Tuvalu plans to be first 100% solar-powered nation
South Pacific island sets ambitious goal to harness sun for more than just tourism.
By Michael d'EstriesTue, Jul 21 2009 at 8:27 PM EST
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Photo: mrlins/Flickr Ask the people of Tuvalu, a small island nation in the South Pacific, what they think about climate change and many of them will simply point to their disappearing shoreline. Only three feet above sea level, the island has suffered in the wake of rising waters -- and even went so far as to sue the Bush administration for their refusal to do anything about carbon emissions. As MNN's Shea Gunther wrote earlier this year, even GoDaddy added a warning to sales of the .TV domain (for Tuvalu) since the island is "sinking".
Instead of just leaving, however, Tuvalu's 12,000 residents have decided to fight back. The world's fourth-smallest nation recently announced that it would power the entire island with 100 percent solar energy by 2020. The ambitious project is expected to only cost around $20 million (not bad for an entire nation -- but still a hefty $1,666 per resident!) and serve as a model of sustainbility for the rest of the world.
"There may be other larger solar power installations in the world, but none could be more meaningful to customers than this one," said Takao Shiraishi, general manager of the Kansai Electric Power Company that helping implement the project.
"The plight of Tuvalu versus the rising tide vividly represents the worst early consequence of climate change. For Tuvalu, after 3,000 years of history, the success of U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen this December may well be a matter of national survival," he said in a press statement.
Obviously, taking an island only 10 square miles large and hooking it up to clean energy will do little to help slow rapidly increasing carbon emissions. However, inspiration comes in many flavors and watching one nation fight back for its very survival against climate change is truly awesome. Let's hope their plight -- and stalwart resolute to make to stand -- makes an impression this December in Copenhagen.
Source: CNN.com
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Comments
El Rubio
01/04/2011 08:38 AM
It's amazing how the ocean is rising in only this area. This is more false data used to prop up the deception of CO2 causing the planet to warm. If there is record heat, it's MMGW, oh, I mean "Climate Change". If it's record cold, that's just natural variation or MMGW. If an island is sinking due to geological issues, it's MMGW. If the science is settled as Al Gore states from his Tennessee mansion with mega electricity usage, Why lie about it? Tuvalu is making plans for 10 years from now? If.... More
Jack
10/18/2010 21:39 PM
Is everything his fault? Morons.
Green Joy
07/22/2009 12:11 PM
I'm glad there is finally a mass amount of people doing this. Like the article said, once a whole group achieves this (especially with publicity) hopefully more will follow.
Lindsey
http://www.Greenjoyment.com
