Across the Pacific, young people are stepping up to learn more about how to manage waste and improve energy access in their communities. Through the Pacific Adoption of Waste to Energy Solutions (PAWES) project, students from Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu are gaining hands-on experience and critical knowledge in transforming waste into sustainable energy. Supported by scholarships and specialised training, these young leaders are delving into renewable energy and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) technologies, equipping themselves with the tools to drive innovation and resilience in their communities. Many are already envisioning how they can apply these solutions back home, turning learning into action for a cleaner, more energy-secure Pacific.
For ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐จ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข from Samoa, the scholarship has been a chance to learn more about her countryโs renewable energy goals and how WtE can play a role. โThis opportunity helps me be part of that transformation,โ she says
๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ ๐ sees WtE as a way to reduce reliance on imported fuels and protect the environment. She believes that with the right support, these technologies can be adapted to suit the needs of small island nations.
๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐จ was inspired by a school project to learn more about sustainability. With the help of the PAWES project, heโs now studying how waste can be used as a resource and hopes to raise awareness in his community.
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๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ซ๐, a former engineer in Papua New Guineaโs palm oil industry, experienced firsthand how both liquid and solid waste streams could be transformed into energy. He worked on converting palm oil effluent into biogas, and using solid residues to power biomass thermal steam
plants. Now, with support from the PAWES project, Freddy is applying this expertise to develop practical Waste-to-Energy solutions for Pacific communities, while contributing to local policy development for a more sustainable future.
For ๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฎ, โusing waste to produce energy is a smart way to help solve climate issues,โ he says. The scholarship has given him the chance to study renewable energy more deeply, and gain the tools he needs to contribute to future solutions. He believes that by sharing this opportunity with other young Pacific Islanders, the region can grow its knowledge and strengthen its response to climate and waste challenges.
โContinuing to use renewable energy will provide a cleaner and healthier environment, but none of this will happen if we do not work together. Let us turn our challenges into opportunities and create a sustainable future for our islands. Together, we can truly make a difference.โ
The PAWES project is funded by the ACP Innovation Fund, OACPS Research, and Innovation Programme. A programme implemented by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, with the financial contribution of the European Union.
The project which is led by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) is helping to improve solid waste management and energy security in the region. It does this by supporting better decision-making, strengthening tertiary education and research, and encouraging practical, local solutions to environmental challenges.
The PAWES project is also helping universities and training institutions across the Pacific to offer updated courses and research in waste management and renewable energy. This is helping to build a stronger foundation for long-term change in the region.
These students are just a few examples of how the PAWES project is helping to prepare the next generation of Pacific leaders. With the right support and opportunities, theyโre showing that local knowledge and innovation can go a long way in building a cleaner, more sustainable future.