Another regional city goes sustainable

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Nassau is now an “emerging sustainable city,” following designation by the Inter-American Development Bank.

The designation is part of the IDB’s regional Emerging Sustainable Cities Initiative, which launched locally in Nassau in June and is being led by the Office of the Prime Minister’s Economic Development Planning Unit.

The initiative will see $1.1 million in funding approved by the Vice Presidency of Countries and Vice Presidency of Sectors, money that will target an action plan to improve Nassau’s sustainability in both the “environmental, urban, financial and governance dimensions,” according to a statement.

““[Sustainable Nassau] is a key component of the National Development Plan that aims to regenerate, renew and revitalize the city of Nassau including the downtown Bay Street, heritage and our over-the-hill neighborhoods,” said Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie. “It is my hope that this Initiative will encourage new growth opportunities for all Bahamians citizens and residents to create wealth and thrive. It is through sustainable development initiatives like these, that we will move beyond merely saying ‘It’s better in The Bahamas’ to living in a country where, the majority of our people continue to live this reality in their daily lives.”

In a statement, ESCI Team Leader Gilberto Chona said sustainability was “not a buzz word or just a punch line anymore.”

“In the presence of climate change, urban sustainability has become a real imperative to manage and create resilience towards climate change,” he said. “Even more so in coastal cities like Nassau, subject to severe weather events. By creating the foundations for urban sustainability, the Emerging Sustainable Cities Initiative will identify options for local economic development, mobility and accessibility; as well as social inclusion, with a territorial perspective.”