Bahamas, The

The Policy's vision is the improvement of life quality for Bahamians by maximising the sustainable utilisation of abundant natural resource, and strengthen The Bahamas' global position economically. The Policy follows four goals:</div><ol><li>Supporting ongoing economic activity;</li><li>Ensuring future economic development and the expansion of the maritime sector domestically and internationally;</li><li>Safeguarding the marine environment from environmental threats and focussing on the increased use and access to potential marine renewable energy sources;</li><li>ensuring the safety at sea of vessels; the training of mariners and the preservation of maritime traditions and practices.&nbsp;</li></ol><div> To support the vision and goals the Policy names six inter-dependant enablers:</div><ul><li>Ocean governance;</li><li>Regulation and enforcement;</li><li>Healthy and productive marine environment;</li><li>Climate change resilience;</li><li>Education, awareness and participation;</li><li>Capacity building, research and information.</li></ul><div> The documents names climate change as one of the threats facing the marine and coastal environments. The Policy's approach to counteracting this threat and building climate change resilient is threefold:</div><ul><li>Recognition and management of climate change risks through incorporation of adaptation and resilience-building strategies into sustainable development, conservation and governance actions;</li><li>Implementation of National Disaster Prevention and Response Plans;</li><li>Recognition of the role of coastal habitats in protecting coastal communities and infrastructure in coastal planning and decision making.</li></ul><div> The Policy suggests several actions to realise climate change resilience:</div><ul><li>Full implementation of the <a href="https://climate-laws.org/geographies/bahamas-the/policies/national-policy-for-the-adaptation-to-climate-change">National Policy for the Adaptation to Climate Change</a>;</li><li>Increasing the number of MPAs as tools to increase ecosystem resilience;</li><li>Mapping of key coastal habitats and adequate consideration within coastal planning and development.</li></ul><div>

The National Energy Policy aims to provide the Bahamas with a modern, diversified and efficient energy sector, affordable energy supplies and long-term energy security towards enhancing international competitiveness and sustainable prosperity by 2030. The policy presents a long-term vision. It also suggests precise legal and administrative arrangements that should be undertaken to enable a low-carbon, resilient energy scenario. The Policy mainly focuses on lowering the country's current dependency to imported oil thanks to an increased share of renewable electricity production and use, higher energy efficiency in buildings and to a move towards decarbonised transport. Programmes fostering information and education of households and businesses are detailed.

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<li>The purpose for the Policy, as set out in the document itself, is to have an all encompassing wetland policy outlining the guidelines and objectives of the government for wetlands protections. The policy aims to provide guidelines and a course of procedure for the sustainable management of wetlands. The goal of the Policy is the conservation, restoration, and management of wetlands together with sustainable development practices. The Policy comprises of five objectives:Management of human activity on or near wetlands in line with the preservation of wetlands;</li>
<li>Promotion of recognition and integration of wetland functions in resource management and economic development decision-making;&nbsp;</li>
<li>Promotion and facilitation of development of wetland stewardship, awareness and education through government initiatives and cooperative relationships;</li>
<li>Development of a shared vision;</li>
<li>Meeting The Bahamas' international commitments.&nbsp;</li>
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 As one of the guiding principles, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) will be required for all activities in wetlands which are likely to have a negative impact on the wetlands. The Policy emphasises the importance of partnership and cooperation. The Policy also outlines strategies for managing the wetlands, for implementing policies and delivering programmes, involving the Bahamian people in wetlands management, working in partnership with local government, ensuring a sound scientific basis for policy and management, and international actions.&nbsp;
 The Policy explicitly refers to climate change and rising sea levels, both against which wetlands are the primary defence for the vulnerable groundwater resources. The Policy also outlines all Act and International Conventions relevant to wetlands. Lastly, it gives instructions for the implementation of the Policy. Annex A outlines the guidelines for EIAs. Annex B provides a summary of the National Parks Regulations of The Bahamas National Trust.

The Government of The Bahamas has prepared this national policy for adaptation to climate change. Specifically, it provides an assessment of the degree of vulnerability of The Bahamas to the projected impacts of climate change by sectors; of the capacity for adaptation to anthropogenic climate change; and proposes strategies for anticipating and ameliorating or avoiding the negative impacts. In addition, it examines some of the possible impacts on: coastal and marine resource and fisheries, terrestrial biodiversity resources, agriculture and forestry, human settlements and human health, water resources, the energy and transportation sector, as well as on tourism and the finance and insurance sectors. The policy provides a plan of action for addressing such impacts.
The national policy identifies government as the major facilitator of the implementation of the policy directives. It also provides a framework for not only advancing the capacity and capability of The Bahamas to effectively adapt to climate change impacts but also contributes significantly to the conservation and preservation of The Bahamas’ natural resources for present and future generations of Bahamians.

The National Policy for the Adaptation to Climate Change recognises the country's potentially high vulnerability to adverse effects of climate change. It assesses national weaknesses by economic sectors; notably coastal and marine resources, terrestrial biodiversity, agriculture and forestry, human settlements, health, water resources, energy and transport, tourism, finance and insurance. It evaluates current capacity for adaptation and suggests strategies to protect the country in the future via a plan of action. &nbsp; The Policy is a general document announcing sectoral plans to be developed in an array of domains. It includes mitigation goals, notably through the objective of fostering the use of renewables and decrease of fossil fuels in the energy mix, enacted in the Electricity Act of 2015. It also elaborates adaptation policies in the forestry sector, enacted in the Forestry Act 2010 via the Regulations 2014. It seeks to improve popular knowledge on climate change, conduct appropriate research in the Bahamas and reorganise institutional systems and management mechanisms to ensure effective planning. The document aims at institutionalising and detailing the missions of the National Climate Change Committee.

