Aruba. Island of Sustainable Solutions

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1 Aruba Island of Sustainable Solutions

2 Foreword I am honored to attend the 70th United Nations General Assembly with such a grand and diverse group of people who are committed to the sustainable development goals that will be adopted here in New York. Aruba places an emphasis on creating a balance between quality of life and sustained economic growth. It is truly a pleasure to share our knowledge and expertise with you and present to you this booklet, which aims to showcase Aruba s best sustainable practices based on the SDG s. It highlights various social and educational programs as well as infrastructural and technological developments that have not only stimulated the economy, but also focus on the health, happiness and wellbeing of our citizens. As the Government of Aruba and its partners work to achieve our vision of sustainable and shared prosperity in Aruba, we hope that we can become a model for other similar island nations around the world to become sustainable societies. Mike Eman Prime Minister of Aruba

3 Table of content Social and Education Cluster 4 Technology Cluster 6 Economy Cluster 12 Environment Cluster 14 Peace and Justice Cluster 16 Partners 18 3

4 Social and Education Cluster Social Provisions Aruba is home to one of the most reliable and robust welfare systems in the region and is proud that it can provide its citizens with world class universal health care services and general pension benefits. Universal Healthcare All legal residents of Aruba are entitled to public health insurance coverage, which provides them with access to the same health care services on the island. Undocumented migrants receive emergency medical assistance. General pension At the age of 65, every Aruban citizen is entitled to an old age pension. The idea is to provide financial assistance, after a person has retired, is for them to enjoy their elderly years with financial certainty. 4 Food security The Government of Aruba recognizes the importance of food security and focuses on ensuring the availability, accessibility, utility and stability of food on the island. In collaboration with several international partners, Aruba is creating capacity building skills and knowledge in support of food and water security on the island.

5 Social and Education Cluster Education Every child on Aruba has a right to an education. The Compulsory Education Act stipulates that children, irrespective of their legal status, must attend school and receive an education. Considering Aruba s multicultural and multilingual society a multilingual system of education is being introduced. Dutch is the main instruction language in the schools and the PRISMA project was developed to help to all children learn the Dutch language and to foster integration into Aruban society. The Government of Aruba has also developed various schools and specialized centers for children who are in need of a specialized form of assistance to complete their education. Center for the Development of Women The center s primary focus is on promoting equal rights and equal opportunities for both women and men in Aruban society by operating on the principle of gender equality. Aruban women enjoy a high participation in the labor market and generally have a high level of education. The underlying goal of the center is to make vulnerable groups of society become more self-reliant. It seeks to achieve this by making them aware of their rights and by offering guidance and support by means of workshops. 5

6 Technology Cluster Renewable Energy 6 In 2012, at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development Aruba announced its intent to transition towards 100% renewable energy use by the year In these past 3 years Aruba has made considerable headway in developing its renewable energy capabilities and capacity while simultaneously reducing its emissions and moving away from a reliance on heavy fuel oil to generate power. By harnessing its natural resources, the sun and the wind, Aruba has made a jumpstart towards its goal to transition to 100% renewable energy by The climate provides favorable conditions for viable venture both in the public and private sectors. Aruba is already producing around 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources and will need to generate around 100MW to meet its electricity demands. The island is currently looking at other renewable energy options and energy storage technologies to ensure stability of output in case of shortages. Using the Renewable, Affordable and Sustainable framework, Aruba is making sure that the advancements made are affordable for the entire population.

7 Technology Cluster Wind Boasting one of the world s best locations for wind power, with 5,000 hours of wind per year, the wind park is situated on the northeast side of the island and was established in The wind park contains 10 wind turbines generating 30MW and accounting for about 20% of the electricity demands on the island. At the moment, the Government of Aruba is examining the installation of another wind park that could generate another 26MW. Solar Aruba is home to the largest solar park in the lower Caribbean. Located at the International Airport Reina Beatrix, it provides much needed shade to the cars parked underneath and generates 3.4 MW of electricity. The Government of Aruba is incorporating solar panels on the rooftops of newly constructed public buildings such as: public schools, multifunctional accommodation buildings and the harbor in Barcadera. Private citizens have also started installing solar panels on their roofs as they are increasingly aware of the benefits of going green. 7

