Tokelau targets 100% renewable energy

Delegation from Tokelau with Faipule Foua Toloa (middle)

Durban, South Africa, 30 November - By September next year, the 1,500 residents on the island nation of Tokelau will be 100% renewable energy efficient. That’s the strong message the Faipule Foua Toloa, the Ulu or titular heard of Tokelau is sharing far and wide in Durban South Africa. 

A delegation of three from Tokelau are at the UN Climate Conference, attending the different events and meetings that take place alongside the climate negotiations which has brought together over 20,000 delegates.

“People are amazed by our strong message that we are sharing with the world,” said Toloa.

“Although we are the smallest of the small we have a great vision with leaders in our community such as our elders and our fono are committed to this. It is a very expensive project but we are doing it.” 

The total project will cost Tokelau 8.5 million dollars that will result in a 93% photovoltaic system with coconut oil hybrid as a reserve. Tokelau is borrowing funds for this project, but is still seeking support to help the island nation reach their target. 

“When we looked at the costs we learnt that we spend so much money to buy fossil fuel that we’ll be recovering these costs in the next five years and we can use those funds in other development areas.” 

The population of Tokelau resides on three atolls which make up the nation that is currently under New Zealand administration. The delegation of three from Tokelau are attending the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework to the Convention on Climate Change under the New Zealand badge.

Tokelau declared a state of emergency in October this year after six months without substantial rain. It lies in the Pacific typhoon belt and it is understood that the highest point for the island nation is 5 meters. In the face of this climate change adversity, Tokelau is persevering to make a difference.

“We are challenging the world with our renewable energy targets. We cannot sit and pity ourselves that we are amongst one of the first countries to go under water – the smallest and the lowest. We can make a difference and begin to do something.”

Australia and New Zealand prioritise Pacific Island Countries in disbursement of fast track finance

By Makereta Komai for Climate Pasifika in Panama

03 October 2011 Panama ---- Australia says it has disbursed more than a third of its fast start finance (FSF) since it was pledged in Copenhagen in 2009.

At an information sharing session here in Panama convened by the UN climate change secretariat, representative from donor and recipient countries shared lessons learnt from the disbursement of FSF finances set up to assist vulnerable nations adapt and mitigate against the impacts of climate change.

Both New Zealand and Australia revealed that more than 50 percent of their allocated FSF funds have been directed to small island developing countries in the Pacific.

In Copenhagen Australia pledged $599 million to the funds, which wealthy nations promised to give voluntarily to nations affected by climate change.

52 percent of its total commitment has been diverted to adaptation while the rest will go towards mitigation, said an Australian government representative on the panel discussion.

“Our pledge is grant based and has a strong focus on vulnerable and small island developing states and least developed countries.

“As of June this year a third of funds have been disbursed and another third by June 2012. By 30 June 2913, our pledged $599 million will be completely disbursed.

However, the Australia Government assured that fast start projects are long term engagements and will continue beyond 2013.

New Zealand on the other hand has disbursed its FSF funds through integrated projects in the Pacific region, which it says will benefits local communities.

“We find that good dialogue with partners and the local communities helps us to deliver quality climate change related projects to Pacific Island communities, said a New Zealand government official at the information sharing session.

However, the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS), whose membership represents most of the vulnerable countries being target by donor funding like the FSF say they need more clarification on how the funds are being used.

AOSIS representative listed seven issues that it thinks needs more discussion with the FSF donors.

These are timely provision of information on funding opportunities, predictability of pledges, balance between adaptation and mitigation, prioritisation of funded projects, criteria to access funds, loans and grants and promises of new and additional funding.

In Copenhagen, industrialised nations pledged US$10 billion a year from 2010-2012 as fast start finance and jointly mobilise US$100 billion by 2020.