UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT

Southeast Asia and Oceania
Targets for developing sustainable energy
New targets for many Pacific Island countries were established
between 2010 and 2012 (Tables 27.3 and 27.4) and efforts are
under way to improve countries’ capacity to produce, conserve
and use renewable energy. For example, the EU has funded the
Renewable Energy in Pacific Island Countries Developing Skills
and Capacity programme (EPIC). Since its inception in 2013, EPIC
has developed two master’s programmes in renewable energy
management and helped to establish two Centres of Renewable
Energy, one at the University of Papua New Guinea and the other
at the University of Fiji. Both centres became operational in 2014
and aim to create a regional knowledge hub for the development
of renewable energy. In February 2014, the EU and the Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat signed an agreement for a programme
on Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy worth
€ 37.26 million which will benefit 15 Pacific Island 12 states.
12. Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati , Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia,
Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste,
Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
Climate change a common concern
In the Pacific region, climate change mostly concerns
marine issues, such as rising sea levels and the increased
salinity of soils and groundwater, whereas, in Southeast
Asia, carbon reduction strategies are a major focus. Disaster
resilience, on the other hand, resonates with both regions.
Climate change seems to be the most pressing
environmental issue for Pacific Island countries, as it
is already affecting almost all socio-economic sectors.
The consequences of climate change can be seen in
agriculture, food security, forestry and even in the
spread of communicable diseases. The Secretariat of
the Pacific Community has initiated several activities
to tackle problems associated with climate change.
These cover a great variety of areas, such as fisheries,
freshwater, agriculture, coastal zone management, disaster
management, energy, traditional knowledge, education,
forestry, communication, tourism, culture, health, weather,
Table 27.3: National renewable energy targets for selected Pacific Island states, 2013–2020
Country Energy Target Timeframe
Cook Islands 50% of energy demand provided by renewable energy by 2015 and 100% by 2020 2015 and 2020
Fiji 90% renewable 2015
Nauru 50% renewable 2015
Palau 20% renewable and a 30% reduction in energy consumption 2020
Samoa 10% renewable 2016
Tonga 50% renewable and the overall energy cost reduced by 50% 2015
Vanuatu 33% renewable, target fixed by UNELCO (a private company) 2013
Source: Secretariat of the Pacific Community (2013) Sustainable Development Brief
Table 27.4: Fiji’s Green Growth Framework, 2014
Focus area
Support research and
innovation in green
technologies and
services
Promote the use of
green technologies
Strategy
n support existing green industries by subsidizing firms that use green technologies throughout the production
value chain;
n increase public research funding for refining and improving existing technologies, such as the Ocean Centre for
Sustainable Transport;
n develop a national framework for promoting innovation and research into environmentally sustainable
technologies by the end of 2017.
n increase public awareness of green technologies;
n measure the success of public school environmental education;
n examine the potential for tariffs on non-green technology imports;
n reduce import duties on low carbon technologies;
n introduce incentives for large-scale FDI in industries that develop environmentally sustainable technology in
areas such as transport, energy, manufacturing and agriculture.
Develop national
innovative
capabilities
n develop a strategy for science and technology, innovation and R&D that is integrated in an overall sustainable
development strategy across all thematic areas by the end of 2017;
n ensure that at least 50% of secondary school teachers are trained to implement the revised Fiji National
Curriculum Framework by 2020.
Source: Ministry of Strategic Planning and National Development and Statistics (2014) A Green Growth Framework for Fiji: Restoring the Balance in Development that
is Sustainable for our Future. Suva
Chapter 27
727