Energy generated from burning fossil fuels such as coal and crude oil has produced high concentrations of harmful gases in the atmosphere, leading to ozone depletion and global warming. The rises in sea level forecast as the planet warms will be especially devastating for small low lying Pacific island nations such as Vanuatu. Earlier last month, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific created a global research and development program to assist small island developing countries in achieving 100 percent renewable energy economies. Vanuatu wants to reach that goal by 2020 and is the first nation to respond to the UN's program. The country is determined to develop its geothermal potential to produce electricity for local use and to manufacture hydrogen based fuels, such as methanol, for home use and for export.
Geothermal energy is derived from hot dry rocks, magma, hot water springs and natural geysers.
Combined with hydrogen based fuels manufactured from water using renewable energies, such as hydroelectric energy, wind and solar power, Vanuatu could be free of its current oil dependency and might instead become a fuel producing nation. Vanuatu is one of the least developed nations on Earth. Made up of 83 islands in the southwest Pacific, northeast of New Caledonia and northwest of Fiji, Vanuatu gained independence in 1980 after 74 years of joint rule by the United Kingdom and France. The islands were then known as the New Hebrides. About 190,000 people live in the Republic of Vanuatu today.