The United Nations Executive Secretary of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (U.N.F.C.C.C.), Christiana Figueres, has praised Samoa.
In the country for the third Small Island Developing States conference, which ended on Thursday, she hailed Samoa to taking the lead in the shift to use renewable energy.
Ms. Figueres told the Weekend Observer that small islands understand this shift is essential for the health of their economy.
Which is why a number of S.I.D.S. have made very impressive announcements about changes they are making to achieve using 100 per cent renewable energy, she said.
“From St Kitts and Nevis informing us of the change in residential and street lighting to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines using solar power for their reverse osmosis to get drinkable water out of salty water,” said Ms Figueres.
“And here with Samoa, as you all know much better than I, that Samoa started with a target of 10 per cent reduction in their oil imports, and have now actually moved under the leaderships of the Prime Minister to a target of 100 per cent renewables by 2017."
“Probably one of the most ambitious targets of all S.I.D.S. and certainly here in the Pacific, due in no small measure to the leadership of the Prime Minister and the ability Samoa has had to bring together partnerships.
“And then of…Samoa hosting the largest solar farm in the whole of the S.I.D.S. with 2.2 mega watts."
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“And the first ever wind turbine that is capable to fold down in 45 minuets to protect it from high winds and storms which makes wind energy something that is much, much more usable in islands that are by definition exposed to high winds and storms and cyclones.”
Ms. Figueres said what was impressive in Small islands taking the lead is the political determination that is visible.
“How they reached out to the different technology partners and how they are putting in place policies and financial packages in order to make this possible,” she said.
“From the point of view of the Secretary General’s (Tupua Ban Ki-moon) Summit which we have just heard is on the 23d of September this conference actually starts what the Secretary General actually calls the drum roll of action.
“Because that is what he is calling for is for much, much more action on climate change and here in Samoa the small island states have started the drum roll.”
On the 23rd of this month, Mr Ban will host the Climate Summit 2014 which will see leaders from government, finance, business, and civil society meet to galvanise and catalyse climate action.
According to the U.N. the Secretary General has asked these leaders to bring bold announcements and actions to the Summit that will reduce emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and mobilize political will for a meaningful legal agreement in 2015.
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