Saint Lucia is classified as a an upper middle class country by the World Bank and is set to become one of the most economically developed members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Saint Lucia’s economic growth is largely linked to its thriving tourism industry. As a land of rich biological and geographical diversity, Saint Lucia is a well-known tourism destination and is highly regarded as an ideal honeymoon destination.
However, as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Saint Lucia has limited human, natural and institutional resource bases. Economic growth is therefore considerably inhibited by diseconomies of scale and by a limited capacity to produce sufficient goods and services to satisfy local demand. In addition, Saint Lucia has struggled with high rates of unemployment and public debt.
Therefore, Saint Lucia has made a concerted effort to transform their economy into one that is more socially inclusive, sustainable and green. Through the Caribbean Green Economy Project, “Advancing Caribbean States’ Sustainable Development through Green Economy (ACSSD-GE)”, and with the support of UNEP, Saint Lucia has identified the following focus sectors: energy, water, waste management, agriculture, tourism, construction and manufacturing.
