Tuvalu vows to be energy renewable by 2020

THE tiny island nation of Tuvalu, already under threat from rising seas caused by global warming, has vowed to do its part for climate change by fuelling its economy entirely from renewable sources by 2020.
The South Pacific nation of 12,000 people is part of a movement of countries and cities committed to going climate neutral. Since February 2008, 10 nations including New Zealand, Pakistan, Iceland and Costa Rica have vowed to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases as part of a goal of reaching zero emissions in the next decade.
None of these commitments alone is expected to make a significant difference in the fight to cut heat-trapping gases. But the United Nations and many environmentalists say the moves can inspire bigger emitters like the United States and China to take bolder steps to limit their carbon footprints.
“In a sense, they are paving the way for medium and larger economies which have to move if we are going combat climate change,” said Nick Nuttal, spokesman for the United Nations Environment Program. It sponsors the Climate Neutral Network, a group of 100 governments, non-government groups and companies looking to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.
Tuvalu hopes to replace the fossil fuels that it imports by ship with solar energy and wind power, a project that it expects will cost $20 million. The country, which is just 26 square kilometres in size with most of its land less than a metre above sea level, releases almost no greenhouse gases.
So far, Tuvalu has installed a 40 kilowatt solar energy system with the help of Japan’s Kansai Electric Power Co. and Tokyo Electric Power Company. 22 July 2009