The Government of The Bahamas Supports LEAP Training to Support and Strengthen Climate Reporting and Policy
Nassau, The Bahamas – In alignment with the Davis Administration’s commitment to building a climate-resilient, data-driven Bahamas, the Government is pleased to announce the successful completion of a capacity-building training on the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) software.
This effort, led by the National Emissions Registry (NER) and the Climate Change and Environmental Advisory Unit (CCEAU), was conducted in partnership with the Caribbean Cooperative Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) Hub, with participation from key national stakeholders, including Bahamas Power and Light.
LEAP is a powerful tool that enables countries to model greenhouse gas emissions and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different climate policy scenarios. “This training is part of a wider strategy to build in-country technical capacity, reduce reliance on external consultants, and empower Bahamians to make evidence-based decisions for national development and climate action,” said N. Charles Hamilton, Climate Change Advisor, in the CCEAU.
Tools like LEAP allow us to use science and data to chart a more sustainable and economically sound path forward.
“This training is an important step in building the internal expertise necessary to model our emissions, shape smarter policy, and meet our obligations to the global community under the Paris Agreement,” said Larissa Cartwright, Registrar of the National Emission Registry, a Unit in the Office of The Prime Minister.
This initiative directly supports several pillars of the Davis Administration’s climate agenda, including:
● Energy Reform and Modernization: LEAP enables local teams to project the emissions impact of transitioning to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and introducing electric vehicles.
● National Resilience Planning: By building models based on real emissions data, decision-makers can assess the long-term effects of climate measures across all sectors, from transportation to power generation.
● Economic Opportunity through Local Expertise: With more Bahamians trained in technical climate modelling, The Bahamas will reduce its dependence on international consultants, keep more resources in-country, and eventually be able to export talent and services across the region.
The training focused not only on building participants’ capacity to run the software, but also on teaching them how to interpret the data and use it to shape real-world solutions.
The training also aligns with legislative commitments under the Climate Change and Carbon Markets Initiative Act, which established the National Emissions Registry and mandates reporting on national emissions. This includes fulfilling obligations to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), notably through submissions of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs).
In the short term, this training will allow the Government to take stock of current progress toward national emissions goals, improve internal technical capacity, and inform more targeted energy policies.
In the long term, it supports the vision of a fully equipped national team capable of independently managing emissions inventories, projecting mitigation strategies, and advising on climate legislation anchored by a bottom-up approach that includes Family Islands and local stakeholders in the decision-making process.
As the Davis Administration continues to prioritize youth empowerment, this training is also a signal to young Bahamians: climate leadership is not reserved for a select few.
“You don’t have to be a scientist or policymaker to make an impact,” noted Cartwright.
“Whether you’re from New Providence or a Family Island, your voice matters in shaping our climate’s future.”
The Government of The Bahamas extends its sincere gratitude to the Caribbean Cooperative MRV Hub for their continued partnership and looks forward to ongoing collaboration to meet the country’s climate goals with strength, sovereignty, and Bahamian innovation.
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For Press Inquiries:
Keishla Adderley-Smith
keishlaadderley@bahamas.gov.bs