According to a 2022 Pacific Islands Forum report, despite the region's vision for renewable energy, its continued heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels remain a major concern. Photo: 123RF
The Pacific aims to be the first region in the world to be completely reliant on renewable energy despite most Pacific Islands Forum member states still significantly short of their 100 percent renewable energy goals.
This initiative comes as the United Nations climate conference, COP30, starts on Monday in Belém, Brazil.
Fiji, Nauru, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu have all pledged to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. Tonga and the Solomon Islands have set a target of 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and fully renewable generation by 2050.
According to a 2022 Pacific Islands Forum report, despite the region's vision for renewable energy, its "continued heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels for commercial/industry-based energy requirements remain a major concern".
"The average regional renewable energy contribution to total energy produced is low at 17.1 percent," the report said.
University of New South Wales (UNSW) climate risk researcher Wesley Morgan said the 100 percent renewable proposal would be put forward by Pacific leaders at several events during the climate meeting.
"The world is moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, but it's not happening fast enough, and so the Pacific can again lead by example by becoming the first region in the world to be powered 100 percent by renewable energy," Morgan said.
"This is part of that long-running battle for survival for Pacific Island nations."
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that Pacific small island states spend more than US$1 billion annually on fossil fuels.
The United Nations climate conference, COP30, starts on Monday in Belém, Brazil. Photo: PABLO PORCIUNCULA / AFP
Morgan said it would initially be expensive to make the transition and that international help would be needed to foot the bill.
"Recent estimates that looked at replacing fossil fuels for electricity generation in just eight of the 14 Pacific Island countries suggested that would cost around US$1 billion… but those costs are recouped, you don't have to pay your annual fossil fuel bill, so over time it actually ends up being a net saving for Pacific Island countries."
A strong call for renewable energy was championed by Pacific youth activists at COP28 in Dubai, where there was a landmark commitment to triple global renewable energy production.
Currently, the 100 percent Renewable Pacific initiative is being led by Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr.
Palau's President Surangel Whipps Photo: UN Photo
Environmental group 350.org's Jacynta Fa'amau said it is ambitious but "totally possible".
"Pacific leaders have been pursuing climate action for over a decade now, and there is a big need for a very swift and just transition to renewable energy.
"We want to remind our world leaders [of] the importance of listening to frontline and Indigenous communities, especially at COP this year and in the lead-up to COP31, which is potentially going to be in Australia."
The decision on which country will host COP31 in 2026 has not yet been made, but the Pacific is hopeful Australia can convince Türkiye, the only other country in the running, to give up its bid.
Morgan said if the annual UN climate meeting is hosted in Australia, it would be the biggest diplomatic summit ever held in the Pacific region.
"This would be a platform for international support for the energy transition in the Pacific."
However, he said, irrespective of whether the Pacific has the spotlight of COP, renewable energy makes economic sense, with some nations spending up to a quarter of their gross domestic product (GDP) on fossil fuels, mainly through diesel imports.
Morgan said solar would likely be the most widely used renewable form of electricity generation in the Pacific.
"Solar is the winner globally for the cheapest form of electricity generation and so will be the solution in many cases. Solar backed up by storage but there are a whole range of innovative energy solutions that could work."
