“To lead the renewable frontier, we must invest not just in technologies, but in people, partnerships, and purpose – building a resilient Caribbean energy future defined by innovation, inclusion, and impact”
Leadership in renewable energy begins with vision and the courage to act boldly. The Caribbean’s energy transition depends on investing in people, purpose, and partnerships that sustain progress and resilience.
As I write this message, my thoughts go out to our sisters and brothers in Jamaica, who are enduring the devastating impacts of Hurricane Melissa. The destruction left in its wake is a stark reminder that our region sits on the frontline of a rapidly warming world. Homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure have been swept away in mere hours but what cannot be destroyed is the Caribbean spirit of unity, resilience, and renewal.
Hurricane Melissa is not an isolated event it is a symptom of a planetary imbalance. As the world continues to warm, storms are growing stronger, seas rise higher, and recovery becomes costlier. Yet within this crisis lies our opportunity to lead the charge in a new energy frontier, one defined by foresight and resilience.
It is against this sobering backdrop that the theme of CARICOM Energy Month 2025 “Invest, Innovate, Sustain: Leading the Charge in Renewable Energy Frontiers” takes on profound significance. This is not just a slogan; it is a statement of survival, of responsibility, and of leadership. If we are to endure and thrive, we must invest not only in renewable technologies, but in the people who power them; we must innovate to match the scale and urgency of the challenges before us; and we must sustain our progress through regional solidarity and purpose-driven action.
To invest means to trust in the power of people – engineers, entrepreneurs, youth innovators, and local communities who are building the region’s clean energy future. We must channel financing into renewable energy infrastructure, capacity development, and the creation of resilient energy systems that withstand disasters and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
To innovate means to unlock Caribbean ingenuity – to reimagine what is possible when technology meets creativity. From solar microgrids that keep hospitals running during storms, to smart cooling solutions that cut energy costs, innovation must become our region’s default response to disruption.
And to sustain means to build systems that last. It means embedding renewable energy and efficiency at the heart of every development plan, ensuring our gains are protected for future generations. Sustainability is not a project, it is a mindset, a commitment to live and grow within the limits of our natural resources while preserving opportunity for those yet to come.
My message this year is especially dedicated to the young leaders of the Caribbean, the visionaries and change-makers who are carrying our region forward through innovation, inclusion, and impact. To the youth of the Caribbean, I issue this challenge: take up this mantle of transformation. Be the innovators who disrupt convention, the thinkers who redefine possibility, and the builders who design a cleaner, smarter, more resilient Caribbean. The Caribbean’s energy future belongs to you. lead it with purpose, passion, and pride.
As we celebrate CARICOM Energy Month 2025, let us move forward then with optimism and unity. Let this month be a catalyst for action where we invest where it matters most, innovate with purpose, and sustain what we have built. The renewable energy frontier is ours to lead, and the time to lead is now.
Dr. Mohammad Rafik M.S. Nagdee
Executive Director
Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
