Samoa promotes energy transition at Island Resilience Forum

By Hyunsook Siutaia 03 October 2020, 6:00AM

Samoa discussed its transition to renewables while on the frontlines of climate change at the Island Resilience Forum, held on the sidelines of this week’s 75th United Nations General Assembly this week.

The forum was held, like the Assembly itself, virtually.

It was organised by the Alliance of Small Island States (A.O.S.I.S.) with support from activist groups including the March for Science; Y.O.U.N.G.O.; and EarthX.

Y.O.U.N.G.O is the youth arm of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change.

Participating countries used the platform to advocate for zero-carbon pathways to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees celsius. 

The forum also highlighted the ways in which island leaders and youth activists are leading the global campaign for science-based climate change.

The Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi, spoke at the event and spoke to the Samoan Government’s goal of transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025. 

Tuilaepa said Samoa will complete phase one of its national energy transition amid the uncertainties of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

He said Samoa aims to enforce and achieve its ambitious National Determined Contributions objectives for the total transition to renewable energy, the development of more sustainable infrastructure and the reduction of energy costs,

The importance of countries working in concert was emphasised by Tuilaepa.

Other panellists at the session at which Tuilaepa spoke included Mr. Tologata Tuimalealiifano, General Manager of the Electric Power Corporation, Mr. Nick Davis, the C.E.O. of GridMarket and Ms. Simona Marinescu, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue. 

The session was moderated by Chet Monday of March for Science, and Selina Leem of Island Resilience Partnership.

 

 

 

 



By Hyunsook Siutaia 03 October 2020, 6:00AM

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