Nabilah S
Samoa has started a new project that will cost several million Tala. The goal is to speed up efforts to stop climate change by making its land and sea transportation sectors less reliant on fossil fuels and more environmentally friendly.
The CAP-IT project is part of the Japan-funded regional project Promoting Green Transformation in the Pacific Region towards Net-Zero and Climate-Resilient Development, which also helps Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu reach their green transformation goals for a more inclusive, climate-resilient future.
Samoa will get $15.5 million as its share of the $36.8 million regional project, which is set to end in March 2025.
Samoa depends on the ocean and the shipping industry for its economy. This makes it necessary to decarbonize the maritime transport sector by looking into low-carbon technologies and making operational changes to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
This should make it easier for Samoa to meet its improved Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Ambassador of Japan to Samoa Keisuke Senta said, “On behalf of the Japanese government, it is a great honour to support this initiative to deal with climate change issues in the Pacific region by funding CAP-IT in partnership with the UNDP.”
“The continuation of UNDP’s long-term partnership with the Government of Japan, a trusted partner, will undoubtedly provide Samoa with the urgent and critical assistance it requires to confront the climate crisphead-on on, using green transformation pathways that prioritize leaving no one behind in participation, access, and safety of land and maritime transportation for all,” said Jorn Sorensen, UNDP Resident Representative.
Japan has made international commitments to fight climate change, like becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030 compared to the fiscal year 2013.
The Government of Japan just approved a roadmap for Green Transformation (GX) on February 10, 2023, to strengthen its commitments and increase its contribution to global decarbonization through many initiatives, such as creating clean markets and encouraging innovative cooperation, among others.
Japan has also decided to help reduce carbon emissions by making the Asia Zero Emission Community. This is important for the Asia and Pacific region (AZEC).
Also, Japan made CAP-IT an extension of the AZEC because Prime Minister Kishida said the following in June 2022: “Pacific Island Countries are also essential partners in making the Indo-Pacific region free and open. We will help build a stronger foundation for their economy to grow in sustainable and resilient want, including addressing the existential threat of climate change.
