A virtual event entitled “The Island Resilience Forum: #SC1.5NCEnotSILENCE” took place on 29 September 2020 (around 5am Samoa time, 30 September) at the margins of the High Level Week of the 75th United Nations General Assembly.
It was organized by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in partnership with March for Science, YOUNGO, Island Resilience Partnership and EarthX.
The side event aimed at encouraging countries to take urgent action to transition to resilient, zero-carbon pathways to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C. It also illustrated the ways that island leaders and youth advocates were leading the global movement for science-based climate action in the midst of a pandemic.
The Prime Minister, Honourable Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, delivered special remarks at the side event, highlighting the steps that Samoa has taken for its national energy transition through the public-private partnership between the Government of Samoa, Grid Market and Island Resilience Partnership.
Samoa is on track to complete Phase One of its national energy transition despite challenges posed by global lockdowns and delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Samoa aims to implement and achieve its ambitious National Determined Contributions (NDC) goals to transition to 100% renewal energy, create more resilient infrastructure and to reduce costs of energy for Samoa.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of countries uniting “behind the science and scales proven partnerships to achieve transformative progress” especially in the fight against climate change and the current global pandemic.
Other panellists for the session were Mr. Tologata Tuimalealiifano, General Manager of EPC, Mr. Nick Davis, CEO of GridMarket and Ms. Simona Marinescu, UN Resident Coordinator for Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue. The session was moderated by Chet Monday of March for Science, and Selina Leem of Island Resilience Partnership.
