St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to address this side event highlighting the energy transition in small island developing States.
Thank you to the Kingdom of Tonga and the Greening the Islands Foundation for partnering with UN DESA to host this event.
Dear colleagues,
Energy costs are one of central challenges for SIDS.
SIDS face some of the highest energy costs in the world, a fact driven by the confluence of –dependency on imported fossil fuels, geographic isolation, and
structural vulnerabilities, including the severe impacts of climate-induced weather events on their infrastructure.
Such conditions underscore the urgent need for tailored strategies to enhance SIDS’ resilience, including by adapting to renewable energy sources, which some are already doing.
Many SIDS have set ambitious targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with goals to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Examples include the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda, and Mauritius, each with significant commitments towards transforming their energy sectors.
Some SIDS are working to develop and display a broad spectrum of innovative renewable energy solutions, including hybrid and diversified energy mixes and storage systems within decentralized and smart grid frameworks.
However, significant funding gaps persist.
To bridge these gaps, new tools and frameworks have been developed to turn clean energy transition plans into investable opportunities, aiding SIDS in developing robust business cases to attract the necessary investments.
We are set to present the development of renewable energy roadmaps for Tonga, Cura?ao and Rodrigues.
Our ongoing collaborative efforts have led to the formulation of best practices and regulatory recommendations that seek to foster investments and support energy transitions in SIDS. And our efforts put SIDS at the forefront of the global movement towards a sustainable future.
In conclusion, let us harness this opportunity to brainstorm solutions alongside pioneering island communities.
Together, we can explore and unlock the transformative potential of renewable energy to empower island communities to expedite their transition to clean energy and boost their economic growth.
Thank you for your commitment and engagement.