How should the region respond to climate change?
This is among the questions government and business leaders from around the Caribbean are considering at Mosquito Island this week during a summit hosted by Sir Richard Branson.
The three-day Creating Climate Change Wealth Summit will include a series of workshops designed to help islands implement “renewable solutions” in schools, hospitals, tourism facilities, and public transport systems, according to Government Information Services.
The event came out of the May 2013 Summit of Political and Business Leaders for the Caribbean Challenge Initiative, which was held on Necker Island, Bitter End and Biras Creek, Virgin Gorda.
Sir Richard is a founding partner of the Carbon War Room, a non-governmental organisation that works to promote market-based solutions to climate change. The CWR is serving as a regional consultant with the CCI, assisting signatories in achieving renewable energy goals, according to GIS.
In October 2013, another partner came on board: The United States-based non-profit Rocky Mountain Institute is helping to guide this week’s workshops.
The Virgin Islands government is represented this week by Deputy Premier Dr. Kedrick Pickering, who is the minister of natural resources and labour; Henry Creque, deputy director of the BVI Electricity Corporation; and Benito Wheatley, deputy director of the BVI London Office.
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