China’s green energy expertise offers hope to small island nations: Samoan ambassador

According to Samoa’s ambassador to China, China’s advanced technology and expertise in handling the green energy transition can offer considerable support to vulnerable small island countries as they look to confront the challenges brought by climate change.

Noting that addressing climate change is one of the Samoan government’s most important priorities, ambassador Luamanuvae Albert Mariner stressed the need for the whole world to work together to tackle this pressing issue, while emphasizing that small island countries like Samoa can benefit significantly from China’s experience in the sector.

“This issue should be an issue of importance and priority to all the [world’s] countries. Now, Samoa acknowledges China’s tremendous role in terms of its green energy pathway. The technology that China has, the expertise that China has, would go a long way in addressing our small island countries’ aspirations to meet our energy transition targets,” said Mariner during a recent interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN).

China is pushing ahead with its renewable energy transition and has previously announced it aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The country has already made substantial progress, with the emissions intensity of carbon dioxide in China decreasing by more than 51 percent from 2005 to 2022.

Mariner said that one of the main concerns surrounding the collective global commitment to tackling climate change is a lack of comprehensive financing plans and access to the necessary funding, an issue which is particularly difficult for small island developing countries.

However, the ambassador highlighted how the efforts of China, as a responsible major nation in the field of climate governance, have instilled hope and bolstered confidence in the Pacific Island countries’ efforts to combat climate change.