Barbados
PAGE in Barbados
Barbados ranks among the highest in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) region according to the 2023-2024 Human Development Index. With a diversified, serviced-based economy buttressed by the tourism and international business sectors, the country has successfully employed a blend of good governance and social and economic policies for the betterment of its citizens. However, the negative effects of recent global financial and economic crises, together with a dependency on imported fossil fuels, have placed pressure on the country’s economy, society and environment. Limited access to natural resources, coupled with its high vulnerability to climate change as a small island developing state (SIDS), underlines the importance of building a resilient economy and achieving an integrated ecological, economic and social wellbeing. Therefore, Barbados joined PAGE in 2016.
The Government of Barbados has continued to make strong policies and commitments to sustainable development through social compacts with the private sector and trade unions, and strategic frameworks, such as the National Sustainable Development Policy, the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2006-2025. The NSP provides a framework for Barbados to become a fully developed society that is prosperous, socially just and globally competitive. With six strategic goals, the plan speaks specifically of ‘Building a Green Economy: Strengthening the Physical Infrastructure and Preserving the Environment’.
Barbados joined PAGE in 2016 with a focus on the implementation of the NSP and other green economy objectives that build on previous work conducted by UNEP, but the commencement of a comprehensive PAGE programme was delayed by several factors beyond the control of the partnership. The endorsement for PAGE to start its programme was provided in 2019, confirming key thematic areas such as green and blue jobs assessment, youth engagement, environmental goods and services, greening/resource efficiency in industry, and individual and institutional capacity building for inclusive green economy at the tertiary levels.
PAGE Milestones
- 2024
The national symposium “Just Transition and Job Creation in the Blue and Green Economy” took place in April and was organized by PAGE in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Environment, National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy.
- 2023
Review meeting of the course on “Resource Efficiency: The Basis for Sustainable Consumption and Production”
XXII Meeting of the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean
Programme for Green-Blue Economy Learning (G-BEL) development commenced
Joint Programme proposal: Harnessing Blue Economy Finance for SIDS Recovery and Sustainable Development finalized, involving PAGE
The Throne Speech – a high-level policy statement – re-confirmed Barbados’ commitment to greening of the economy
PAGE became a member of the UNDP Blue Economy Steering Committee
PAGE partnered with GEF Small Grants Programme for the inaugural Small Island Future Fest
- 2018
Change in Barbados administration
Multi-agency mission organised to re-engage government and lay the groundwork for a national stocktaking activity
- 2017
Inception mission held to explore country priorities
- 2016
Barbados joined PAGE
