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What does it take for a small developing country like Jamaica to become a green economy? What level of resources is required?
The first requirement to achieve a green economy, especially in a country like Jamaica, is education. You have to educate your people from the kindergarten level so they understand the value of having a clean energy economy. At the same time, Jamaica must diversify its energy portfolio. It is very clear that the majority of the energy in Jamaica is imported energy from fossil fuel. What Jamaica must consider is wind and solar energy; there is lots of sun there. This would create jobs in Jamaica because as you develop a diversified energy portfolio you create job opportunities for people who will manufacture, install and maintain alternative energy products.
Jamaica should also promote the weatherisation of homes so that they become more energy efficient and reduce the cost of electricity to each home owner. This also helps to reduce the impact of CO2 to the atmosphere. As you use more wind and solar energy, you use less fossil fuel and emit less CO2 into the atmosphere. So, it is a win-win for all nations especially places like Jamaica.
What level of start-up capital is needed to operate a green business?
When you talk about wind energy, someone must develop and manufacture wind turbines. Someone must install and maintain the turbines. Those are green jobs and businesses that can be developed to meet the energy needs of Jamaica. So green job businesses and investments are not limited to industrialised countries; Jamaica has the potential to produce wind and solar energy.
Is there a transitional phase before a country becomes a green economy?
Conservation has to be a part of a diversified energy portfolio. That's where education comes in, to educate people about why and how to conserve energy. If people can reduce the amount of energy they use, they will cut the cost of their energy, and at the same time they reduce the amount of energy needed to produce the energy they consume. We can cut energy usage from the production as well as the consumer end, recognising that the majority of the income of people across the world is spent on energy.
What's your view on primary products, like corn, being used to produce bio-fuel?
I think there are good ways to produce energy and there are bad ways. I think that because we are in the early stage of developing alternative energy, we should consider processes other than corn, especially when there are food shortages and shortages of feed for animals. We must develop a diversified portfolio and consider many other alternatives in the area of biofuels. For example, we can use switch grass and bark from trees.
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The first requirement to achieve a green economy, especially in a country like Jamaica, is education. You have to educate your people from the kindergarten level so they understand the value of having a clean energy economy. At the same time, Jamaica must diversify its energy portfolio. It is very clear that the majority of the energy in Jamaica is imported energy from fossil fuel. What Jamaica must consider is wind and solar energy; there is lots of sun there. This would create jobs in Jamaica because as you develop a diversified energy portfolio you create job opportunities for people who will manufacture, install and maintain alternative energy products.
Jamaica should also promote the weatherisation of homes so that they become more energy efficient and reduce the cost of electricity to each home owner. This also helps to reduce the impact of CO2 to the atmosphere. As you use more wind and solar energy, you use less fossil fuel and emit less CO2 into the atmosphere. So, it is a win-win for all nations especially places like Jamaica.
What level of start-up capital is needed to operate a green business?
When you talk about wind energy, someone must develop and manufacture wind turbines. Someone must install and maintain the turbines. Those are green jobs and businesses that can be developed to meet the energy needs of Jamaica. So green job businesses and investments are not limited to industrialised countries; Jamaica has the potential to produce wind and solar energy.
Is there a transitional phase before a country becomes a green economy?
Conservation has to be a part of a diversified energy portfolio. That's where education comes in, to educate people about why and how to conserve energy. If people can reduce the amount of energy they use, they will cut the cost of their energy, and at the same time they reduce the amount of energy needed to produce the energy they consume. We can cut energy usage from the production as well as the consumer end, recognising that the majority of the income of people across the world is spent on energy.
What's your view on primary products, like corn, being used to produce bio-fuel?
I think there are good ways to produce energy and there are bad ways. I think that because we are in the early stage of developing alternative energy, we should consider processes other than corn, especially when there are food shortages and shortages of feed for animals. We must develop a diversified portfolio and consider many other alternatives in the area of biofuels. For example, we can use switch grass and bark from trees.
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