The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference will convene from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The UAE has said: “The COP28 plan of action is centred around fast-tracking a just, equitable and orderly energy transition; fixing climate finance; focusing on people, lives and livelihoods; and underpinning everything with full inclusivity.”

A noble intent indeed!

Bermuda’s Deputy Premier is due to attend at least part of COP28, coming after the second annual Bermuda Climate Summit presented by the Bermuda Business Development Agency in June, which showcased “not just the seriousness of the threat [of climate change] but also the attributes and innovative spirit Bermuda can bring to the table to help partners across to world rise to meet this global crisis.”

Bermuda is looking to establish itself as a world capital for climate risk finance, owing in part to Bermuda having many of the world’s leading experts on weather-related catastrophes along with services regulator the Bermuda Monetary Authority, which understands the importance of climate concerns. The summit was held at the beautiful Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, ironically within one kilometre of Belco burning heavy fuel oil and poisoning the drinking water of Bermudians. I say this churlishly since, while we may be an innovative financial jurisdiction, we are behind the proverbial eight ball when it comes to our energy production and consumption in Bermuda.

We need to change our mindset of “it’s always been done this way” to one of innovation in more than just financial structures. Ideally, residential homes and commercial buildings should be completely free of the constraints of Belco, and instead we should do whatever we can to encourage every household and business to become energy-independent. Imagine a home running independently of Belco — after mortgage repayments/rent and food costs, electricity bills are often the next biggest expense for Bermudians. So what can be done to lower our dependence on Belco and its high costs and burning of heavy fuel oil?

We need to be far more nimble and innovative with our planning laws and regulations, and embrace the newest solar, wind and wave technology. For example, why not consider the following requirements for all new builds, both residential and commercial:

• Roof solar panels — yes, there will be detractors that our “traditional” white roofs will be spoiled, but there are now white solar panels

• Windows fitted with photovoltaic glazing that contains solar cells to capture solar energy

• Small wind turbines

• Solar water heating systems or other alternatives to the basic water heater

• Timers/motion sensors on all lights

Batteries to store excess energy production could be imported by the Government at cost and sold at close to cost with land-tax waivers being implemented for a set period of time to encourage purchase — better than giving away light bulbs. On that note, a total ban on incandescent light bulbs would also help. So many other ideas and systems if legislated would make a huge difference! I salute those people and businesses that are already doing what they can to convince us to change.

We should also be exploring more pioneering ways to construct our homes. Traditional concrete is desperately expensive. As you will know, concrete is mixed with aggregate, but one start-up company has discovered that using coffee grounds in concrete is 30 per cent stronger than sand. For those desirous of exploring the many uses of hemp, hempcrete is an amazing insulator and possibly could be used to replace concrete pours when filing concrete block. Some other aggregate alternatives include paper/fibre, waste plastic, post-consumer glass and concrete debris. All of these have the potential to lower costs and the materials potentially can be sourced in Bermuda. Better insulation and lower costs all can lower Belco bills.

Many criticised the development of the solar farm on the finger at the airport, as is the proposal of a wind-generation facility off North Shore, yet we sit and moan about our Belco bills. Tying my opinion from last week to this week and the questions raised about where 8,000 new residents would live, we must shift away from worrying about protecting the views to the Anglican Cathedral — again such concerns are ironic given the decline of our Anglican Church community — and build 20-storey residential buildings, using the technology I have discussed and exploring the changing of building codes and techniques. Building higher will save the precious land we do not actually have to waste!

In Norway, 98 per cent of electricity is generated from renewable energy. New petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030 in the European Union, and in many countries, there are energy ratings on all homes. In Bermuda, we still behave as if renewable energy is from the twilight zone! “So,” you ask. “Why care? Mr Fahy is not an environmental expert!” While that is correct, I have seen directly the effect solar panels have had on my Belco bills, along with water-heater timers. I am pleased to share this experience. On a wider scale, we can hardly expect the G20 nations and the biggest polluters to give two hoots about global warming and the consequent rising sea levels, increased hurricane activity and the effects on Bermuda when we do not even legislate the basics, such as banning importation of petrol and diesel cars and the burning of heavy fuel oil at Belco.

At COP28, perhaps the Bermuda delegation can bring to the table the “innovative spirit” we tout by demonstrating change here at home, not just in our financial sector, but also in our everyday lives by announcing significant changes as outlined above. The anthropologist Margaret Mead is quoted as saying, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Let us do more together before it is too late.

• Michael Fahy was the Government Senate Leader and Cabinet minister in the One Bermuda Alliance government from 2012 to 2017. Thoughts or comments to opedfahy@gmail.com