The Creation of Sustainable Prosperity in Aruba - Aruba and the Vision of Prime Minister Mike Eman
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Government of Aruba
The Creation of
Sustainable Prosperity
in Aruba
Aruba and the Vision of Prime Minister Mike Eman
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Marina harbor with historical Government building, dating back to the 1950s, and state of the art eco- friendly expansion in the background.
Aruba seeks a balance between the vital Quality and Consensus
dimensions of quality of life and sustained Based Policymaking
economic growth: what Aruba views as sustainable
prosperity. This is a balance that too often has Aruba, one of the four autonomous countries that
been lost in our lives, in our institutions and in our together form the Kingdom of the Netherlands,
communities. The Government of Aruba under has a clear and demonstrable commitment
the leadership of Prime Minister Mike Eman has to a sustainable and prosperous future. With
embarked on a clear and pro-active course to the national programs of Green Aruba, Green
achieve that balance. Gateway, Bo Aruba (Your Aruba)and Bo Bario (Your
Neighborhood), the Government of Aruba has laid
Sustainable Prosperity a solid foundation for promoting economic growth,
social equity and environmental awareness for an
In Aruba, prosperity goes beyond material enhanced quality of life. The pursuit of happiness
concerns. It transcends merely a higher and wellbeing is the cornerstone of Aruba’s
standard of living or a larger Gross Domestic approach. The Government has developed these
Product. Aruba views prosperity as not only innovative policies through a consensus based
material success but also as the quality of approach known in Aruba as “Social Dialogue”
our lives and the health and happiness of our which is adapted from the Dutch approach to
families. governance of “Polder Model.”
To create the type of prosperity that also is
sustainable means focusing on “doing more In implementing its national programs, Aruba
with less” so that creating prosperity today benefits from its relationships with Dutch as well
need not sacrifice the quality of life of future as American institutions. Aruba is working with
generations. Aruba relies on a definition of TNO, a renowned not-for-profit organization for
sustainable prosperity from the World Watch applied scientific research in the Netherlands.
Institute: “Sustainable prosperity is a result TNO established its Caribbean Branch Office in
of sustainable development that enables all Aruba in 2010. In addition, Aruba has established
human beings to live with their basic needs partnerships with the Carbon War Room and
met, with their dignity acknowledged, and Harvard University to jointly develop Aruba as
with abundant opportunity to pursue lives of model for other countries to transition off fossil
satisfaction and happiness, all without risk of fuels and to pursue “smart growth” of world
denying others in the present and the future class walkable communities. This document will
the ability to do the same.” provide an overview of some of the most important
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Wind farm at Vader Piet generating 20 % of Aruba’s electricity. Second wind farm on the way.
initiatives Aruba has taken, and plans to take, to as it transitions to renewable energy.
ensure sustainable growth and prosperity.
Europe Meets the Americas
The Knowledge Economy - Conference
Green Gateway
With the aim to promote Aruba as a gateway
The economy of Aruba is 70% dependent on the between Latin America and the European Union,
tourism industry. Diversifying the economy and the Government of Aruba hosted in May 2013
reducing Aruba’s reliance on a single sector is an international trade conference Europe meets
integral to the Government’s long term strategic the Americas; Aruba your business gateway. This
goals. Aruba is developing a new pillar of the unique conference offered entrepreneurs from
economy – a knowledge economy – to bring Latin America, the Caribbean region, and Europe
greater diversification, economic stability, growth the unique opportunity to connect face-to-face
and sustainability. This important new pillar is based with potential partners. The three-day program
on Aruba’s initiative to develop the island as a provided valuable information on the business
gateway between Latin America and the European opportunities within the different continents and
Union in the areas of green technology, business regions, presented by prominent international
support services and creative industries. Aruba is speakers. In addition, the regional ambassadors of
making use of its proximity to Latin America and the Dutch Kingdom were present to provide specific
its knowledge of not only the language (Arubans information on their respective countries, as well
speak Spanish in addition to Dutch, English as provide support in building networks within
and Papiamento) but of business practices and those countries. Furthermore, each participating
customs in the region. As a Member of the company had an opportunity to be matched to
Kingdom of the Netherlands, Aruba also is relying potential partners to explore and develop concrete
on its privileged legal and constitutional status business opportunities, using Aruba as a hub or
as a Member of this major trading country within end destination, during one-on-one sessions.
the European Union. In addition, Aruba plans to
establish a collaborative public-private-academic
entity as a center of excellence for tourism in
Aruba with the support of internationally renowned
tourism education institutes in Europe and the
Americas, as well as local Aruban institutions.
Finally, Aruba will be developing highly skilled jobs
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New solar park under construction at airport parking lot.
