Samoa’s climate is typical of small tropical islands, being geographically isolated from big landmasses. The rainfall and humidity are usually high. Distinct wet and dry seasons are experienced only on the leeward (north western) sides of the main islands, Savaii and Upolu, while temperatures are high and generally uniform throughout the year. Samoa experiences southeast trade winds at almost all times of the year, however severe tropical cyclones occur during the summer months of December to February. Samoa is also vulnerable to anomalously long dry spells that coincide with the El Nino South Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena. These vulnerabilities are particularly exacerbated during extreme events, as evident when tropical cyclones Ofa (1990) and Val (1991) devastated Samoa causing damage estimated to be about three times the GNP (GoS/DLSE, 1999), and the dry spells that followed.
Challenges and Issues
The challenge that Samoa faces as a small island developing state is its vulnerability to climate variability and extreme events. The first national communication report for Samoa in 2000 highlighted the importance of education as a major area for mitigation campaigns in response to climate change and sea level rise. It has also been noted the need for regulations, more demonstration projects and surveys to update data. The development of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA Project) identifies national priority adaptation measures that Samoa needs to undertake in order to better prepare for the continuous changes in the climate that the country is going to experience. The promotion of traditional coping strategies to be integrated into national government plans for adaptation is one option that is likely to take place. Thus working with communities located in vulnerable areas to coastal erosion, flooding and land-slips will help in building community resilience to climate change.
The Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (SGP) projects contribute to the removal of the cultural, institutional, technical, and economic barriers and promote dissemination of accessible, sustainable, climate-friendly technologies and measures throughout a locality or region. They primarily involve building local capacity; raising public awareness of both climate change and energy conservation and efficiency issues; and demonstrating and disseminating appropriate technologies and measures. The projects may also aim to reduce the cost of suitable technologies for communities by supporting applied and participatory research and development.
SGP climate change projects are implemented according to the following GEF operational programmes:
- OP 5: Removing barriers to energy efficiency and energy conservation.
- OP 6: Promoting the adoption of renewable energy by removing barriers and reducing implementation costs.
- OP 11: Promoting environmentally sustainable transport.
- OP 12: Cross-cutting issues related to energy, climate change and integrated ecosystem management.
Working with the GEF Secretariat and Implementing Agencies to pilot community climate change adaptation initiatives through its existing small grant programs, the SGP will:
- Develop community-based capacity and tools to respond to adaptation
- Finance diverse community-based adaptation projects in a number of selected countries; and capture and disseminate lessons learned at the community level.
OP6: General categories of existing SGP renewable energy projects
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Project category
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Characteristics
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Linkages to climate change
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Renewable energy technology
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Technologies in different forms, e.g. solar, micro-hydro, wind, use of modern biomass (gasification, biogas) and geothermal
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Reduces demand for conventional fuels, e.g. diesel, kerosene or fuel wood
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Alternative fuels
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Biofuel or biodiesel activities, e.g. jatropha oil and rapeseed-derived biofuel
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Reduces demand for fossil fuels, e.g. kerosene and diesel
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Waste recycling and re-use
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Waste-to-energy type of activities, e.g. briquettes, biogas
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Reduces the possibility of production of methane associated with decomposition and providing alternative fuel
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OP 5: General categories of existing SGP energy efficiency projects
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Project category
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Characteristics
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Linkages to climate change
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Energy-Efficient Technologies
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Improved stoves, energy-efficient micro-enterprises/industry, efficient kilns, crematoria, etc.
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Reduces demand for fossil fuels and unsustainable use of fuelwood. Reduce general energy demand and use of biomass resources
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Building and housing
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Efficient building materials. Improved efficiency in house heating
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Reduces the overall demand for fossil fuels for heating purposes
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Energy auditing
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Energy audits in enterprise or industry
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Improves efficiency in enterprises/industry and reduces demand for fossil fuels
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OP 11: General categories of existing projects on environmentally sustainable transport
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Project category
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Characteristics
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Linkages to climate change
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Transport infrastructure
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Bicycle routes and tracks
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Reduces the use of motorised transport
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Public transport centralisation
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Community bus scheme (pilot case)
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Reduces the number of vehicles being used for a single purpose
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Transport fuel shift
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Shift from diesel to biofuel
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More mileage covered thus less pollution per kilometer covered. Biodiesel reduces demand for diesel
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Emissions monitoring
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Monitoring of emissions. Raising awareness of general public about vehicular emissions
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Awareness raising, lobbying and capacity development
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OP 12: General categories of existing projects with cross-cutting aspects related to biodiversity
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Project category
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Characteristics
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Linkages to climate change
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Tree planting, fuel wood plantations and land management
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Woodlots, fuel wood gardening (urban, social and farm forestry)
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Increases carbon sinks and build biomass energy stocks
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Waste management
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Municipal waste management. Production of manure
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Reduces the possibility of alternative fuel and production of methane associated with decomposition
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