In the Pacific Islands, energy plays a critical role in almost every activity, and the growing requirements for energy are resulting in significant impacts on biodiversity.
Energy supply systems both depend on and influence ecosystems. Ecosystems, such as watersheds and forests, are critical for the provisioning of energy services such as water flows for hydro-electricity and biomass for bioenergy. However, current energy production can also cause species and habitat loss along the entire energy cycle from exploration to production and distribution to final use. The very biodiversity that provides energy services is under threat by the growing demand for energy.
In the Pacific Islands region, as in many small island developing states, the options to meet energy demands are expanding to include renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal energy while recognizing that traditional sources such as gas and oil cannot completely be eliminated in the near future. No one energy source is completely biodiversity- neutral and energy choices will need to be made with a full understanding of the trade-offs involved.
The IUCN Oceania Energy Programme titled Managing the Ecosystem and Livelihood Implications of Energy Policies in the Pacific Island States, the Pacific component of the IUCN's Energy, Ecosystems and Sustainable Livelihoods Initiative (EESLI), works towards assisting the countries of the Pacific to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and energy efficiency systems that are ecologically efficient, sustainable, and socially equitable. The Pacific SIDS EESLI is currently working with six Small Island Developing States providing support in the development and implementation of environmentally sustainable energy policies and a number of renewable energy pilot projects focusing on ecosystem conservation and livelihood enhancement. These will be achieved through: installation of renewable energy pilot projects; provision of management tools for the projects and assistance in the development of sustainable energy policies; and networking with Small Island States in the Pacific and globally to share lessons learned, skills, and technology.
The Pacific SIDS EESLI - Managing the Ecosystem and Livelihood Implications of Energy Policies in the Pacific Island States - links directly to IUCN Oceania’s Strategic Priority Area 3: Naturally energising the future in the Pacific Islands region by implementing ecologically sustainable, equitable and efficient energy systems.