Green Energy 5,000 wind Reduction of Fuel Oil Use from
and 2,500 solar hours 6,000 to 3,500 Barrels per Day
The Government of Aruba is aggressively Prime Minister Eman’s vision for pursuing
promoting the use of renewable energy, most renewable energy already has achieved positive
notably solar and wind energy. With over 5,000 results and a substantial reduction in the use of fuel
wind and 2,500 solar hours annually, Aruba has oil and a commensurate reduction of electricity and
tremendous potential for sustainable energy water prices. The water and electricity plant, WEB
generation. The Vader Piet wind farm already N.V., has successfully introduced 20% wind energy
generates part of Aruba’s electricity needs, and on the grid and has upgraded and modernized its
there is a second wind farm in development. equipment in order to produce water and electricity
Aruba also is developing an airport solar park more economically. The electricity distribution
and has plans for a waste-to-energy plant. In company, N.V. Elmar, has implemented several
addition, Arubans are installing solar panels on effective energy conservation programs. As a
residential and commercial buildings. When direct result of these efforts, Aruba has been able
completed, these projects -- together with Vader to lower prices for households, businesses and
Piet – will generate a substantial percentage of sports clubs by 15% for electricity and by 30% for
Aruba’s power needs. With the help of partners, water; and reduce electricity prices for all sports
such as TNO and the Carbon War Room and in field in Aruba by 50%.
close consultation with Aruban Utilities, Aruba is
developing plans to go much farther, however, and Aruba’s “Smart Community”
become one of the leading countries in the world in – TNO and the Aruban Utility
the use of renewable energy. Aruba understands Companies
the limitations on wind and solar energy because
of intermittency issues. Consequently, it is In February 2014, the Government, the utilities
investigating newer technologies for both energy companies and TNO signed a cooperation
production and storage as these become more agreement to construct a “Smart Community” of
reliable and cost effective. 20 homes with an emphasis on sustainable living.
The goal is to develop knowledge of scalable
technology solutions that can be replicated and
used elsewhere in Aruba and throughout the region.
The specific areas of research include energy
saving technologies in housing construction,
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Dutch Minister Ronald Plasterk, Prime Minister Mike Eman and Wubbo Ockels at the arrival of the “Ecolution” in Aruba
after its maiden voyage over the Atlantic ocean. The “Ecolution” was designed by Dutch ex-astronaut Wubbo Ockels and
is the first ship to generate her own energy.
water treatment and reuse, and the integration of
renewable energy into smart grids.
Prime Minister Mike Eman and Sir Richard Branson,
Rendering of Smart Community Lab being developed by founder of the Carbon War Room, at the Rio +20 Summit
Government of Aruba, TNO and Utility Companies on Sustainable Development announcing the Aruba- CWR
Partnership.
Cooperation with the Carbon Green Aruba Conferences
War Room
As a part of its green energy agenda, the
On June 20, 2012, the Government of Aruba and Government of Aruba has initiated an annual
the Carbon War Room, the global initiative founded international conference on Aruba on Green
by Sir Richard Branson and other entrepreneurs, Energy: the Green Aruba Conference. The fourth
announced during the UN’s Rio+20 Conference such conference was held on October 2013.
on Sustainable Development a partnership to Previous conferences in Aruba featured renowned
transition the island to 100% renewable energy. speakers such as then Prince of Orange (now
The partnership would make Aruba the world’s first the King of the Netherlands), former US Vice-
sustainable energy economy, with the Government President Al Gore, European Union Commissioner
of Aruba and Carbon War Room working to devise for Development, Andris Piebalgs, President of the
an integrated strategy for the economy-wide Carbon War Room and former President of Costa
transition – a world first, if successful. Carbon Rica, Jose Maria Figueres, all of whom delivered
War Room accepted the challenge of the United remarkable keynote presentations. In 2013, the
Nations to take the lessons learned in Aruba and Aruba Green Conference was presented jointly
apply them in ten other island nations, so the with the prestigious Caribbean Regional Energy
“Aruba model” will be exported globally. Forum. In October 2014, the Government will
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Aruban Javier Sint Jago after winning the Solar race in Australia
host Green Aruba, Where Europe Meets the
Americas, which will combine the fifth Green
Aruba Conference with the second Europe Meets
the America Conference.
Aruban students at TU Delft
(Netherlands)
At each of the Green Conferences Aruba has
highlighted the innovative work young and talented
Arubans are doing at universities such as the Delft
Technical University in Delft. Aruban students have Aruba Harvard workshop on Sustainable Development at Dr.
