By Sanjeshni Kumar in Apia, Samoa – PASIFIKA ENVIRONEWS/PACNEWS Vanuatu is accelerating its shift towards a low-carbon future, integrating the principles of just transition into national energy and climate strategies, with a strong focus on renewable energy, green transport, and local skills development. Acting Director of Energy, Nelson Kalo, said the government is ensuring its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term low-emission development strategy translate into tangible results for communities. “We want to frame just transition in more practical terms,” Kalo said. “Whenever the discussions are around just transition, we draw from our policies and plans to get them implemented at a domestic level.” One of the most significant initiatives underway is the Sarakata hydropower expansion in Santo, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The upgrade will increase capacity from 1.2MW to 2.2MW, with the goal of achieving almost 100 percent renewable energy for Santo by 2027. In Port Vila and Tanna, a partnership with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is delivering solar PV and battery storage systems, including a 6.5MW battery with 1MW solar PV in Port Vila and 1MW solar with 2.5MW battery storage in Tanna. These projects are expected to push both areas close to full renewable generation. The 500kW Malekula hydropower plant, funded by the Asian Development Bank, is already operational. MFAT’s flexible climate finance has also been used to purchase coconut oil generator sets as part of Vanuatu’s push to harness local resources and improve energy security. “We are capitalising on our domestic resources like coconut production to help us meet our renewable targets,” Kalo said. Australia’s Department of Climate Change and Energy has also provided modelling support to inform Vanuatu’s national energy roadmap, identifying domestic resource strengths and practical steps to reach its 100 percent target by 2030. Vanuatu is exploring clean transport solutions, with electric vehicles (EVs) now part of the Ministry of Climate Change fleet and private companies importing EVs. Plans are underway for solar-powered charging stations to replace current grid-connected ones, alongside a potential full EV transition for government fleets. Pilot projects with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) are also testing EV integration. “We’re not just writing policies; we want to show why these changes are important for Vanuatu,” Kalo said. To sustain the transition, renewable energy and sustainable technology courses have been introduced at the Vanuatu Institute of Technology and the National University of Vanuatu, offering certificates and diplomas. These programmes aim to prepare graduates to maintain and operate new energy systems. “We have to prepare the next generation with the skills to carry these initiatives forward,” Kalo said. The just transition concept is a framework for moving towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy in a way that is fair, inclusive, and equitable, particularly for workers and communities most affected by the shift. According to Ewan Cameron of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the idea gained global recognition in 2015 alongside the Paris Agreement, driven largely by trade unions advocating for decent work and social protection in climate strategies. A just transition work programme was later established at COP27, and the framework was formally embedded in the United Nations climate process at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. Cameron noted that just transition benefits mitigation, adaptation, and addressing loss and damage, while emphasising fairness, inclusion, and resilience. Key tools for implementation include policy integration, social protection, education, and the use of traditional and local knowledge. He also stressed the importance of economic diversification, local capacity building, and climate finance to support investments in green jobs and renewable energy. “It strengthens the legitimacy of low-emission development and addresses the social dimensions of climate change,” Cameron said. “By integrating justice into climate policies, countries can build trust, avoid backlash, and create sustainable outcomes.” For Vanuatu, the principles of just transition align closely with its renewable energy ambitions, ensuring that no community is left behind as the nation pursues its target of 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. “We know there are challenges. “But step by step, we are getting closer to a future powered by our own resources and people,” Kalo said…. PACNEWS