8 Technology Cluster The Water and Electricity Company provides a monthly updated RE watch. Waste to Energy The first waste to energy plant to be built in the region is located in Aruba. Both owned and operated by a private company, it utilizes innovative technologies in order to reduce waste while simultaneously generating energy. In its first phase, the plant will generate 2MW and in its second phase it is projected to reach between 8 to 10MW. The total amount generated will be used by the Water and Electricity Company. All recyclable material will be extracted from the waste and exported. 8

9 Technology Cluster Sustainable Water Management Cycle Aruba provides excellent quality drinking water to its citizenry and its visitors. Its desalination technology is a success story as it has the lowest seawater desalination cost in the region despite the costly technology. It is worth mentioning that no occurrence of Legionnaire s disease has ever been reported in Aruba. The Continuous Desalination Efficiency Improvement Process (CDEIP) based on many years of practical experience and focuses on an important part of sustainability. The process improves efficiency and efficacy and also empowers the workforce. Aruba is also home to three wastewater treatment facilities, where around 95% of the island s wastewater is fully treated. Effectively no untreated wastewater is disposed of in the sea. These advanced treatment plants utilize tertiary filtration and UV disinfection technologies, which allow for a large portion of the wastewater to be reused for irrigation and internal plant operations. 9

10 Technology Cluster 10 Airport The International Airport Reina Beatrix, is a modern airport with daily connections and preclearance services to the USA and the Netherlands for passengers and air cargo. With more than 2.2 million passengers passing through its gates annually, the Happy Flow project, launched in May 2015, providing a safe, secure and swift solution to an increasing passenger flow. The project was granted the Best Immigration & Arrivals Initiative award 2015 by the Future Travel Experience Awards. Harbors Aruba is home to three harbors, with cruise, cargo, bulk and oil transshipment capabilities. All harbors are International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code certified. Aruba can confidently state that it is equipped to serve as a regional hub for cruise, cargo and business related needs. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) The Government of Aruba developed a unique system that adapts the PPP concept to small scale economies that can be applied by fellow SIDS. Currently, the PPP concept is being used to finance the green corridor project, a road connecting the west side to the east side of the island.

11 Technology Cluster Internet providers performance Aruba has a great network infrastructure that provides the island with the fastest recorded internet download speed across 28 Caribbean islands. The download speed data was recorded by Ookla, a recognized provider of broadband testing and web-based network diagnostic applications, that is able to continuously track Internet speeds and performance globally. Aruba ranked first with Mbps, followed by Curaçao with Mbps and Puerto Rico with Mbps. The average download speed across the Caribbean was recorded at 9.65 Mbps. Bureau of Innovation Utilizing the Triple Helix concept, the Bureau of Innovation is the creative thinktank inside the Government of Aruba. It is in charge of developing, supporting and giving advice on the intersection of social, technological and economic innovation aimed at establishing a sustainable knowledge economy on Aruba. The Bureau recognizes the importance the government, academia and the private sector plays in developing and achieving such an economy. 11

12 Economy Cluster Aruba as a gateway: Europe meets the Americas 12 Aruba s economy depends for 80% of on the tourism industry. Whereas our tourism sector continues to be successful, diversifying the economy and reducing Aruba s reliance on a single sector is integral to the Government s long term strategic goal. Therefore, Aruba is developing a new economic pillar - a knowledge based economy - to bring greater diversification, sustainable economic growth and stability. Aruba has a strategic geographic location in the wider Caribbean sea, situated at the crossroads between Europe and the Americas. The gateway serves to further propel economic development and diversification based on knowledge, innovation and sustainability and focuses on the following sectors; sustainable technology, logistics, consultancy, creative industries and tourism. With investments in cutting edge technologies stimulating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, Aruba s engineers have acquired an extensive knowledge base and expertise in this field. Aruba can confidently state that it is equipped to serve as a gateway for business related needs and can assist companies reap greater profit from the forecasted growth potential in the Americas.

13 Economy Cluster Work and Labor Laws Labor laws are an important instrument to ensure that employees are being rightfully compensated for the labor they provide. In Aruba a national minimum wage is in effect and the Social Economic Council reviews the minimum wage annually, taking into account inflation and other societal developments on the island. It then gives advice if the amount needs to be adjusted. Employees have the right to join or establish a workers union in order to effectively lobby for their collective rights with the employer. The labor laws provide extensive rules and regulation for employment termination. In 2013, Aruba enacted a paternity leave act for fathers. Overlooking the solar park located at the International Airport Reina Beatrix. 13

14 Environment Sustainable societies 14 Like fellow SIDS, Aruba is on the frontline of climate change and are already experiencing challenging impacts. For most small island developing states, the ocean is a main concern. The ocean is directly affected by the consequences of climate change, producing challenges such as sea level rise, water acidification and the disruption of ecosystems. For SIDS, ecosystems play a central part in terms of food security, social cohesion, habitat protection, culture and their economy. In responding to these challenges, Aruba launched an awareness campaign on energy. The Green s Cool project teaches children the importance of recycling and becoming environmentally conscious. Aruba has also introduced incentives for the commercial and private adoption of energy efficient and renewable energy products. On the international stage, Aruba is committed to working together for a prosperous and sustainable society.

15 Environment Cluster Habitat and Species Protection Aruba has three protected natural reserves: National Park Arikok, which covers nearly 18% of the island, the Spanish Lagoon, which is listed as protective wetland site, and various important bird habitats designated by the Birdlife International organization. The status of endemic flora and fauna are steadily being monitored and studied on the island, which ensures the preservation of our rich natural habitat. Aruba is proud of its beaches and its clean seawater, as practically all wastewater is treated before being disposed of in the sea. Aruba recognizes the ecological importance of marine life and the need for its species to be managed responsibly to protect and preserve the marine environment, wildlife and coral reef. 15

16 Peace and Justice Cluster 16 Happy Island and Happy Communities The Government of Aruba has adopted the concept of smart growth for community development. As this concept goes beyond the transition to renewable energy, it focuses on three goals: creating world class walkable destinations for residents and tourists; providing incentives for households to retrofit and for commercial energy efficiency; and implementing a sustainable approach to the tourism sector that creates an inspirational holiday destination. As such, the government has developed the Bo Aruba (Your Aruba) and Bo Bario (Your Neighborhood) programs, which include the renovation of the two urban centers that of Oranjestad and San Nicolas and 20 other neighborhoods on the island. The priority of these programs is to create more parks and public spaces to foster movement, walkability and to bring people together as Aruba recognizes the important link between health, happiness and wellbeing. To further stimulate greater social cohesion and social capital, every neighborhood on the island will be receiving new community centers or multi functional accommodations, which offer various social services and activities all under one roof to Aruba s citizens.

17 Peace and Justice Cluster Peace, Justice and Security The Constitution of Aruba enshrines its citizens with inalienable rights that are safeguarded and upheld by local institutions and the Kingdom. The balance of power, rule of law and due process are embedded in the Constitution and the Charter of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Aruba s governmental institutions have a continuous commitment to the principles of good governance. As Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, defense and protection of Aruba s territorial integrity is a Kingdom affair. Many international treaties and conventions signed by the Kingdom are extended to Aruba as well. Its independent Financial Intelligence Unit monitors and reports on suspicious financial transactions as a manner to prevent the financing of terrorism and transnational crime. The Government of Aruba recognizes Human Rights in accordance with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Aruba is dedicated to, among others, improving the rights of women, minorities and workers, and combating human trafficking. Aruba is a committed partner engaging in close cooperation with the Kingdom and international partners to enhance security, peace and prosperity within the region. 17

18 Partners International Partnerships Host of the UN-OHRLLS follow up SIDS PPP Forum in 2016 UNDP Center of Excellence on Sustainable Development for Small Island Developing States TNO Caribbean Branch Carbon War Room Rocky Mountain Institute IRENA Clinton Climate Initiative 18

19 Contact Credit: Anuar Habibe To create the type of prosperity that is also sustainable means focusing on doing more with less so that creating prosperity today need not sacrifice the quality of life of future generations. Mike Eman Prime Minister of Aruba Contact information Ministry of General Affairs, Science, Innovation and Sustainable Development L.G. Smith Boulevard 76 Oranjestad, Aruba T +(297) F +(297) E pd@kabinet.aw 19

20 L.G.Smith Blvd. 76 Oranjestad, Aruba Tel. (297) Fax. (297)