LocationsRebuilding with Purpose: How Vanuatu is Leading the Pacific in Climate Action
August 5, 2025
As Vanuatu commemorated its 45th Independence Day this July, the nation reflected not only on its hard-won sovereignty but also on its growing leadership in sustainable development and climate resilience. This milestone was not just a reflection of political freedom won in 1980 – it was a celebration of the strength, resilience, and vision of a people determined to protect their islands and future generations from the growing threat of climate change.
Rebuilding Vanuatu
In December 2024, a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake shook the country, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Homes were lost, infrastructure damaged, and lives forever changed. But in true Ni-Vanuatu spirit, communities came together, supported by partners like the UN Development Programme (UNDP), to begin the long road to recovery.
In the wake of this tragedy, UNDP played an important role in supporting both immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts while working in close coordination with the humanitarian team and the Government of Vanuatu, ensuring that rebuilding efforts were inclusive, sustainable and future-focused.
The post-earthquake recovery efforts laid the foundation for a more resilient and forward-looking Vanuatu. As communities rebuild their homes and infrastructure, the focus was not merely on restoration but on transformation.
The Vanuatu Green Energy Transformation (VGET) project is a direct extension of this vision. By integrating clean energy solutions into the recovery process, VGET ensured that rebuilding was not just about returning to the past, but about preparing for a stronger, safer future.
A New Chapter: Green Energy for Greener Vanuatu
On 6 May 2025, a new chapter began with the groundbreaking of the VGET project on Pentecost Island. Supported by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP, this initiative is more than just an infrastructure project – it’s a lifeline for communities long underserved by traditional energy systems.
L-R: Vanuatu Green Energy Transformation Project Manager Mr Imran Khan, Japanese Ambassador to Vanuatu, H.E. Naohisa Okuda, UNDP Pacific Office Resilience and Climate Change Team Leader a.i. Ms Merewalesi Laveti, and Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster Management, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu.
Three new pico hydro stations – at Waterfall, Melsisi, and Larimaat – will soon generate 65kW of clean electricity. For the first time, around 700 households will be connected to a 30km electrical network, bringing light, power, and opportunity to over 3,700 people directly, and 6,000 more indirectly.
This is more than just electrification – this is empowerment. Empowerment of our communities, the Pacific families. For families who have relied on kerosene lamps or walked long distances to charge mobile phones, this is transformative. Children will be able to study at night. Health clinics can refrigerate vaccines. Small businesses can thrive with reliable power. And all of this is being done in harmony with nature, using the power of flowing rivers instead of fossil fuels. Women’s group are looking forward to start sewing and stitching for children’s clothes, curtains for their homes, amongst other things.
Access to clean, reliable energy is not just about powering homes – it’s about protecting lives. With the new pico hydro stations, health clinics in remote areas will be able to refrigerate vaccines, operate essential medical equipment, and provide care after dark. Families will no longer rely on smoky kerosene lamps, reducing respiratory illnesses and fire hazards. Clean energy also means clean water – pumps can now run consistently, improving hygiene and reducing the spread of waterborne diseases. For many in Vanuatu, this transformation is not just about electricity – it's about dignity, safety, and a healthier future.
Global Recognition of Pacific Leadership
Vanuatu’s leadership in climate advocacy was further solidified on 23 July 2025, when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered a landmark advisory opinion affirming that states have an obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gas emissions and act with due diligence and cooperation to fulfill this obligation. This includes the obligation under the Paris Agreement on climate change to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
This historic ruling – initiated by Vanuatu to seek an advisory opinion from ICJ on climate change – underscored the moral and legal authority of small island states in shaping global climate discourse.
Vanuatu’s proactive stance, both in court and on the ground through initiatives like VGET project, positioned it as a model for climate justice and sustainable development.
A Model for the Future
This project is a key step toward Vanuatu’s bold goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, as outlined in its National Energy Road Map. It’s also a powerful example of what can be achieved when communities, governments, and international partners work together.
Japanese Ambassador to Vanuatu, H.E. Naohisa Okuda, Vanuatu's Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster Management, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu and UNDP's Vanuatu Green Energy Transformation team with the community members during the groundbreaking ceremony,
Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster Management, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu described the VGET as a “landmark initiative” that not only meets immediate energy needs but also lays the foundation for a greener, more resilient future.
UNDP’s commitment to Vanuatu’s resilience is further exemplified by its ongoing development initiatives. Under the broader Pacific Green Transformation Project, Japan is supporting Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Samoa – alongside Vanuatu – through US$37 million in total funding to help accelerate the transition to a green and low-carbon future. Out of which, US $4.62 million has been allocated for the VGET project.
The VGET project demonstrates how tailored, community-driven solutions – like pico hydro systems – can deliver clean, reliable power while respecting local ecosystems. By prioritizing sustainability in its recovery and development agenda, Vanuatu is showing that small island nations can lead the way in climate action.
As Vanuatu raised its flag on its Independence Day, it does so with renewed strength and purpose. The nation’s journey – from independence in 1980 to its current strides in sustainability and resilience – is a testament to the power of collaboration, community, and vision. Vanuatu is not just rebuilding – it is reimagining its future. And in doing so, it is lighting the way for the Pacific and the world.
This work is in support of SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy for All.