The UNEP-GEF en.lighten initiative was established to accelerate a global market transformation to efficient lighting technologies. It assists countries to develop policies, strategies and actions for the phase out of inefficient lighting products. Based on the support UNEP is providing to countries in the Pacific region to help them develop energy efficient lighting strategies, UNEP could extend this to the rest of SIDS to ensure that other SIDS countries benefit from the en.lighten initiative.SIDS dimensions of the en.lighten initiative: en.lighten is an excellent example of a successful global partnership that demonstrate a SIDS component. As part of our Global Efficient Lighting Partnership Programme, we have 55 partner countries committed to the phase-out of inefficient incandescent lighting by the end of 2016. Approximately 20% of these Partner countries are SIDS. These countries have recognized energy efficient lighting as a rapid and cost-effective way to secure energy savings and financial benefits and to meet their climate change mitigation targets. Following en.lighten's integrated policy approach, the countries have identified two key issues, pertinent for SIDs. These are access to quality products and the environmentally sound management of spent lamps.For your information, we have supported the Dominican Republic in their development of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) to successfully phase-out inefficient incandescent lighting. Although not a SIDS, we are also working with our partner country Chile on a project on Robinson Crusoe Island, to replace all incandescent lamps with efficient LEDS in all residential applications.

New funding from Australia for the Pacific: We are working with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to increase access to quality products and to develop a Regional Efficient Lighting Strategy, like we have accomplished with our partners in Central America and ECOWAS, which demonstrates our South-South cooperation and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing. The region will transition to efficient lighting by the target date of 2016 while also addressing the issue of sustainable off-grid lighting solutions. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

UNEP GEF Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Australia SIDS Countries: Belize, Cabo Verde, Dominican Republic, Guinee Bisau, Haiti, Maldives, Saint Lucia, as well as countries within SPC: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna