Media Advisory
Contact: Nasir Khattak
Email: nkhattak@climate.org

PRESS BRIEFING

"SMALL ISLAND STATES LEADING BY EXAMPLE"

GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ISLANDS INITIATIVE

At 2:30 pm, September 2, 2002 at the Main Press Room, Sandton Centre
World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa

At the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Governments of Dominica, St. Lucia and Grenada will announce their commitments to sustainable energy and challenge the world community to follow their example.

The Prime Minister of Dominica, Foreign Minister of St. Lucia and Environment Minister of Grenada will address a joint press conference with the Climate Institute and its partners in the Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII) on September 2, 2002, during the second week of the WSSD.

This event will highlight the pioneering initiatives by some of the smallest island nations to transform their energy systems from a fossil fuel base to greater reliance on renewable and energy efficiency applications. While these islands are among those that carry the least blame for climate change, they have all taken significant steps to increase their use of sustainable energy technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat global warming.

The press briefing will highlight practical examples of the use of sustainable energy technologies in small island states, and thereby present actual situations to support the fact that energy independence goals can be pursued along with development objectives. The event will underscore the compatibility of environmental protection and economic development through clean energy transformation.

Speakers:

• Hon. Pierre Charles, Prime Minister of Dominica

• Hon. Julian Hunte, Foreign Minister of St. Lucia
  

• Hon. Ms. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Environment & Health Minister of Grenada
  

• Ambassador T. Neroni Slade of Samoa, Chairman Alliance of Small Islands States
  

• Hon. Tom Roper, Board Member & Project Director, GSEII, Climate Institute

The island nation of St. Lucia became the first country to announce its intention to transform its energy systems to a fossil-fuel-free base to the extent possible, thereby becoming the world's first Sustainable Energy Demonstration Country. This was followed by the Governments of Grenada and Dominica in the Caribbean region, while the Maldives in the Indian Ocean and several island states in the Pacific have also expressed interest in joining this initiative. This event will serve as an opportunity for other small island states to support and join this leadership initiative of aggressively pursuing a clean energy future.

The presentations will showcase national efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the Government of St. Lucia is working on reducing its emissions from the power sector by 35% in the next ten years. Progress made by St. Lucia, Grenada, Dominica and other small island states that are members of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) will be presented.

The Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII), a consortium of international organizations, has been organized to support the interest of all small island states and potential donors by bringing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, models, and concepts together in a sustainable plan for small island nations. The GSEII is jointly administered by Organization of American States, Climate Institute, Winrock International, Counterpart International, Energy and Security Group and Forum for Energy and Development.

For further information, contact:

Nasir Khattak
Climate Institute
333 1-2 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003-1148
Phone: +1-202-547-0104
Fax: +1-202-547-0111
Email: nkhattak@climate.org