By: Staff Writer
December 17, 2021
A Jamaican cabinet minister said that the country is charting a “bold and bright future” on its electric vehicle transition.
Earlier this week the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) hosted a webinar, “Supercharging Jamaica’s Electric Vehicle Strategy,” where the bank along with government officials from Jamaica talked about the country’s transition to achieving the National Determined Contributions (NDC) of the Paris Agreement.
Lorenzo Escondeur, the IDB’s Jamaica chief of operations,, said: “Today’s public forum reminds us of the importance of reducing Jamaica dependence on fossil oil to achieve the NDC (National Determined Contributions) targets under various agreements. Jamaica’s 2020 NDC sets a goal of 25 percent to 28 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. One of the key pillars to achieve this target is inclusion of electric vehicles.
He continued, “Transport is a major source of energy consumption in the Caribbean lifeline, accounting for 28 percent to 37 percent of GDP.”
Understanding this Mr Escondeur highlighted the importance of the IDB partnering with Jamaica to help the country to achieve both its transportation needs objectives and its clean energy targets.
Daryl Vaz, minister without portfolio in the ministry of economic growth and job creation, Jamaica, also said: “I believe the staging of this event will further strengthen our efforts and Jamaica’s position in the electric vehicle landscape. Ladies and gentlemen, the world is in the fast lane to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles as we seek to reduce our carbon footprint, produce more efficient vehicles and provide environmentally friendly energy solutions for all.
“In our country where road and rail transportation has consistently accounted for more than 30 percent of the petroleum consumed. Greater effort must be made to diversify our vehicle offerings while reducing our carbon footprint and dependence on imported oils.”
He added: “Energy is an important part of the NDC, as it recognizes that our shift to cleaner energy will reduce local air pollution and therefore will benefit human health. Ladies and gentlemen, electric vehicles are a part of Jamaica’s big, bold and bright future.”
Dr Marcelino Madrigal acting division chief of energy at the IDB, in outlining the targets for the IDB in Jamaica said that while understanding that over $1bn in fuel imports is spent in Jamaica, added that it is better to cut out all of that spending on fuel and transition into electric cars.
Mr Madrigal also said: “ So, the challenges is basically that for Jamaica, reducing fossil fuel consumption in the energy and transport sector, so as you have a more efficient transportation system and a more renewable energy mix, you will basically reduce your fuel imports and reduce your dependency and the impact it has on the fuel viability.
“In terms of emissions, a direct relationship, also transport and the electricity sector generate basically two thirds of the whole emissions in the country.”
Calling this transfer to electric vehicles a “win-win proposition” for Jamaica, “in terms of reducing its fuel dependency, which has important impacts on reducing emissions,” he added.