07th June, 2016 “Let us be firm in our resolve that cleaner energy sources not only cut emissions, but brings more jobs, cuts dependency on fossil fuel and improve energy security, contribute to affordability of electricity, and creates a healthier environment for our children and their children’s children”, said Tonga’s Deputy Prime Ministers – the Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni, during his opening of a joint Tonga-SPC side event meeting in Auckland yesterday on the theme – “Supporting the Implementation of the Pacific Islands Intended National Determined Contributions” .
The Tonga-SPC side event was held prior to the NZ-EU Pacific Energy Conference which will be held at Auckland today. The side event was an opportunity to assess the progress with the outcomes of the first Pacific Leaders Energy Summit that was held at Nuku’alofa in 2013.
The objective of the side event was to provide a space to hear about specific programmes, projects and actions of partners and donors in Pacific SIDS that are either planned or ongoing and that need endorsement and support for full implementation in the energy and climate sector of the region.
The side event opened with a welcoming remarks by Mr Cameron Diver, the Deputy Director General of the Pacific Community. It was followed by the DPM’s opening address and continued with a series of moderated presentations from, and discussions by, energy delegates and power utilities from Pacific island countries (Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga) and Development Partners (UNFCCC, United Nations Environment Programme, UNDP, NZ MFAT, EU, World Bank, French Embassy, Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank).
The Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga, Honorable Sovaleni, stressed the importantance of countries to implement their respective INDC’s, and the need to move from INDC to NDC’s. Despite the challenges that Pacific island countries face, decoupling the notion of increased investment in renewable energy will be detrimental for the Pacific economic development. The Deputy Prime Minister continued to stress that cleaner energy sources not only cut emission, but brings more jobs, cuts dependency on fossil fuel and increase energy security, contribute to affordability of electricity, and creates a healthier environment for our children.
The outcome on the Tonga-SPC side event has been submitted to the main Pacific Energy Conference (PEC) that is currently underway at Eden Park in Auckland today Tuesday 7th June 2016. The Conference is co-hosted by the New Zealand Government and the European Union, to follow up on the 2013 Energy Summit and to continue to promote sustainable energy and electricity for all.
The delegation from Tonga was led by Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni and includes government officials as well as representatives from Tonga Power Ltd.
ENDS
Issued from the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications