Government reaffirms its commitment to the implementation of Agenda 21 and the SIDS POA through the effective execution of the recommendations encompassed therein including the commitment of necessary and appropriate financial and other resources.

Science and technology

• Promote the use of renewable energy resources.

• Promote research and development of (low cost) renewable Energy source especially those appropriate to the tropics with a view to reducing Barbados'reliance on fossil fuels and the pollution associated with these fuels.

• Devotion to training in renewable energy sector both for young people and ongoing training for those employed in the sector already.

• Promote the use and exploration of traditional and indigenous knowledge especially with respect to energy conservation practices.

• Encourage and support research and development in biotechnology and biosafety.

• Commitment to greening of the transport sector with respect to phasing out leaded gas by 2004 and utilizing unleaded gasolene only.

• Begin to investigate the potential for use of electric cars in Barbados inlcuding facilities for efficient ongoing of these vehicles.

• Support for comprehensive exploration of the potential for exploiting wind energy in Barbados, including ongoing research Project at Lamberts.

• Provision of incentives for renewable energy sources including tax exemptions, duty exemptions and zero-rating for VAT.

• Development of standards for environmental issues like gas/liquid pollution emission levels, water quality, air quality etc.

• Continue to support and encourage the adoption and implementation of the ISO 14000 standards series in environmental management island-wide.

Man-Made and the Built Environment (#5)

Commitment to enacting and enforcing legislation to support the Barbados National Building Code.

• Research the feasibility of revising the Town and Country Planning Law prohibiting buildings to 2/3 stories in some cases in order to facilitate more efficient utilization of limited space available.

  Support generation of GIS land use maps and commitment to digitising existing maps, as recommended by the EMLUP Project, in order to establish a comprehensive data base of natural resources information.

• Development of a national geographic and land use information system to coordinate the collection, storage and sharing of information from governmental agencies and the private sector organisations. This database should be utilised for planning, development and general decision-making. This would support the Barbados Geographic Land Information System (BARGLIS) project being coordinated by the Data Processing Department of the Government of Barbados.
  Commit to providing the necessary resources to support this project and complete it.

• Commitment to initiation of Environmental Support Assessment procedures and requirements during consideration of planning and development applications. (Many of these will be recommended by EMLUP).

• Development of an institutional and administrative structure/process to support the implementation of the building code i.e. legislation, bank loan applications and approvals, insurance companies.

• Promote cultural integration into building and other developments with reference to design and construction materials, especially for government buildings e.g. Chattle House features, indigenous materials e.g.. Coral stone.

• Government will include the consideration of environmental concerns during land development and construction procedures through the use of Environmental Impact Assessment requirements for the approval of certain applications to the Town and Country Planning Office.

• The approval of future land and construction developments will be based on the requirement that the development does not adversely effect the environment or inhibit sustainable development.

(SC#4) Natural Resources

• Commit to promoting and supporting sustainability within the agriculture and food production sectors.

• Commit to exploring, supporting and developing the areas of biotechnology with reference to research and development as well as commercial projects eventually e.g.. Gene pools etc.

• Commit the necessary resources, financial and other, to the conservation of territorial and marine areas of key/fragile ecological significance e.g.. Tumer's Hall Woods.

• Commitment to supporting Public Awareness and education efforts towards raising awareness on Sustainable Development and environmental issues.

• Commit to the sustainable use and management of water resources including prioritization of use with access to water only to top categories during times of shortage.

Education

• Support for existing programmes, and the initiation of new opportunities, specific to training and educational activities which focus on environmental and sustainable development issues including technical exchange programmes.

• Integration of Sustainable Development concepts and principles into all sectors of business operation especially at the managerial level as well as daily procedures and practices.

Waste Management (SC#3)

• Monitor air quality and manage sectors that impact on air quality e.g. transport, in order to ensure minimization/elimination of any adverse health effects from poor quality.

• Develop standards for environmental quality e.g. air and water, which are appropriate in the Barbadian context.

• Government should commit to supporting the ongoing functioning of the National Commission on Sustainable Development including clear legal and institutional mechanisms for its functioning as well as budgetary and staff arrangements.

• Commit to including and considering National Commission on Sustainable Development recommendations with respect to national policy, decision making and activities related to sustainable development and the environment towards ensuring a holistic approach to these sectors.

• Infuse the concepts of the "3 R's" (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) into Barbadian ethics and philosophy with respect to energy, waste, water as well as other non-renewable and renewable resources.

Waste Management

• Government is committed to the continued development, implementation and execution of an appropriate and efficient solid waste management programme.

• Mechanisms and procedures supporting composting of waste organic material as well as the recycling of some waste streams will be put in place.

• Appropriate procedures and mechanisms for the safe and effective management of hazardous waste will be adapted and executed.

• Government is committed to the preservation of the near shore and coastal environment and will endeavour to adapt and implement the recommendations for the ongoing study being executed by the Coastal Zone Management Unit.

