The Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project [PIREP] is a GEF/UNDP-funded regional climate change mitigation project participated in by 14 1 Pacific Island Countries [PICs] that have ratified the UNFCCC, and Tokelau. PIREP is an 18 months project, which commenced implementation in May 2003.The development goal of the PIREP is the preparation of a regional approach to removing barriers to the development and commercialization of renewable energy [RE] systems in the PICs that influences country efforts to reduce the long-term growth of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions from fossil fuel uses, especially diesel. The purpose of the project is the âacceleration of the adoption and commercialization of feasible and applicable renewable energy technologies [RETs].âStudies under the current phase of the PIREP will come up with suggested regional and national interventions that will remove the identified barriers to RE development that are common to most of the PICs, and to level the playing field for RE development in the light of the substantial contribution of fossil fuels in the regionâs energy mix. These are the much-needed groundwork for a more comprehensive regional initiative that will contribute in countering the heavy reliance on fossil fuels through the promotion and facilitation of the widespread use of RE. Such a comprehensive regional initiative is expected to contribute to the regionâs effort to mitigate climate change brought by greenhouse gases [GHGs], as well as to achieving the PICs sustainable development efforts.