Niue took another step today on the way to achieving its climate and energy security goals, with the signing of an agreement on a new project that will focus on accelerating renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Known under the name “Accelerating Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Applications in Niue” (AREAN), the new project focuses on climate change mitigation. It aims to enable the achievement of low carbon energy access, sustainable energy and green growth targets of Niue as stated in its Sustainable Energy Road Map (NiSERM). The NiSERM is the basis of the country’s latest National Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, and forms part of the Government’s plan to move away from fossil fuels and reach the target of 80% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025.

Over the next four years, the project will address a range of key issues, including policy and planning, institutional capacity building on low carbon energy, financing of low carbon development initiatives, climate resilient and low carbon technology applications, and public awareness on low carbon development.

The total project volume is US$ 21 million of which US$ 3.3 million is being contributed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The remaining amount of US$ 17.7 million is co-financed by the Government of Niue and partners – New Zealand, UNDP and Germany. The project will be implemented by the Niue Ministry of Infrastructure (Department of Utilities) in close collaboration with Ministry of Natural Resources as the GEF official focal point, Project Management and Coordinating Unit and other Government Ministries.

Hon. Pokotoa Sipeli, Acting Premier and Minister of Infrastructure, along with Ms Peleni Talagi, newly appointed Secretary to the Government of Niue, and Ms Verena Linneweber, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Multi-Country Office for Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tokelau signed the AREAN Project Document during an official ceremony in Alofi. -ENDS-