While Samoa’s contribution to global Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions is negligible, climate change mitigation remains a critical government priority in light of the already felt and predicted increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The transport sector in Samoa, which is entirely dependent on fossil fuels, is the country’s largest emitter of CO2, accounting for 27.4% of GHG emissions (based on Samoa’s National GHG inventory, 2020). Reliance on energy-dense fossil fuels is expected to render decarbonization of the transport sector particularly difficult. Transport demand has grown in parallel to economic development, and with structural changes, it grows faster than that of other sectors. 

Whilst some interventions to decarbonize the transport sector in Samoa have been initiated, efforts remain fragmented due to a lack of investment and coordination across ministries, agencies, development partners, financial entities, private businesses, and individuals. In order to meet Samoa’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target to reduce national GHG emissions by 26% from 2007 levels by 2030 (equivalent to 91 Gg CO2e), the rapid decarbonization of both land and maritime transport systems is fundamental. Research-based evidence, best practices and lessons learned globally indicate that several interventions can catalyse the paradigm shift required to decarbonize the transport sector, including electrification of transport systems, along with supportive policy and business model innovations to catalyse systemic electrification. Decarbonizing maritime transport in the context of the Pacific area has been addressed by different actors before and it is, therefore, paramount to build up on existing research and projects not to duplicate the work and to ensure the best solution for Samoa.

The objective of this report is to propose a sustainable long-term solution that will benefit CO2 reduction at a national level. The solution may include the technical recommendations together with other suggestions, such as policy and regulation changes, the societal impact of the solutions, and if relevant, a phased plan for implementation based on the global availability of technologies. 

The project Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport (CAP-IT): Accelerating the Decarbonization of Samoa’s Land and Maritime Transport Sectors, funded by the Government of Japan, aims to promote urgent and inclusive transformation of the maritime transport sectors towards decarbonization by accelerating the uptake of low-carbon outboard motors and/or propulsion system in support of the achievement of Samoa’s enhanced NDCs for the energy and transport sector by 2030. This will be achieved by introducing and piloting low-carbon outboard motors for Samoa’s maritime transportation through a gendersensitive grant mechanism for local fisherfolk and a training scheme on installation, operation, and maintenance. 

A feasibility study on the available low-carbon outboard motors for fishing and transport vessels including a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) needs to be conducted and prepared. Based on the results of this feasibility study, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Project Management Unit (PMU) with support from UNDP Information Technology Management (ITM) unit will pilot the recommended low-carbon outboard motor solutions for Samoa’s small vessels and fishing fleet. The technology will be then introduced to fishermen and small boat operators through a gendersensitive grant mechanism for local fisherfolk and vessel operators, and a training scheme on installation, operation, and maintenance.