Barbara Harris loves Samoa. She has been here several times before and this week she is back again for the S.I.D.S conference.
This time, her mission is to promote the use of renewable energy technology as one of the ways to combat climate change.
Ms. Harris is the Deputy Director, Trade and also Vice-Consul U.K. Trade and Investment for the United Kingdom’s British Consulate-General in Auckland.
Earlier this week, she was the moderator during a side event at Alafua where the use of renewable energy was strongly promoted.
“It is the way to the future,” she said. “I am here to share from our experience and expertise so that we can assist S.I.D.S in renewable energy.”
According to Ms. Harris, what many people don’t know is that Britain was first in the world to legislate a commitment to reduce carbon emission. At the time, they also committed to have 20 per cent of their energy from renewable energy by 2020.
“So with that commitment to the world and to making sure that everybody in the world is aware of climate change and what we need to do – Britain has become a leader in technology and different forms of renewable energy within the U.K.”
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At S.I.D.S 2014, Ms Harris said it is critical for participants to seriously consider new forms of renewable energy if they want to combat climate change.
“The U.K. is part of the European Union and we all know how much the E.U. contributes as a major player in systems of development.
“The U.K. contributes 15 per cent of both finance and of practical expertise and understanding of the needs of how to go about it.”
One positive outcome of the side event meeting was feedback from a representative of University of the South Pacific (USP), who suggested that all universities from all 12 campuses should work together with Britain for energy needs.
But Ms. Harris believes that what people were most interested in was “to know how to access the technology and how does it all work.”
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