Environmental research

The Greening Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Coastal Communities in Barbados project focuses on climate change mitigation within three coastal communities on the west and south coast of Barbados. The overall goal of this project is for MSMEs across Barbados to implement low-carbon technologies and behavioral changes in their business practices which reduce their business overall carbon footprint and facilitate livelihood changes that are economically and environmentally sustainable. Key activities involved involved in the project includes: calculating the carbon footprint for MSMEs, training in sustainable business practices, the Development of action plans for 15 of the participating MSMEs operators that will transition them to more sustainable and less carbon-intensive business practices, developing innovative micro-finacing for MSMEs and establishing green business committees by identifying champions from participating MSMEs and partnering organisations. Demonstrations will be set up in three communities and person from within the community will have an opportunity to engage directly with the project. In addition this project builds on previous consultations with the target communities during the CARIBSAVE Risk Atlas Project.The project is not detrimental to existing ecological habitats or systems and has a very small ecological foot print. The project also targets specifically the quantification and reduction of the carbon foot print. The project has significant economic/financial potential in terms of facilitating financial sustainability by reducing operating cost by carbon foot print reduction. The green financing component of the project is an innovative way of facilitating the SMEs conversion to a green business model.

Barbados