President Mori discusses climate change matters and related meetings with Ms. Stull

Ms. Elise Stull with FSM President Manny Mori

FSMIS (October 11, 2013): President Mori met with Ms. Elise Stull, an adviser from Washington, DC who works with the FSM Embassy to the U.S. on climate change issues. The purpose of the meeting was two-fold: (1) to discuss progress on FSM's proposal to the Montreal Protocol to prevent climate change by reducing the super greenhouse gases called HFCs and (2) to discuss renewable energy in FSM, in particular a proposed visit by some experts from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

With respect to climate change, President Mori and Ms. Stull discussed FSM's proposed amendment to the Montreal Protocol to regulate HFCs, which FSM first submitted in 2009. President Mori re-confirmed FSM's commitment to getting the amendment adopted, an idea which has gained significant momentum this year. Further to this topic, Ms. Stull outlined some potential strategies for advancing the proposal at the Montreal Protocol meeting October 21-25 in Bangkok, where she will be supporting Mr. Andrew Yatilman, Director of the FSM Office of Environment and Emergency Management (OEEM), on FSM's delegation.

President Mori also reinforced FSM's commitment to increase the share of renewable energy usage consistent with the FSM Energy Policy. He inquired about a proposed visit to FSM by a team of experts from the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), who have contacted the FSM Department of Resources & Development (FSMRD) and may be able to help with implementation of the Energy Policy. In response, Elise said that she heard NREL's planning had been postponed, in part due to the U.S. Federal Government shutdown, but that the NREL team still hoped to visit Pohnpei, Chuuk and Kosrae this year, and Yap in early 2014. President Mori welcomed this idea and elaborated on some of the priority energy issues in the States. He also highlighted the need for pilot projects for wind and solar power to be launched in the FSM to test these technologies against the island weather.

For further information, write fsmpio@mail.fm.