As a SIDS, Grenada is highly dependent on imported fossil fuels to meet all its national energy needs. Due to reliance on fossil fuels, the country is having a huge renewable energy access problem which is compounded by the lack of a strategic framework to guide Grenada’s pathway towards a low emission development pathway to harness its indigenous energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal. Furthermore, a strategic framework is needed for the integration of innovative polices to support low emission development technologies such as electric vehicles to reduce emissions in the transportation sector. While the integration of electric vehicles is yet to be explored, it may be accomplished in the medium to long term; therefore, the Government of Grenada recognizes the need to shift to cleaner and more efficient transportation for the reduction emissions.

Additionally, the country’s ambition to transition into a low emission development economy is hindered by barriers which include: the lack of institutional arrangements and coordination mechanisms to effectively implement low emission development national priority actions, insufficient low emission development data to inform evidence-based decision making for sustainable long-term planning, lack of a strategic framework to transition the country’s development into sustainable low emission development, lack of a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification(MRV) mechanism for low emission development priority actions, uncoordinated approach to accessing climate finance for prioritized national low emission development priority actions and, limited knowledge and awareness on low emission development to gain country buy-in and inclusiveness.

This Readiness Grant will be making an meaningful impact on Grenada by resolving the barriers and triggering a paradigm shift towards establishing a Low Emission Development Strategy and Action Plan (LED-SA) as the strategic framework to shift the country from a reliance on fossil fuels to the long term adoption of renewable energy technologies in line with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Energy Policy goals.