Vanuatu reassures commitment to International Solar Alliance

Vanuatu has assured the members of the International Solar Alliance of its unwavering commitment and full support of the alliance.

Prime Minister Charlot Salwai informed the first ever meeting of the alliance in New Delhi that Vanuatu signed ISA on November 2016 at the margin of COP 22 in Marrakesh.

He said Vanuatu is committed to ratifying the ISA agreement this year 2018 at the next parliamentary session.

"Mr Chairman, in a region so diverse as ours, our challenges are many and often similar in nature. Vanuatu's electrification rate stands at just over 33% with renewable energy generation less than 20% on average.”

“Solar energy consisted of approximately 0.2% of the total grid electricity generation. Although the cost of solar energy has fallen dramatically, access to finance, appropriate technology and capacity issues contributed to the challenge of the deploying solar energy in my country,” Salwai said.

“Despite the challenges, Vanuatu has an ambitious goal of achieving 100% electrification from 100% renewable energy by 2030. Our National Sustainable Development Plan known as People's Plan 2030 provides the overreaching policy framework and the National Energy Roadmap 2030 provides the overarching policy framework and National Energy roadmap 2030 clearly articulates the strategies to achieve this ambition. This is further supported by our Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC which form part of the global aggregated effort to achieving the critical temperature target set down by the Paris Agreement," Mr Salwai told International Solar Alliance. 

He said although Vanuatu's contributions to global emissions are negligible, the government is committed to leading the way to a renewable future.

He told ISA member countries that Vanuatu sees the ISA as a global platform for research and development, technology transfer, capacity building, resource mobilisation and promoting solar technology deployment to its members.

Salwai told the meeting that Vanuatu stands ready to work together with the International Solar Alliance to implement real projects on the ground and provide electricity services to his citizens via solar energy applications and firmly believes that ISA will act as the conduit for further deployment of solar technology and boost investment in solar energy beyond the $ 1 000 billion target by 2030.

He said this is especially important for nations like Vanuatu which face the unique and unprecedent challenge of lifting his people out of poverty without relying on fossil fuel, amidst worsening climatic conditions.

"We are insistent that simplified access to finance be made available for solar energy development and deployment to realise our aspirations in meeting our renewable energy targets nationally and globally" Salwai told ISA delegates.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the chairman of the ISA which has a membership of 120 countries.

 

Photo source Twitter HC Vishvas Sapkal. Caption: Vanuatu PM Charlot Salwai addressing delegates at the ISA meeting