Vice President Calls to Begin to Pay a Special Attention to Energy Efficiency Issues

Speaking to inaugurate the Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow, organized by the Ministry of Housing and Environment and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed has called on Maldivians to begin to pay a special attention to energy efficiency issues.

The Vice President said, “We have to develop a culture, a behavioural change of turning of lights, and using air conditioners and refrigerators making the optimum use of them.”

The Vice President said the rise in the world prices and complications around nuclear energy after Japanese earthquake in March show that the world should accept the reality and begin to address energy efficiency issues.

He said the government’s commitment to make the Maldives carbon neutral stemmed from its recognition of the need to providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supply to all citizens and protects the environment and people from the hazardous effects of energy production.

He said the government was determined “to provide all with access to affordable and reliable supply electricity, achieve carbon neutrality in the energy sector by year 2020, promote energy conservation and energy efficiency, increase national energy security.”

Parties to the Montreal Protocol have agreed to accelerate the phase out of Hydro Chloro Flouro Carbons (HCFCs). HCFCs are the mainstay of refrigeration and air-condition equipments, while the Maldives has targets, in its HCFC Phase-out Management Plan, to control use of HCFC and accelerate HCFC phase-out in the Maldives as part of its commitment to Montréal Protocol.

Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow that will be held at Dharubaaruge from 8 to 12 May showcases zero and low global warming potential (GWP) HCFC alternatives including refrigeration and air conditioning equipments and technologies currently in the market.

Ozone2Climate Technology Roadshow will also be coupled with the Industry Roundtable on Zero and Low Global Warming Potential HCFC Alternatives to be held today and tomorrow.

The Vice President said the industry roundtable and the roadshow would enable Maldives to make an informed policy and technology choice that was consistent with its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2020.

He said it will also help in exploring opportunities for public private partnerships to derive the other environmental benefits including phase out of HCFCs.