The Atlantic Council’s Caribbean Initiative at the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, in collaboration with RMI (founded as the Rocky Mountain Institute), will host a one day PACC 2030 Summit on the sidelines of the Vice President’s visit to The Bahamas, to bring together companies from the US and Caribbean nations, local leaders, technical assistance experts, policy experts, academics, and government partners to discuss best practices in advancing climate resilient clean energy in the Caribbean, identify funding/technical assistance gaps that could be bridged through greater partnership, and exploring opportunities to further unleash the clean energy transition in the Caribbean while building greater climate resilience – dual objectives of PACC 2030. The event will take place in The Bahamas, a burgeoning regional leader in resilient clean energy deployment whose Prime Minister is the 2023 CARICOM Chair.
The US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030, or PACC 2030, was launched by Vice President Harris and Caribbean leaders at the June 2022 Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. PACC 2030 is the US government’s flagship partnership with Caribbean partners to advance climate adaptation and resilience and to expand clean energy programs across the region.
Participants will include companies from US and Caribbean countries, local leaders, technical assistance experts, and government partners to: (1) discuss best practices in addressing energy security through climate resilient clean energy in the Caribbean; (2) identify funding and technical assistance gaps that could be bridged through greater partnership; and (3) explore opportunities to further unleash the energy transition in the Caribbean while building greater climate resilience – in furtherance of PACC 2030 goals.
The private and off-the-record Summit will include panel discussions and a matchmaking breakfast that will pair US and Caribbean companies with government officials to identify potential investment opportunities in the region.
PACC 2030 Climate Resilient Clean Energy Summit agenda
All times in Eastern Time (ET).
8:30 – 9:00 am: Registration
9:00 am: Welcoming Remarks
- Jason Marczak, Senior Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council
9:00 – 9:05 am: Opening Remarks
- Dr. Rebecca Lissner, Special Assistant to the US President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor to the US Vice President, United States
9:05 – 10:15 am: Matchmaking table chairs & topics:
Participants will be assigned to tables based on investment interests. Confirmed senior US government officials include:
- Dr. Rebecca Lissner, Special Assistant to the US President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor to the US Vice President, United States: Navigating US government assistance
- Anna Shpitsberg, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Transformation, Bureau of Energy Resources, US Department of State: Support for modern utility transition to next generation energy grids
- Alexia Latortue, Assistant Secretary for International Trade and Development, US Department of the Treasury: Improving access to development financing
- Ike Irby, Special Assistant to the US President and Chief Climate Advisor to the US Vice President, United States: Building next generation climate resilient energy grids
- Jake Levine, Chief Climate Officer, US International Development Finance Corporation: Developing bankable clean energy projects for investment
- Thamar Harrigan, Chief of Staff, US Trade and Development Agency: Enhancing local capacity
- Eric Postel, Senior Advisor, US Agency for International Development: Power purchase agreements and negotiations
- Daniel Villanueva, Political Economic Chief, US Embassy in The Bahamas, US Department of State: Navigating US government assistance: Navigating US government assistance
- Andy Rabens, Special Advisor to the US Vice President for International Economics and Global Partnerships, United States: Improving access to development financing
- Kimberly Ballou, Deputy Director for American Affairs, Office of International Affairs, US Department of Energy: Enhancing local capacity
10:15 – 10:30 am: Group readout
10:30 – 10:45 am: Keynote Addresses
- Hon. Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Department of State
- Hon. Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, CARICOM Chair
10:45-11:00 am: Networking break
11:00 – 12:00 pm: Session 2 – Best practices for advancing climate resilient clean energy projects
- Thamar Harrigan, Chief of Staff, US Trade and Development Agency
- Dami Adesegha, Group Manager of Renewable Energy, Parkland International
- Tariq Alli, General Manager, Caribbean, Inter American Development Bank
- Moderator: Jason Marczak, Senior Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council
12:00-1:00 pm: Session 3 – Bridging financial and technical gaps with greater private sector involvement
- Anna Shpitsberg, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Transformation, Bureau of Energy Resources, US Department of State
- Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, CEO and Chairman, InterEnergy
- Gary Jackson, Executive Director, Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
- Dale Ramlakhan, Chairman of the Decarbonization Task Force, Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago
- Moderator: David Gumbs, Principal, Global South Program, Rocky Mountain Institute
1:00-1:15 pm: Networking break
1:15 – 2:00 pm: Session 4 – Lunch and exploring new opportunities to accelerate decarbonization and climate resilience
- Alexia Latortue, Assistant Secretary for International Markets, US Department of Treasury
- Stacy Swann, CEO, Climate Finance Advisors
- Daniel Best, Director of Projects, Caribbean Development Bank
- Jake Levine, Chief Climate Officer, US International Development Finance Corporation
- Moderator: Jacqueline Charles, Caribbean Correspondent, Miami Herald
2:00-2:15 pm: Closing remarks
- Ike Irby, Special Assistant to the US President and Chief Climate Advisor to the US Vice President, United States
- Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister, Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Jason Marczak, Senior Director, Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, Atlantic Council
2:15 pm: Program concludes
Lodging and transportation information
Transportation:
The PACC 2030 Summit will take place at the Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas located at One Casino Drive, Paradise Island. We recommend that guests fly into Nassau International Airport (NAS). Taxis are readily available from the airport to transport guests to Paradise Island, and transfers to and from the airport are available for guests staying at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort.
Venue:
The Summit will be held in the Adonis meeting room located in the Coral tower of the Atlantis Paradise Island resort. Upon arrival to the Coral tower, we ask that guests follow the signs that point towards the Convention Center. Guests should follow these signs until the end of the walkway, which is the location of the Adonis meeting rooms. Atlantic Council signage and staff will there to welcome guests.
Lodging:
Paradise Island is a small island connected to Nassau by bridge. Guests are recommended to reserve rooms at hotels on Paradise Island or within the city of Nassau, such as the Comfort Suites Paradise Island, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Nassau, Courtyard by Marriott Nassau Downtown, or the Margaritaville Beach Resort – Nassau.
Related resources
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With the support of
The PACC 2030 Climate Resilient Clean Energy Summit is sponsored by Open Society Foundations and Coca-Cola Caribbean System.
The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations and delivers constructive, results-oriented solutions to inform how the public and private sectors can advance hemispheric prosperity.