Leaders of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and development partners gathered at UN Headquarters for a High-Level Roundtable to discuss how to increase ambition to accelerate energy transformation in SIDS and to launch the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative 2.0. The initiative intends to strengthen cooperation on renewable energy, accelerate energy transformation in SIDS, strengthen climate resilience, and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) identified four priority areas for the Lighthouses Initiative 2.0:
- supporting SIDS in implementation and review of their nationally determined contributions;
- expanding the focus to include geothermal energy and energy from the ocean, as well as accelerating renewables in the transport sector;
- enhancing support for development of bankable projects; and
- reinforcing work on the nexus between energy, agriculture, food, health, and water.
Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, spoke on limitations and progress. While three hydroelectricity plants in his country are being improved for efficiency and solar renewables are expanding, the major initiative focuses on geothermal energy. He noted that there is a two-year delay for the goal of 80% geothermal energy, but that his country is actively working with other organizations to meet this goal.
