AUSTRALIA has announced a $A1million ($F1.56m) funding towards a renewable energy project for rural schools.
Announcing the funding at a pre-COP31 Summit press conference in Nadi yesterday, Australia’s Minister for Climate Change Chris Bowen said this was part of a $A5.7m reliable clean energy infrastructure split between three countries.
“I am pleased to announce three funding initiatives by Australia, $1m towards Fiji’s Ministry of Education providing solar energy for schools in Fiji, in remote and maritime schools,” he said.
“We are providing $2.2m to the Oro Province in Papua New Guinea in 19 communities and $2.5m for the Bougainville Clean Energy initiative in Vanuatu.”
Fiji’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya acknowledged the assistance provided by Australia to Fiji and the Pacific while assuring the Pacific’s position will remain the same.
Ms Tabuya said they were grateful for the assistance to regional countries and leading negotiations at the Summit.
Mr Bowen added that Australia would continue to shed light on the Pacific nation’s needs and demand for climate action while it made its own efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
“Here we are unified in our course,” said Mr Bowen.
“Of course Pacific countries will express their views in so many different ways and position will remain the same and to replace the need for fossil fuel.
“That is what we are doing in Australia.”
The summit continues today.
