7th September, 2016 The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MEIDECC Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni announced that Tonga is committed to a 100% renewable energy by the year 2035, in a press conference held at the Hawaii Convention Centre during the IUCN World Conservation Congress on 4th of September 2016.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of MEIDECC joined Mr. Utu Abe Malae, Executive director of American Samoa Power Authority announced that Tonga and American Samoa are striving towards a 100% renewable energy future. Officials from both nations are further dialoguing with the founder of the Blue Planet Foundation, Mr. Henk Rogers, observing what Hawaii is doing to reach its own goal of 100% renewable energy by the year 2045. The State of Hawaii is the first state in the United States to put itself on the road towards a carbon free future.
“Tonga, having created one of the Pacific’s first clean energy roadmaps, recognizes the urgent need for a transition to renewable energy,” stated the Honorable Siaosi Sovaleni, Deputy Prime Minster of the Kingdom of Tonga.
“We are pleased to announce a new commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2035, and stand in solidarity with other countries like Palau and American Samoa on 100% renewable commitments. We note that regional collaboration and partnerships with the international community will be important as we work to reach our goals of 100% renewable energy.”
Deputy PM also stated that Tonga is already in the implementing phase in its efforts to achieve the target of 100% renewable energy by 2035.
“Tonga has introduced policies that we believe will help transform not only the economic landscape but also our fragile physical environment & ecosystem. This initiative is driven by the Tonga Energy Road Map, a policy instrument that guides us to the most effective way that Government intervenes and disrupts the status quo and the no longer acceptable “business as usual” mode of operation.
“At the heart of this policy regime is a directive that over the period 2010-2020, Tonga has to achieve a target of having 50% of its electricity supply generated from renewable sources. Further, Tonga’s INDC, aimed to achieve 70% access to renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2035, under our Climate Change Policy Framework. Efficiency in power sector is of paramount important in both supply and demand sites and transmission and distribution losses must be reduced to certain level. All citizens must have accessed to clean electricity sources by 2020 with productive use of renewable energy must be enhanced.”
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications