Energy security: 8 ways the UN is helping the Pacific reduce fuel dependence

For the Pacific region, which depends heavily on imported fossil fuels for both electricity generation and transport, these external shocks translate directly into higher costs, fiscal strain and increased vulnerability. 

At the launch of the 2026 State of Climate Report, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated: “Our addiction to fossil fuels is destabilizing both the climate and global security… Renewables deliver climate security, energy security and national security.” 

Across the Pacific, the United Nations is assisting governments and communities in 14 countries and territories to reduce reliance on imported fuels, enhance energy security and accelerate the transition to sustainable and resilient energy systems. 

Here are 8 ways the UN is supporting Pacific Island countries: 

1. Strengthening national energy transition planning 
In the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) supported the development of an SDG 7 Roadmap, which sets out a comprehensive framework to expand energy access, scale up renewable energy and improve energy efficiency. The roadmap aligns national priorities with global energy and climate goals, helping to guide long-term investment and policy decisions. 
In the Solomon Islands, ESCAP is also supporting the development of a National Cooling Action Plan—designed to reduce energy demand and improve efficiency in the cooling sector across buildings and cold chains. Together, these efforts strengthen energy security by providing a clearer pathway to reduce fuel dependence and better manage future energy risks. 

2. Using data to inform long-term energy policy 
ESCAP has supported FSM through NEXSTEP energy modelling, allowing policymakers to assess future energy scenarios and identify cost-effective pathways. This analysis directly informed the National Energy Policy 2024–2050, reinforcing evidence-based decision-making. Such modelling helps policymakers evaluate how to reduce reliance on imported fuels and strengthen resilience to external price shocks. By testing different energy scenarios, governments can make smarter investment choices and avoid locking in costly fuel-dependent systems. 

3. Adapting energy systems to small island contexts 
ESCAP has supported Micronesian countries—including Kiribati, Nauru and Palau—through regional analysis and targeted capacity building tailored to small, isolated grid systems. This includes planning for renewable energy integration, system stability and improved access in contexts where infrastructure is constrained and costs are high. In these settings, even incremental improvements in efficiency, storage and grid management can significantly reduce imported fuel use, enhance reliability and lower long-term costs. 

4. Expanding renewable energy in remote communities 
Programmes supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are increasing access to renewable energy, including rural electrification initiatives in Fiji that are bringing reliable power to remote communities. These initiatives are improving livelihoods, enabling new economic activities and reducing dependence on diesel-based generation. They also help shield remote communities from sudden fuel price increases and supply disruptions, which often affect outer islands first. 
Replication of this model is currently being discussed in several other countries, including Tuvalu. 
In Vanuatu, the Vanuatu Green Transformation Project delivered small-scale hydro-electric power stations (also known as pico-hydro systems). These provide clean, reliable electricity to isolated communities on Pentecost Island, while also establishing the technical, institutional and community systems required to ensure long-term sustainability. Additional installations in the northern part of the island are currently under way. 

5. Powering essential services with clean energy 
Renewable energy is also reinforcing critical public services across the Pacific. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supporting essential services with clean energy solutions that enhance reliability and resilience in challenging environments. In countries such as Samoa (Savai‘i), Fiji, Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu, solar-powered systems are supporting healthcare facilities—particularly in areas where access to the electricity grid is limited or unreliable. These systems help ensure that essential healthcare services can continue without interruption. 

This initiative reduces reliance on diesel generators, lowering both operational costs and emissions. For hospitals, clinics and other essential facilities, clean energy is not only a climate solution but also a practical investment in stronger, more resilient healthcare systems and improved community outcomes. 

UNICEF is also supporting the provision of solar power to schools across several Pacific countries, including the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Republic of Marshall Islands. These systems enable reliable lighting and power for information and communication technologies—such as laptops, internet connectivity, printers and mobile devices—as well as fans for classroom cooling. This contributes to improved access to quality education and a more conducive learning environment, particularly for strengthening digital literacy among students and teachers. 

In addition, UNICEF is supporting solar-powered water supply systems across Pacific Island countries, including Fiji, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. These systems provide a dual benefit—reducing emissions while strengthening the resilience of water supply systems, especially in remote areas where fuel access is limited. 

6. Supporting low-carbon industrial solutions 
UNICEF is also introducing cleaner technologies for healthcare waste management in the Solomon Islands. This includes support for a solar-powered, microwave-based medical waste treatment system as a safer and more sustainable alternative to traditional fuel-based incinerators and open burning. Compared with conventional incineration, these technologies significantly reduce fuel use and harmful emissions, while offering a more environmentally responsible way to manage infectious medical waste. This is particularly important in remote island contexts where fuel supply can be expensive and unreliable. 

7. Advancing low-carbon transport solutions 
Through initiatives such as UNDP’s Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT) project, the UN is supporting countries including Samoa—together with Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste—to advance electric mobility and green transport solutions. These efforts range from electric vehicles and service fleets to pilot initiatives in electric maritime transport, all contributing to reduced fuel imports. 

8. Building skills for the energy transition 
The UN is investing in people as a central pillar of energy security. In the Solomon Islands, UNICEF is supporting the training of young people in renewable energy technologies, equipping them with practical skills in solar installation and maintenance while contributing to local job creation. 
At the subregional level, ESCAP is working with the Office of the Pacific Energy Regulators Alliance (OPERA) to accelerate clean energy transitions through knowledge sharing on regulatory best practices and capacity building aimed at unlocking innovative financing mechanisms for investment in grids and energy storage. 

A regional effort for a shared challenge 

Energy security is a shared challenge across the Pacific—but it is also a shared opportunity. Through policy support, technical assistance, financing and innovation, the United Nations is helping the region transition toward cleaner, more resilient and more affordable energy systems—reducing reliance on imported fuels while advancing sustainable development. 

In a region where geography makes energy supply both costly and vulnerable, reducing fuel dependence is not only an environmental priority but also a practical pathway to economic resilience, continuity of essential services and greater national security.