Results of Small Island Developing Sates (SIDS) Decarbonization Forum

Date : March 14-15, 2024

Co-organized by：Ministry of the Environment (MOE) Japan , International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) , Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Venue：On-line

Participants：Approximately 50 participants from MOE Japan, IRENA, GCF, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and government officers of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) mainly from Pacific SIDS, international organizations, Japanese local governments and business operators, etc. (excluding the secretariat)

(1) 　This Forum aimed at sharing detailed initiatives and technologies, and challenges concerning decarbonization of SIDS and Japanese remote islands and companies that take the lead in efforts for decarbonization were also invited, while preceding workshops had been held since 2015 to SIDS government officials for renewable energy deployment and for capacity building to access climate finance, and the like.
 

(2) 　At the beginning, ASAHI Kentaro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of the Environment of Japan, while referring to the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) to be held in July of this year, expressed the importance of engaging in sharing knowledge of various countries including Japan as stabilization of electricity supply and decarbonization in maritime transportation are needed to further expand renewable energy and achieve net zero emission. Following that, Mr. Henry Gonzalez, Deputy Executive Director, GCF, and Mr. Gurbuz Gonul, Director of Country Engagement and Partnerships, IRENA, expressed significance of decarbonization for island nations and their expectations for results of this Forum. Additionally, Mr. Fakasoa Tealei, Vice-Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change, Culture, Environment, Waste Management, on behalf of H.E. Dr. Maina Vakafua Talia, Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment of Tuvalu, expressed the imminent climate risks of SIDS and strong requests toward decarbonization at a global level.
 

(3) 　In the first day session, under “Strategic Partnerships, Finance and Climate Actions for SIDS decarbonization”, IRENA, GCF, JICA and ADB introduced their measures for decarbonization in SIDS, such as cooperative programs, supporting tools, renewable energy technologies including Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion, funding programs, by referring to detailed projects.

Additionally, based on its “Guidebook to Improve Self-Sufficiency Rate of Renewable Energy in Remote Islands”, MOE Japan introduced the points to be considered regarding renewable energy deployment in remote islands in each phase of policy and experiencing, plan, design and construction and operation in order to strengthen reasoning and to enhance deployment. MOE Japan also shared Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion in Kume Island and the project in Oki Islands to enhance resilience against natural disasters by combination of renewable energy and storage battery (NAS battery and lithium-ion battery). Furthermore, Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, introduced “Australia’s Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership”.
 

(4) 　On the second day, in the session “Sharing success and challenges towards sustainable and decarbonized islands from SIDS”, Republic of Fiji, Tuvalu, Republic of Vanuatu and Republic of Maldives shared the goals and roadmaps toward decarbonization, the situations of initiatives toward achieving such goals and future prospects as well as challenges faced by them, and it was recognized that in particular, financing, land constraints, human resources with technological expertise and capacity building are their common challenges. In the following session “Decarbonization leading islands in Japan and their lessons”, various technologies related to decarbonization were presented by Iki City, the Okinawa Electric Power Company, Inc., Tohoku Electric Power Network Co., Inc. and Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.
 

(5) 　At the end of the Forum, OGAWA Masako, Deputy Director-General, Global Environment Bureau, MOE Japan, expressed her appreciation to the speakers and participants for their contribution to this Forum and expectations for further collaboration in climate actions through PALM10.
 

(6) 　Other than the aforementioned, topics like an access to finance, efforts to overcome barriers, the role of NGOs and how to involve private sectors were also discussed.

An international agency aiming at prevalence and promotion of renewable energy, which was established in 2010. Japan has been elected as a council member since its establishment and has been supporting renewable energy deployment in developing countries. At present, it has 169 member states and regions and is headquartered in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates.

 

The international fund that supports the efforts for developing countries to implement GHG emission control, reduction and absorption (mitigation) and response (adaptation) to adverse effects by climate changes.

 

A guidebook aiming to improve self-sufficiency ratio of renewable energy in remote islands, which describes points to be considered in each phase of scheme, investigation and plan, design and construction, and operation, when introducing renewable energy in remote islands.