HE PRESIDENT RATU WILIAME KATONIVERE’S ADDRESS AT THE COMMISSIONING OF THE SOLARISATION OF HEADS OF STATE PROJECT

• The High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Palaniswamy Subramanyam
Karthigeyan;
• The UNDP Director, Ms. Yemesrach. A. Workie;
• PS Foreign Affairs and Interim Secretary General, PIDF Dr. Lesi Korovavala;
• Your Excellencies the Members of the Diplomatic Corp;
• Respected stakeholders;
• Members of the Media;
• Ladies and gentlemen.

Miau Sa Bula Re! and a very good afternoon to you all. I am honoured this afternoon to commission the Solar Project at the State House that is under the Solarisation of Head of State Residences in PIDF member countries which I realise is a response to the multiple energy challenges faced by Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

I understand we are embarking on the festivities of Christmas and most of us are looking forward to the well-deserved break and I sincerely thank you for the commitment to be present and to part of this important milestone.

I take this opportunity to welcome everyone present this afternoon, particularly the good High Commissioner and your able team from the High Commission of India and Government of India for their generosity in providing funding support to the venture and likewise for UNDP, as the implementing partner for the project. Such partnerships require technical support for sustainability purposes, and a testament to what works in the region.I recall that we had launched this project some months back and work had begun once the solar panels were delivered and the relevant complementing equipment were installed.

Today I am extremely pleased that the project has been duly completed and all due diligence has been passed by the relevant authorities thus now warranting a commissioning of the project.

We are equally proud that our solar system is now live and the app used to monitor the system is compatible for both laptops and smart phones and most importantly we shall be saving on costs on a monthly basis for the State House alone.

The project is an example of a whole-of-society approach, specifically a multi-stakeholder partnership, with partners from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society. With funding from the India- UN Development Fund, and close partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Pacific Island Development Forum (PIDF), the initiative is an important milestone towards creating awareness among different stakeholders as well as the general public on the adoption of solar energy as a source of clean, renewable energy.

This will bring Fiji to a step closer to achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target of reaching close to 100% renewable energy power generation (grid-connected) by 2030 and a reduction of 20% of CO2 emissions from the energy sector under a Business as Usual (BAU) scenario. It will also contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Given the limited availability of land in the Pacific, rooftop solar has great potential. I strongly believe that this effort to solarize State residences and government buildings should be replicated to other public buildings, residential, commercial, and industrial buildings, to make “Every Building is Energy Building”. This would shift our Pacific Island nations from being solely energy consumers to "prosumers" who both produce and consume energy.

Renewable energy is sometimes referred to as “clean” or “green” energy and is a booming innovation that is bringing down energy costs and delivering on its promise of a cleaner, greener future. Solar and wind generation are breaking record after record across the world, from Europe to America, as they slowly start to penetrate national electricity grids without compromising on electricity. This means that renewable energy sources are slowly but surely displacing “dirty” energy sources, such as fossil fuels (e.g., coal and oil) in the power sector and offering the benefit of lower emissions and pollution levels.

Here in the Pacific, over the years we have made modest inroads towards renewable energy proliferation albeit the challenges associated with diseconomies of scale.This year, the COP 28 conference, held recently in Dubai marks a pivotal moment in global climate action. It includes the first Global Stocktake, to assess the world's progress in tackling the climate crisis and determining necessary course corrections. This stocktake was crucial for measuring progress towards the Paris Agreement goals on mitigation, adaptation, and climate finance.

The focus was on immediate and dramatic climate action, including a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, achieving global net zero emissions by 2050, transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, and increasing investments in climate adaptation and resilience. Some argue that the change in text, from phasing out to transitioning is a cause of concern, but for the PACIFIC, IMMEDIATE ACTION to the climate crises is essential for our survival. Critical to this endeavor is our collective effort and a call to action on the pressing priorities that require deliberate attention.

At the recent COP, an agreement was reached by 118 countries to triple renewable power generation to 11,000 Gigawatts and to double energy efficiency within this decade. Achieving these targets will require substantial government support, financing, and policy frameworks to facilitate investment, including grid infrastructure enhancements. This augurs well for Green Exchange Trade Fund investments. And just as the Solarisation Head of State project implies, we as a country will need to hasten the necessary legislation, establish the necessary framework and processes to allow our nation to transition to green solutions provided by renewable energy.

We in Fiji are at the brunt of nature’s calamities more often than naught. The commissioning of these panels symbolises change, and the need for our people to consider alternative methods and technology; that will be beneficial for our people. At the same time, it is a reminder that there are forces at play that we have little or no control over, and yet we need to be innovative and aspire to make changes for the survival of our people.

RESILIENCE is essential, if we are to rid the storm together, and renewable energy is beneficial to building community capacity in this day and age. I hope that this commissioning event will make inroads in the discussion of this important topic especially the use of renewable energy throughout the Pacific Region.

Again I consider it an honour to commission the solarisation project and I know that this shall become the “end of a new beginning”, with the many similar project initiatives that possess the potential to impact the lives of ordinary citizens of this beloved nation.

On that note, on behalf of my family, my office, and all citizens of Fiji, I convey our best wishes and wish you and your families a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

May God bless us all and continue to bless our beloved nation.