Rahmona Rampersad-Nally

Pioneer of renewable energy advocacy in the Caribbean, driving Trinidad and Tobago's transition to sustainable energy systems.

Rahmona Rampersad-Nally, a Trinidadian environmental economist, has been a leading voice for renewable energy in the Caribbean since the 1990s. Born in 1960, she co-founded the Caribbean Energy Network to promote solar and wind energy adoption in energy-poor island nations. As Trinidad and Tobago’s first Minister of Energy and Energy Efficiency (2007–2010), she introduced policies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, including the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

Rampersad-Nally’s work highlights the economic viability of renewables in small-island economies. Her 2012 report ‘Renewable Energy for Caribbean Prosperity’ demonstrated that solar power could reduce energy costs by 40% in the region. She collaborates with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to scale up regional microgrid projects. Her advocacy led to the 2020 Caribbean Climate-Smart Energy Framework, aiming for 47% renewable energy use by 2027.

She also chairs the World Economic Forum’s Energy Transition Council, advocating for global South energy equity. Her 2018 TED Talk ‘Powering the Caribbean with Sunshine’ has over 2 million views, inspiring youth-led climate movements across the region.