Barbados Declaration on Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

The Barbados Declaration, issued by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in May 2012, emphasizes the urgent need for SIDS to transition to renewable energy to mitigate economic vulnerabilities caused by high dependency on imported fossil fuels. The document identifies wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy as commercially feasible options and calls for increased financial support, technology transfer, and capacity building from developed nations and international organizations. It reaffirms the importance of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA) and the Mauritius Strategy of Implementation (MSI) as blueprints for sustainable development.

• SIDS face acute sustainable development challenges due to specific vulnerabilities, including small open economies, remoteness, high national debt, and a high dependency on imports that makes them susceptible to energy and food price shocks.
• Heavy reliance on imported oil and fossil fuels for electricity and transport is a primary source of economic vulnerability for SIDS, diverting scarce financial resources away from social and economic development and environmental protection.
• Wind, solar, geothermal, and ocean energy are identified as commercially feasible and geographically suitable options for SIDS, provided that the international community ensures the necessary technology transfer, financial resources, and capacity building.
• The declaration calls for predictable financial support and investment from the private sector, bilateral donors, the UN system, and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to achieve voluntary commitments for low-carbon development and energy efficiency.
• The SIDS-SIDS Sustainable Energy Initiative (SIDS Dock) is recognized as a valuable tool for implementing national and regional energy policies, with initial financial support provided by Japan and Denmark.

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (2012). Barbados Declaration on Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). https://www.seforall.org/news/barbados-declaration-on-achieving-sustainable-energy-for-all-in-small-island-developing-states

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. Barbados Declaration on Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 2012. https://www.seforall.org/news/barbados-declaration-on-achieving-sustainable-energy-for-all-in-small-island-developing-states.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=Barbados Declaration on Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) |date=8 May 2012 |url=https://www.seforall.org/news/barbados-declaration-on-achieving-sustainable-energy-for-all-in-small-island-developing-states |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{sustainableenergyforall2012barbados, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{Barbados Declaration on Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)}}, publisher = {Sustainable Energy for All}, year = {2012}, month = may, url = {https://www.seforall.org/news/barbados-declaration-on-achieving-sustainable-energy-for-all-in-small-island-developing-states}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }