Samoa is making good progress to meet most of its targets of ensuring access to affordable and clean energy for citizens under the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 7.

The objective of the United Nations S.D.G. 7 is to: "Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all."

The assessment of Samoa's progress was highlighted in a Government report published last year titled: “Samoa’s Second Voluntary National Review (V.N.R.) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

 According to the report, Samoa’s progress in the S.D.G. 7 is for universal access to electricity to be at 99 per cent with the remaining 1 per cent catering for solar power system operated by the Samoa Electric Power Corporation. 

“The island of Apolima is 100 per cent powered by renewable energy and the 2019 figures show that 40.49 per cent of electricity is generated from Renewable Energy, increasing from 32.4 per cent in 2016,” reads the report. 

Furthermore, the report states that the main renewable energy sources in Samoa are wind, solar, biomass and hydro.

“There is a continuous decrease in the amount of electricity generated from diesel since 2014, and a marked increase in households that rely on clean fuels and technologies for cooking," added the report.

“The Energy sector is critical to Samoa meeting its I.N.D.C. (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector.

“Increased investment in RE [renewable energy] projects and for the four year period 2016-2019 SAT $85million worth of ODA [official development assistance] went to the Energy Sector.”

Furthermore there is a steady decrease in the amount of electricity generated by diesel and a steady increase in the use of power from various sources of renewable energy since 2014. 

“Latest 2019 figures show Samoa is at 40.49 per cent of electricity generated from Renewable Energy with one of its islands Apolima at a 100 per cent powered by renewable energy.

“There is also a marked increase in households that rely on clean fuels and technologies for cooking and lighting. 

"Major projects and key initiatives are underway to improve access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy for all (SDG7). For example, the IMPRESS project invests in additional RE such as biomass, and solar systems while reducing GHG emissions. 

“The project also involves the development of the draft Energy Management Bill with provisions for transport and energy efficiency.”

Additionally, the report states that electric vehicles have been introduced and include the six e-scooters used by the Lands Transport Authority.

“There are also efforts to look into a Model Green Building for Samoa using the Pacific Climate Change Centre as an example. 

“There are also ongoing distribution of solar street lights and energy efficiency light bulbs to churches schools and local communities as demonstrations of energy efficiency and alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. 

“The Energy Efficiency Act encourages the use and importation of more energy efficient appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioning units and lights. 

With the aim for more ambitious climate action, the newly established “Nationally appropriate Mitigation Actions Plan” focuses mainly on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector.