Small Island Takes Big Steps
Lush, emerald forests coat the limestone islands of Palau, fostering the growth of more than 1,000 species of flora. Surrounding the green-capped archipelago are six native palm tree species and expansive, turquoise waters. And in these waters lie an underwater paradise that’s home to vibrant reefs, diverse fish, and fascinating WWII shipwrecks. One particular fish, the Mandarin fish, stands out with its blue, orange, and green colors and attracts hundreds of divers each year. Recently, however, the Mandarin fish and its home has faced detrimental changes as a result of rising sea levels.
The waters of this Pacific island are projected to rise by 10–32 inches by the end of the 21st century, and the effects are already evident. Some natives have reported that the tide is more than a foot taller now, which has flooded their backyards with seaweed and debris. Due to the threat of losing land, the residents have resorted to moving their farms higher up on the island.
Their main source of protein–seafood–could also be affected by climate change. As carbon dioxide accumulates in the ocean, the acidity level of the waters increase, which drastically threatens the coral reefs and fish. As a result, the Palau government has started to take necessary action.
In 2009, Palau created the world’s first shark sanctuary, banning commercial shark fishing in 600,000 square kilometers of the surrounding ocean. Their actions set a model for the rest of the world by protecting 130 threatened species of shark that surround Palau. It has also joined in the fight against climate change by ratifying the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016 and agreeing to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius. This small nation has followed through with its ratification by pledging to expand its renewable power usage to 45 percent by 2025. And most recently, Palau has announced the Armonia Project, which is the world’s largest microgrid that will be used to provide affordable clean energy to its 25,000 residents.
Currently, Palau relies on imported diesel for their power source, but by using a microgrid, the nation has the potential to increase their renewable energy to 70 percent by 2050. Instead of relying on costly and complicated methods to import fuel, Palau can take advantage of its abundance of sun and wind to provide renewable energy. As a nation that has witnessed the first-hand effects of rising sea levels, Palau has certainly taken measures to protect their waters. Their Power Purchase Agreement with Engie Eps to implement the microgrid could inspire other similar islands facing crucial changes in their environment to take action.
