Future Climate Change Projects for the Pacific: Showcased at the Island Pavilion

Ms. Elina Bardram of the European Commission presenting at the Island Pavilion

Durban, South Africa, 2 December – Future climate change projects in the Small Island Developing States were presented at the Island Pavilion during the Climate Conference in Durban South Africa this week.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) illustrated plans of what is to come in the Climate Change Division.

“SPREP is taking a strategic direction on future projects to implement adaptation measures, improve understanding of climate change, and raise the knowledge, information, public awareness and education on climate change and its issues;” said Mr Taito Nakalevu, SPREP Project Manager in the Climate Change Division.

“There are also plans to help understand the root causes of vulnerabilities, and to know the preparedness, response and recovery, and early warning systems.”

These objectives link to the global and regional frameworks such as the 1992 Framework Climate Change Convention, the second edition of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change and the Pacific Meteorology Strategy of 2012 to 2015, amongst others.

SPREP has currently applied for regional implementing entity status, its application to the Adaptation Fund and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to help Pacific Island Countries that has yet to attain the National Implementing Entities.

“Financing for the programmes is vital for the Pacific Islands, although developed states may just be as vulnerable to climate change. The coping capacity for the island states is much lower than that of the bigger countries.”

The AusAID, USAID, the GIZ Support and the Commonwealth Secretariat are some of the donors that have injected funds into the Climate Change Division for future projects.

Also to present at the Future projects session was Dr Mark Bynoe of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and Ms. Elina Bardram of the European Commission. Dr Bynoe shared the work that is being undertaken in the Caribbean as part of the European Union Global Climate Change Alliance initiative and Ms. Bardram presented on Adaptation financing.