Nestled within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Renewable Energy Division (RED) is at the forefront of shaping Samoa’s environmental landscape towards a low-carbon economy. Established in 2007, RED has emerged as a beacon of change among the 15 dynamic divisions.
At its core, RED champions climate change mitigation through renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives, guided by comprehensive policies and strategies. Aligned with Samoa’s commitments to international agreements, RED’s work is steered by the 1st and 2nd Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
In addition, RED follows the directives outlined in Samoa’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, NDC Roadmap, and Investment Plan. These strategic documents serve as roadmaps, guiding RED’s efforts towards achieving ambitious targets, including the goal of attaining 70% renewable energy use by 2031, as set forth in the Pathway Development for Samoa.
Furthermore, RED is eagerly anticipating the forthcoming National Renewable Energy Policy of 2024, which will provide a comprehensive framework for further advancing renewable energy development in the nation.
Through seamless collaboration with government Ministries, particularly in Energy and Environment, as well as engagement with national and overseas stakeholders and multi-donor partners, RED creates waves of change that resonate throughout the nation.
Innovation, dedication, and collaboration are the cornerstones of RED’s journey towards illuminating a path to a brighter, cleaner tomorrow for Samoa.
Installation of Solar Lights
The Impress Project through the Renewable Energy Division distributed and installed solar street lights for selected community groups and schools.
Samoa’s first NDC focuses primarily on reducing emissions from the energy Sector. Our could was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Electricity sub-sector through the generation through to the year 2025. We continue to strive and committed towards increasing the use of renewables for electricity generation to improve sustainability and strengthen Samoa’s power sector. Depicted in the infographic above is the amount of Electricity Generation.
Government: Samoa is a Parliamentary democracy where the Parliament is elected through universal suffrage every five years. The Prime Minister and Cabinet manage the day to day affairs of the country. It has a unicameral Legislative Assembly consisting of 54 members, who are all matais (chiefly titleholders) and at least five are women elected by citizens aged 21 years and over. The Prime Minister selects 12 other parliamentarians to form a Cabinet. General elections are held every five years. The Human Rights Protection Party has been in power for an uninterrupted 34 years. The 1990 Village Fono Act gives Village Councils authority over village law and order, health and social issues.
Constitution: Established in 1960, the Constitution blends traditional and democratic institutions and processes and recognizes the separation of powers between the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive.
Legal system: Samoa has a Westminster legal system based on the English legal system as adopted by many of the Commonwealth countries.
Official languages: Samoan and English.
Judiciary: Samoa‟s court system consists of two District courts and a Supreme Court manned by five local judges. An Appeal Court made up of overseas judges sits once a year to hear appeal cases. There is a separate Land and Titles Court that deals with matters relating to customary land ownership and „matai‟ (chief) titles.
Land area: 2,820 km2 made up of the two main islands of Upolu and Savai‟i and seven small islands, with around 43% of land being arable.
Exclusive Economic Zone: The smallest in the Pacific at 98,500 km2.
Population: Estimated 193,483 in Samoa; 19% Urban (2015).
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Nominal GDP SAT$1.9 Billion (FY 2014/15).
Real GDP SAT$1.7 Billion (FY2014/15).
GDP composition: Real GDP; Primary sector 10%, Secondary sector 24%, Tertiary sector 66% (FY 2014/15).
GDP per capita (2011);:SAT$9,713; USD$3,176.
Remittances:About 21.6% of GDP (2014/15).
I have great pleasure in presenting the Strategy for the Development of Samoa (SDS) for the period 2016/17–2019/20.
This is an important document for all Samoan. It is a guide to the path the Government is committed to follow over the next four years. It builds on the progress we have made in the past as a nation and provides a clear signal for all Samoan of where the Government believes we should head as we move forward in the coming years. The SDS identifies the priority outcomes we think are right for the next four years and outlines the programs and actions we will implement to achieve those priority outcomes. We have aligned the direction of the strategy with the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals and Small Island
Developing States Accelerated Modality of Action (SAMOA) Pathway adopted in Samoa in 2014 by the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and supported by the United Nations.
In shaping the SDS and determining the priority outcomes that are right for Samoa over the next four years, Government has consulted widely with community and industry groups. The SDS is a partnership between Government and all Samoans. The stronger this partnership, the more we will accomplish.
The over-riding vision of the last SDS was "An Improved Quality of Life for All". This vision continues to be a very clear and relevant statement of what we are all seeking and we have kept it as the vision for next four years. We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure strong economic growth and development that generates employment and opportunities for our citizens to achieve an "improved quality of life". We also want to do everything we can to ensure this will be "for all". We do not want anyone left behind as we progress and we need to ensure vulnerable groups can equally share in our prgress. Accordingly we have added to our vision, the theme for the next four years "Accelerating Sustainable Development and Broadening Opportunities for All".
If we are to achieve our strategic outcomes in the SDS we will need to ensure that the decisions we take week by week and year by year support and advance this strategy. For the Government, it will be particularly important that we frame our Budgets to support the direction, achieve the priority outcomes and the full intent of the SDS.
The SDS is a living document and circumstances can change over such a period. We will keep the strategy under constant review and if circumstances change – whether these changes are new opportunities or new challenges – we will act accordingly. But any such changes will ensure that we remain true to the vision.
The SDS must be accessible to all Samoan and I believe it will be supported by all. Whenever the opportunity arises to speak with groups across the country, Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials will ensure that we explain the strategy and what it means for us all.
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