Energy and climate change officials from around the Pacific met in Nuku’alofa this week to discuss efforts to ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy in the region.

Jointly organized by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Asia Pacific Energy Research Center of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the five-day workshop which ended on 18 March, addressed access to accurate, reliable data and the ability to analyze and interpret those data for decision-making and the formulation of energy policies important to Pacific Islands.

Solomone Fiifta, a Deputy Director at SPC Economic Development Division said this is an excellent partnership between SPC, APEC and the World Bank and  acknowledged the support of the Government of Tonga.

"We are bringing the Pacific Regional Data Repository for Sustainable Energy (PRDR) to where it started from, a Tonga government initiative, which SPC is now implementing for the benefit of our region, he said.

Supported by the World Bank through its Technical Assistance to PRDR, the workshop was also aimed to strengthen Pacific Island Countries/Territories (PICTS) ability to effectively monitor and report on the progress of SDG7 (Sustainable Development Goals) and energy targets in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

The APEC Energy Research Centre which shares common interests with SPC on energy data and statistics looks forward for more collaboration in this space, said Dr Kaoru Yamaguchi, a Senior Research Fellow at the Japan Based Centre.

The global community has adopted Goal 7 of the Sustainable Goals that focuses on sustainable energy for all and commits the UN family, including Pacific Island countries and territories to work towards three associated targets by 2020.

Pacific Island countries have submitted their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions as part of the COP21 process that led to the adoption o the Paris Agreement, which calls for deep and urgent reduction in emissions which PICS have acknowledged to be achieved through greater use of renewable energy and energy deficiency technologies.

As part of this agreement every party is obliged to regularly report on its progress and achievements.

Representatives from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, PNG, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu took part.