Samoa is calling for citizens around the world to help offset carbon emissions as a result of the largest global meeting to be held in the Pacific Islands. The Offset Islands 2014 campaign aims to counter carbon generated from the Third International Conference of Small Island Developing States in September. It is being led by Women in Business Development Inc and has received the backing from Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.
In a letter of support, Prime Minister Tuilaepa says he “commends this milestone initiative by the Women in Business Development Inc (W.I.B.D.I) in engaging our village communities and the people of Samoa, the Pacific and the world at large via awareness programmes, replanting of trees and rekindling of organic farming to offset carbon emissions”.
Women in Business Development executive director, Adimaimalaga Tafuna’i, says there are environmental repercussions from all the carbon emissions despite green measures government had put in place such as solar-powered conference facilities. The non-governmental organization, which has a network of certified organic farms, is asking people to people to plant a tree, compost or mulch to offset carbon emissions.
“If all our farmers, our gardeners actively plant trees, compost and mulch organic material, we can make a difference,” says Tafuna’i.“What’s more, we are also asking other nations – our Pacific neighbours, our Caribbean friends and Indian Ocean colleagues and citizens around the world – to join our efforts.”
SPC