Governor recommits territory to combating climate change at Blue Planet Alliance Meeting

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Blue Planet Alliance Meeting took place in Honolulu Oct. 14 -20 and brought together all leaders from Pacific Islands who are determined to transition their energy sources from fossil fuels toward a renewable energy future.

Gov. Lemanu P.S. Mauga delivered special remarks at the closing session touching on three points itemized in a press release from the Governor’s Office:

• ●  Protecting Pacific Islands and addressing climate change, 

• ●  Pacific Island initiatives to combat climate change and,

• ●  Specific needs for the Pacific, referencing his participation in Washington, D.C., at the Pacific Island Forum (PIF).
• The governor emphasized the importance of equal opportunities for all island nations, irrespective of their current membership status in the PIF. The specific needs of Pacific Islanders without seats should not be overlooked or disregarded, as this could prevent full access and experience to benefits offered to recognized members of the PIF.
• Senator Togiola Tulafono, ASPA Faleifi Ryan Tuato'o, Director of Governor’s Resilience Office Ama'ama Tofaeono, and Jerome Ierome attended the week-long Blue Planet Alliance meeting.

BACKGROUND

The ASG commitment to achieving a target of sourcing fifty percent (50%) of the territory's energy from renewable resources by 2025 and reaching a hundred percent (100%) reliance on renewables by 2040 was  originally established in an executive order signed in 2017, during the Lolo and Lemanu administration.


The historic directive acknowledges the impact of climate change and underscores the unwavering dedication of the American Samoa Government to proactively address and mitigate its impacts to serve as an endorsement of alliance with other progressive states and Pacific Islands in combating this pressing global crisis.

The Blue Planet Fellowship Program invited members from the legislative and executive branches to represent policy, utility, and community approaches. The meeting included more than thirty ambassadors from over ten countries actively engaging with their communities, sharing ideas and insights into climate advocacy.