentation addressing the unique challenges that his country faces in sustainable energy endeavors.

The delegation also included Deputy Secretary Desmond Wilson and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning Susan Malcolm, who signed the Roadmap on behalf of the TCI.

“The Summit fostered exchange on the possible contribution of OCTs for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the annual Conference of Parties, which will take place later this year in Paris,” said Malcolm.

Other participants included government officials from OCT and EU member-states, representatives of the European Parliament, European energy research institutes, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the European Commission, the International Energy and other significant stakeholders.

Last year, the Turks and Caicos signed a memorandum of understanding to join the Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge, an initiative similarly aiming to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and increase green energy production.