Edward Cheung Center of Innovation
made important contributions to flagship projects
such as the Ecolution (the first ship to generate
its own energy), the green force hydrocar and the
NUNA project solar cars. In 2013, the NUNA 7 won
the World Solar Challenge competition in Australia. Smart Growth Urban Renewal
Cooperation with Harvard The concept of smart growth addresses many
University areas beyond the transition to renewable energy. It
also involves the creation of world-class walkable
The Government of Aruba hosted in January 2012 destinations for tourists and residents; providing
the Aruba-Harvard Workshop on Sustainable incentives for household retrofit and commercial
Energy and Development. Seven leading energy efficiency; implementing a sustainable
professors from Harvard University in the fields of approach to smart growth in the tourism sector
business, science, engineering, ecology and public to create an inspirational holiday destination; and
policy came to Aruba to examine in both broad creating an agriculture sector in Aruba that makes
and narrow terms the status of Aruba’s efforts on the best use of water resources. One of the first
sustainable energy, the challenges and the plans steps on this path is to build a Green Platform
for the future. The goal of Aruba’s partnership to promote the transition to renewable forms
with Harvard is to explore creative solutions and of energy and to develop a land use and urban
approaches not only for Aruba, but for the entire planning component that supports this transition.
region. The land use and urban planning component has
the potential to contribute significantly towards the
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Students presenting their green project as part of “Green “S” Cool Program.
additional 20 neighbourhoods are receiving major
improvements. With the large scale city renewal
and community enhancement programs of Bo
Aruba and Bo Bario, the Government of Aruba
is promoting wider participation in its social and
civic networks in a way that will generate greater
productivity, health, wellbeing and happiness
among its citizens.
Green University - Preparing
Aruba Streetcar in downtown Oranjestad: the world’s first
municipal streetcar system which uses hydrogen fuel cell Professionals
technology. The streetcar is designed especially for Aruba and
runs off a battery that is charged through wind or solar energy
To achieve its ambitious goals in transitioning
reduction of dependence on fossil fuel. As places off fossil fuels, Aruba will need a workforce that
are built in a more compact, diverse and complete has the skill and capacity to make this a reality.
manner, people will be encouraged to walk more To address this need, the University of Aruba, in
and to drive less, thus reducing vehicle miles partnership with the Caribbean Branch Office of
traveled and subsequently the CO2 emissions per the TNO with the support of the Government, will
capita. And, equally, if not more importantly, these increase educational opportunities for sustainable
steps will promote greater social cohesion in our technology on the island. In cooperation with US
neighborhoods. and European partners and universities, Aruba’s
“Green Center of Excellence” plans to offer
Social and Economic Growth a Bachelor Degree on Environment, Energy and
Urban Renewal Entrepreneurship as early as 2015.
A key driver for socio-economic growth is being Green Primary Schools
achieved through the Government’s innovative Empowering Students
programs, Bo Aruba (Your Aruba) and Bo
Bario (Your Neighborhood). In executing these Green Primary Schools – Empowering Students
programs, the Government of Aruba is setting The Government of Aruba launched the
a standard for the private sector to follow and “Green’S’Cool” Program to make Aruban schools
emulate. Both the city centers of Aruba’s capital more energy efficient, sustainable and economically
(Oranjestad) and Aruba’s sunrise city (San independent by involving and empowering students
Nicolas) are undergoing a major face-lift and an so they become more aware of the environment.
the “Bus di Salud” or Health Bus, which provides
Arubans with free access to Personal Prevention
(PP) health screening and a breakdown of individual
health risk factors as well as preventative health
and lifestyle advice. The PP is an important health
initiative that began in the Netherlands and that
Aruba is now actively promoting on the island.
Green ‘S’ Cool program on sustainable food supplies.
The program will use workshops and contests to
encourage students to make their schools more
energy efficient. It will allow participation of public
and private companies, which also may benefit
from the practical and interesting solutions the
The health bus parked in front of the Institute for an Active
students develop for their schools. The program and Healthy Life which provides Arubans with free access to
currently consists of seven topics: water, solar, wind, health screening.
architecture, E-cars, cooling and sustainable food
supplies. The long term goal of the program is to
integrate the topics of Green’S’Cool in the curriculum
of the schools and involve the entire community.
Health, Sports and Wellbeing
Aruba recognizes the important links between
health, happiness and wellbeing. As part of its
urban renewal plan, Aruba is making more parks
and public spaces available for, and conducive to,
walking, jogging and cycling. Perhaps the single
best example is the construction of a linear park
that will follow the gorgeous coastline of Aruba for
nearly ten miles from the Queen Beatrix International
Airport to the world famous Palm Beach, home of
Aruba’s spectacular high rise hotels. The park, when
completed, will be one of the world’s longest linear
parks, and certainly one of the most beautiful. In
addition to building the infrastructure of parks and
sidewalks to foster great movement and walkability
for the population, the Government is assisting
businesses and organizations on the island to
promote and organize numerous sports and physical
activities for community participation through its
newly established “Instituto Biba Saludabel y Activo”
(IBiSA) or Institute for an Active and Healthy Life.
In addition, IBiSA has begun a program known as
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Government of Aruba L.G.Smith Blvd. 76 | Oranjestad, Aruba Tel. (297) 528 4900 | Fax. (297) 582 7582
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