Dear Editor
THE hurricane season began June 1 and is predicted to be more active than usual. The Caribbean is still recovering from the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Dorian, Maria and Irma. Like the rest of the world, the Region is also rapidly adapting to prop up its economies to withstand COVID-19 impacts.

As recently featured on CBS 60 Minutes, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Caribbean partners are working to transform island economies by using local, renewable energy sources. Clean-energy projects create high-skilled jobs, diversify island economies and build resilience to extreme weather events.

RMI’s new study launching tomorrow, describes core principles of stimulus and recovery that can guide the Caribbean’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. The principles lay a framework for decision makers, regional agencies, and financial institutions that demonstrate how the Caribbean can build back better and advance their economies for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.

The four core principles outlined in the paper are:  
* The Power of Distributed Energy Resources: Creating jobs now, increasing resilience to climate and economic factors, and support the development of a diversified economy.

* Short-term — Focus on Jobs: Highlighting opportunities across the solar photovoltaic, wind, vehicle electrification, and energy-efficiency sectors.

* Longer Term—Focus on Increased Resilience and Economic Diversification: Examining undergrounding and a focus on critical facilities as ways to build local resilience, while utilising clean energy to support upcoming sectors such as agriculture.

* Immediate Stimulus Recommendations: Outlining three tangible next steps for the Region and decision-makers.

If you would like to learn more about Green Stimulus in the Caribbean: Resilient Distributed Energy Resources Can Support Job Creation and Economic Diversification report,  I would be delighted to share the paper under embargo with you and arrange an interview with David Gumbs, RMI’s Islands Energy programme senior consultant.

Look forward to hearing from you! 
Regards
Katie Lau