The Government of Antigua & Barbuda is taking steps to live up to its 2014 election manifesto by reducing emissions by 20% by 2020. Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the government he leads fully understands that climate change is a real issue, by explaining: “… we have diversified our energy mix into alternate energy to include a 10-megawatt solar voltaic application that we have actually introduced.”
In fact, the government is spending over US$21 million to build a solar facility that will power the V.C Bird International Airport on the Island. Browne said another facility will be built later this year, funded under the IRENA programme. Combined, Antigua will see at least US$37 million invested into renewable applications within the first 2.5 years of Browne’s government. The Prime Minister believes this is demonstrative of the commitment that his government has toward the issue of climate change and the building of a climate resilient economy.