The objectives of this Act are threefold: 1. To enable the Government to create incentives and implement initiatives to support the overall global target of greenhouse gas emissions reduction consistent with its Nationally Determined Contributions; 2. To ensure compliance by The Bahamas of its obligations under the Paris Agreement; 3. to enable the establishment of a market in The Bahamas to trade in carbon credits. This Act applies to carbon credits in respect of land and airspace of The Bahamas, including its internal waters, territorial waters and exclusive economic zone; the seabed and subsoil underlying these waters; its continental, coastal and marine ecosystems and related water; and its forests.&nbsp; Part II sets out the administration of the Act. The responsibility for the administration of the Act is distributed, with distinct responsibilities, between the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister for Environment. This part sets out the appointment and functions of management companies, as well as the appointment and functions of an Advisory Council. &nbsp; &nbsp; Part III outlines the fundamental principles governing trade in carbon markets. Mentioned are:</div><ul><li>Additionality, measurability, permanence, etc.;</li><li>Prohibition against double counting;</li><li>Verification and validation;</li><li>Provision of social and environmental benefits;</li><li>Share of proceeds and cancellation rates.</li><li>Minister may make regulations to further the fundamental principles governing trade in carbon markets.</li></ul><div> Part IV delineated the obligations of the Bahamas under the Paris Agreement.&nbsp;</div><div> Part V concerns the creation and implementation of initiatives to reduce emissions, which the Prime Minister may undertake to comply with the Paris Agreement. Part VI provides an overview for the options for participation in the carbon market in The Bahamas. There are three: 1. Bilateral or multilateral trading agreement; 2. As a result of trading with a private entity; 3. In a voluntary carbon market. Part VII establishes a National Emissions Registry. Part VIII concerns miscellaneous.

This Act consists of 9 parts:</div><ul><li>Part I - Preliminary</li><li>Part II - Administration</li><li>Part III - Environmental Plans and Policies</li><li>Part IV - Environmental Protection</li><li>Part V - Spills, Accidental Releases and Environmental Restoration</li><li>Part VI - Environmental Information, Research, Education and Training</li><li>Part VII - Compliance and Enforcement</li><li>Part VIII - Offences and Penalties</li><li>Part IX - Miscellaneous</li></ul><div> The objects of the Act are set out in section 3 (part I). Notably, one of the objects is to develop a robust climate change regime that applies adaptation and mitigation technologies to address vulnerabilities.&nbsp; Section 5 establishes the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (part II).&nbsp; Section 38 (part vi) establishes an Environmental Registry.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The Bahamian Parliament enacted the Electricity Act 2015 in order to overhaul the country's energy sector and edict policy targets, among others: 1) security and diversification of power supply and distribution, 2) access to cheap and reliable environmentally sustainable electricity, 3) and the establishment of the Utilities Regulations and Competition Authority (URCA) as the independent regulator of the sector. 
 
The Act encourages a higher capacity of renewables electricity generation under a number of ways. It seeks a reorganisation of the electricity sector, so that public suppliers shall increase the proportion of renewables in their generation mix. Suppliers shall submit a time-bound plan to URCA over their specific renewables objectives, and revise this plan every three year. Eventual additional energy needs should be met in priority by new renewables capacity. 
 
The Act also promotes residential renewable energy generation for connection to the grid, and for self-generation. All stages are also regulated by URCA, and households need a grid interconnection agreement to operate. URCA shall maintain public a list of entities granted approval. The document further highlights the need to encourage energy efficiency in the generation, distribution and consumption of electricity.

The Forestry Act was enacted by the Bahamian Parliament in 2010 to provide the conservation and control of forests. It establishes a Forestry Unit under the authority of the Ministry of the Environment and Housing to regulate activities such as wood exploitation, to declare and manage forest reserves, and monitor protected trees. Reserves should be declared according to environmental conservation objectives, in particular to protect wildlife and prevent fires. The Act also regulates activities held on privately-held lands. Every five year, a Forest Management Plans must be developed. In 2014, Forestry Regulations updated and precise the applicability of the original Act, notably in order to include carbon sequestration and reforestation within the possible objectives of Forest Management Plans. Private land-owners are equally encouraged to prepare such plans. Forest roads cannot be used as public highways unless a special governmental authorisation is priorly issued. The Regulations require that 20% of the land cover shall be designated into either a forest reserve, a protected forest or a conservation forest.

Bahamas National Communication. NC3

Bahamas Biennial Update Report. BUR1

Bahamas Updated Nationally Determined Contributions, 2022, Nationally Determined Contribution from Bahamas, The in 2022

Bahamas First NDC, Nationally Determined Contribution from Bahamas, The in 2016

Bahamas. National Communication (NC). NC 2., National Communication from Bahamas, The in 2015

10% Residential Energy Self Generation Programme by 2014

30% of renewable sources in the energy mix by 2033

Bahamas, The

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