10 October 2014
Pacific Islands Partner on Transition to Efficient Lighting
story highlights

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has announced the launch of the Pacific Regional Efficient Lighting Strategy (PELS) project, which will support Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) interested in establishing energy efficiency standards.

The SPC Energy Programme hosted an inception workshop for the initiative to identify priorities and objectives for the strategy document of the project.

SPC logo23 September 2014: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has announced the launch of the Pacific Regional Efficient Lighting Strategy (PELS) project, which will support Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) interested in establishing energy efficiency standards. The SPC Energy Programme hosted an inception workshop for the initiative to identify priorities and objectives for the strategy document of the project.

The workshop, which brought together over 30 participants, was held on 22-23 September 2014, in Nadi, Fiji. Attendees were national PELS coordinators from PICTs, regional and international organizations, electric utilities, and representatives from the Governments of Australia and the US. According to SPC, key issues identified and discussed at the meeting included: the need for an integrated policy approach; minimum energy performance standards; monitoring, verification and enforcement; environmentally sound management; and supporting policies. In addition, participants reviewed the accuracy and comprehensiveness of data in a draft regional status report on efficient lighting.

The workshop was supported by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) en.lighten initiative. At the Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers’ Meeting in April 2014, SPC and UNEP agreed to partner on realizing a transition to energy efficient lighting in PICTs.

Creating such partnerships across countries was also addressed at the Third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) held in September 2014. Ministers in the Pacific have agreed to work together to mobilize investment from development partners for energy efficiency and conservation. In addition, the Pacific Appliance Labelling and Standards Programme is already underway, assisting in the development of standards and labeling legislation for electrical appliances. [SPC Press Release] [IISD RS Story on Pacific Regional Energy and Transport Ministers Meeting] [IISD RS Coverage of the SIDS Conference]