Caribbean leading the charge to electric mobility

Picture this: the crystalline waters of Half Moon Bay in Antigua and Barbuda gently lap against pristine white sand as locals and tourists disembark from silent, zero-emission electric minibuses. No engine rumble disturbs the natural symphony of waves and birdsong—just the soft crunch of tires on sand and delighted visitors stepping into paradise. This isn't a far-off dream but a rapidly approaching reality as Caribbean nations embrace electric mobility. 

A transportation revolution is underway across Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. These island nations, though small, are making outsized contributions to climate action by systematically replacing fossil-fuel transport with sustainable alternatives. 

The shift isn't merely environmental—it's economic survival. Small island developing states face existential threats from climate change despite their minimal contribution to global emissions. For these island states, breaking dependence on imported fossil fuels represents climate action and economic resilience, as the transition creates vital new business opportunities. Local entrepreneurs are developing charging infrastructure, battery services and renewable energy solutions, generating skilled jobs and fostering innovation uniquely suited to island economies.

Additionally, electric mobility addresses a critical health challenge. Vehicle emissions contribute to the Caribbean's non-communicable disease burden. In Barbados alone, this burden is estimated to cost from 1.36 to 8 per cent of regional gross domestic product or approximately US$75 million annually. By reducing air pollution, e-mobility can improve public health and reduce this economic burden, experts say.

Antigua and Barbuda's commitment shines through its partnership with the Sustainable Low-Carbon Island Management project, led by UNEP and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Nine electric minibuses are now undergoing trials in the nation's public transport system, result of a collaboration under the project between the country’s Department of Environment and the Antigua and Barbuda Bus Association. The project supports the government's ambitious goal of transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles by 2040, with planned import restrictions on conventional vehicles.

Saint Lucia has rolled out bold policies to ensure 30 per cent of new vehicle sales will be electric by 2030, driven by fiscal incentives and infrastructure investment. The UNEP-supported initiatives in the country are funded by the GEF and Nationally Determined Contributions technology projects. They include capacity-building and electric vehicle demonstration, preparing for scaling up and replication through the development of electric mobility policies, business models, and finance.

Similarly, Saint Kitts and Nevis has integrated UNEP/GEF-supported electric mobility aims into its energy transition strategy, targeting an increase in the adoption of renewable energy systems—mainly solar—and their integration into public infrastructure. It also targets slashing carbon dioxide emissions by 61 per cent by 2030 while training local mechanics through its Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Research with funds from the GEF Small Grants Program. 

Grenada, where 39 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transport sector, leverages UNEP/GEF project resources for pilot programs and regulatory reforms to accelerate the introduction of low-carbon electricity, reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels, and cut greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. A significant milestone in Grenada is the 100 per cent duty and tax concession on electric vehicle imports and charging stations last year, targeting all new vehicle purchases in 2025 to be electric or hybrid.

At the same time, with the UN Development Programme as an implementation partner with funds from GEF 7, Jamaica has unveiled strategic incentives, including a 10 per cent import duty reduction on electric motorbikes, while fostering public-private partnerships for broader electric vehicle adoption. 

Meanwhile, Barbados has transformed its public transit system with 59 electric buses—already 89 per cent of its fleet—and plans to add 61 more by year's end for complete electrification, eliminating US$4 million in annual diesel costs. The Smart Energy Fund, a partnership among the Government of Barbados, the Inter-American Development Bank and European Union grants, is powering this switch.

The United Nations in Barbados has joined this effort, launching in October 2024 the region's first Sustainable Development Goal-branded electric bus. The bus raises awareness while supporting Barbados's vision of carbon neutrality and 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

According to experts, the urgency is clear, with transport contributing a staggering 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean. Beyond environmental impact, air pollution, mainly from vehicles, causes millions of deaths annually worldwide, finds the World Health Organization.

Caribbean nations face climate threats and economic drain from fuel imports. Electric mobility offers dual benefits: reducing dependence on imported oil while enabling vehicle-to-grid integration that supports renewable energy adoption.

Small island developing states can transition from imported fuel dependency toward integrated net-zero energy systems by using electric vehicles as energy storage for intermittent renewables. The Caribbean island states’ implementation of this transport-power sector coupling could serve as a global model for climate resilience and energy security.

UNEP has provided crucial technical support and climate finance access to support the transition through its GEF-funded Global Electric Mobility Programme. At the upcoming Caribbean Electric Mobility Forum in Antigua and Barbuda from 7 to 10 April 2025, co-organized by UNEP with GIZ NDC-TEC, the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Environment and Centro Movilidad Sostenible, stakeholders will convene and address remaining challenges, including costs, infrastructure and power sector integration. 

This article was first published here.