IUCN Oceania responds to the unique and evolving demands of the region

Key areas of the Energy Programme’s policy guidance were raised by Pacific Leaders during their various opportunities to address the audience at the Moana Pasifika vaka arrival ceremony and the Pacific Ocean Summit as well as in the media. 

At the Pacific Ocean Summit, Director General of the Pacific Community (SPC), Dr. Colin Tukuitonga, moderated a discussion panel for the thematic area: Action on Climate Change – Reducing Emissions, Increasing Renewable Energy, which featured the President of the Republic of Marshall Islands H.E. Dr Hilda Heine, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon. Enele Sopoaga, and Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni. 

While President Heine took a leading stance on the transport sector, announcing a partnership with the German government to launch a regional sustainable sea transport centre, as well as advocating for PICTs to engage with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in setting ambitious and progressive emissions targets for the air transport industry, Prime Minister Sopoaga discussed Tuvalu’s unique opportunity within the region in relation to their  approved Green Climate Fund (GCF) proposal, which will build technical capacity to handle climate change adaptation and mitigation through a variety of project activities over the coming years. Deputy Prime Minister Sovaleni was able to elaborate upon Tonga’s role setting a precedent for Renewable Energy targets amongst the PICTs through development of its National Energy Road Map.

So what does this mean for the people of the Pacific? 

As a unified body, the leaders of the Pacific have put their names behind a collective understanding of the need to place the health of our Ocean as central to integrated efforts, both within sectors of national planning, and in building a regional outlook beyond the island nations to include the leadership living around the Pacific Rim. A unified voice was assembled to resonate outward for the rest of the world to hear. It is up to all of us to act in response, and the IUCN ORO Energy Programme will continue to respond to the unique and evolving demands of the region to create a sustainable outlook for our shared future.