• Also towards the presentation of the near shore and coastal environment, Government is committed to the completion of the South Coast Sewage facility and the subsequent execution of plans for the west coast facility as well as one for the Greater Bridgetown area.

Regional Cooperation

• Government commits itself to the support of joint Regional activities related to sustainable development including the implementation of the SIDS POA.
  - Exploration of the feasibility of designating the Caribbean Sea as a Special Area.

  - Development of joint positions with respect to international instruments which take into consideration SIDS specific concerns.

  - Joint representation at international forum where possible.

  - Coordinated enforcement procedures and mechanisms with respect to environmental laws and regulations with regional implications.

  - Recycling efforts for non-biodegradables and other waste disposal/management issues.

Agriculture

• Review agricultural policy to reflect an integrated approach to sustainable food production and food security.

• Government commits itself to the pursuit of an entirely sustainable agricultural sector through approaches including the following:
  -ecological considerations
  - biodiversity preservations

  - maintenance of water purity

  - conservation and improvement of chemical, physical and biological qualities of the soil

  - energy conservation

  - natural resource recycling and reuse where possible

  - cultural appropriateness

  - scientific inputs

  - economic viability

  - utilization of local renewable resources

  - minimisation of external and purchased inputs

  - minimisation of synthetic pesticide and fertilizer inputs

  - promotion of organic fertilisers

  - research and development of appropriate biological pest control methods and integrated crop management practices.

Concessions and Incentives

• Government commits to supporting the achievement of sustainable development through the provision of tax incentives and/or duty free concessions for the following:
  - import of goods or equipment for recycling processes

  - installation of solar water heaters

  - installation of water and energy saving devices

  - importation of recycled goods and or "green" products

  - taxes on unnecessary packaging material

  - incentives for appropriate waste disposal practices and

  or fines for appropriate e.g. littering, illegal dumping

  - incentives for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices including replacing chemical

  fertilisers and pesticides with organic ones as well as use

  of biological pest control methods.

  - incentives for research and development of Integrated Pest Management practices

  - incentives for the implementation of voluntary compliance measures to meet environmental standards, as well as Environmental Management Systems.

• Support the development of indicators to measure and monitor the impact of financial and economic instruments towards the achievement of Sustainable Development and environmental preservation.

• Commit to supporting existing research programmes related to Sustainable Development and environmental issues, as well as initiating and perusing new and innovated programmes as appropriate.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive databases of information on natural resources as well as other issues related to Sustainable Development and the environment as agriculture.

• Support for the "polluter pays principle" with respect to environmental damage.

• Integration of environmental preservation and sustainable development concerns into future developments in the international trade arena.

• Support the strengthening of communities towards self-reliance and self-development.

• Commitment of resources to caring for the vulnerable groups of the society including the elderly, disabled, poor, homeless and abused.

Coastal and Marine Preservation

• Government has committed itself to a number of programmes and initiatives aimed at ensuring the future preservation of the near shore, coastal and marine environments in a pristine condition for the benefit of Barbadians and visitors. These programmes and initiatives include:
  Sewage Treatment facility construction to eliminate point sources of pollution along the island's coastline.

  Conducting a comprehensive project to investigate the entire coastline of Barbados and generate a Coastal Zone Management Plan of Action from this information.

  The adoption and execution of recommendations emanating from study for the most effective methods of conserving these environments.

  Compliance with international conventions and instruments aimed at general ocean preservation.

  Cooperation with other Caribbean Governments through the CARICOM Sustainable Development Programme towards investigating the feasibility of designating the Caribbean Sea as a Special Area.

  Designation of specific marine areas for protection and preservation including Folkestone Marine Reserve, Carlisle Bay and the Rockley Break water.

Water

• As a water scarce country, Government recognises the necessity for the sustainable management of this resource. Features of this sustainable management will include:
  - Distribution by the Barbados Water Authority of additional water saving devices for taps and shower heads to paid up customers.

  - Phase out of devises that do not comply with water conservation standards by 2000.

  - Conducting public education and awareness building programmes aimed at informing the public about the importance of executing water conservation practices in daily life.

  - Continued support for the policy requiring new dwellings of a particular size to construct tanks for rain water catchment and storage, including the possible revision of the policy to include existing dwellings as well as new dwellings of smaller size.

  - Continue working towards the implementation of an Island wide metering programme supported by the introduction of an appropriate block tariff structure of charges for water use.

  - Rationalisation of competing demands for water use as well as the prioritisation of these demands in order to delegate supplies appropriately during times of water shortage.

  - Construction of a desalinisation plant to supply 10% reserve capacity, to begin by 2000. Begin rationalisation of an implementation strategy.

Consumption Patterns

• Government will work towards developing a comprehensive eco labelling procedure and mechanism with respect to consumable goods towards making the average consumer more aware of sustainable development and an active participant in this pursuit.