The young Pacific Islanders launched “Our Pawa,” a campaign focused on accelerating a safe renewable energy transition in the Pacific and Australia. This comes barely a month before the 53rd Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga, 350.org Pacific, and the Pacific Climate Warriors, emphasizing the importance of renewable energy access in the Pacific and Australia’s role in its realization.
Despite negligible carbon emissions, Pacific island countries such as Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands aim for a 100% renewable energy transition within the next 10 to 15 years. Notably, renewable energy capacity in the Pacific increased by 30% between 2014 and 2022.
Sera Saini, 350.org Fiji Coordinator, pointed out that the world is waking up to the fact that we can’t continue burning fossil fuels if we want to survive. This comes just year after calls for embrace of renewable energy were heightened at COP28 urging for phase down of fossil fuels.
“As a 21-year-old, I want to ensure that I can still power my home, attend university, and build a life for myself after we’ve phased out fossil fuels. To me, ‘Our Pawa’ is about ensuring that while the rest of the world shifts to renewable energy, the Pacific doesn’t get left behind. Our leaders have set ambitious targets for our Pacific island countries, and we need global support to make these a reality,” said Sera.
With the theme “Transformative Resilient Pasifiki, Build Better Now,” this year’s Forum Leaders Meeting offers Pacific leaders the opportunity to chart the future for the region and determine the roles of neighboring Australia and New Zealand.
According to Joseph Sikulu, 350.org Pacific Managing Director, there is a readiness for the renewable energy revolution, and the Pacific is already leading the way towards a Just Energy Transition.
Adding that the obstacles faced are majorly financial resources, technical assistance, and maintaining renewable energy systems on remote islands. “This is where countries like Australia must step in. While they have plans to decarbonize their domestic energy systems, Australia still exports vast amounts of coal overseas, ultimately exporting climate catastrophe to the Pacific. It is only right that, while they accelerate their renewable energy build, they support those most impacted by their fossil fuel industry to do the same,” said Mr. Sikulu.
As the world’s third-largest fossil fuel exporter, Australia aspires to become a renewable energy “superpower.” However, Pacific Islanders living in Australia and abroad are concerned that, if not executed correctly, this quest for net zero may leave vulnerable communities behind and First Nations peoples deprived of their land and water resources. The “Our Pawa” campaign outlines principles to guide Australia’s renewable energy transition, considering Pacific peoples’ concerns.
Jacinta Fa’amau, 350.org Pacific Campaigner, revealed that Australia has all the resources to lead the renewable energy transition but must learn from the mistakes of the fossil fuel industry so Steps towards renewable energy must avoid these mistakes and ensure the well-being and involvement of Indigenous communities, or they will just be another extractive industry labeled as ‘green.’
Notably, another critical issue is that of the Indigenous peoples in Australia who have lost land, water access, and livelihoods to coal mines and gas fields.
“There also needs to be job security for workers transitioning from the fossil fuel industry into renewable jobs. Many Pacific Islanders work in Australia’s mines, and they shouldn’t have to choose between the future of their islands and putting food on the table. These are the priorities of the ‘Our Pawa’ campaign and how we hope to build a safe and sustainable future,” said Jacinta
At the UN Climate talks in Dubai last year, countries agreed to triple renewable energy by 2030 and double energy efficiency. “Our Pawa” is a response from young Pacific Islanders, insisting that the Pacific’s energy transition must occur on our terms and for our benefit.
