Effective disaster risk reduction and climate change adaption requires active multi-range partnership

By Daniel Namosuaia, Solomon Star: http://www.solomonstarnews.com

 

11 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - Sustainable and effective disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in the Pacific requires active participation and engagement of the private and commercial sectors.

 

This was highlighted at a session of the joint disaster risk management and climate change roundtable this week in Nadi Fiji, that explored the roles that the private and commercial sector play in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

The General Manager of Westpac, Fiji, Adrian Hughes said there is need for close collaboration and partnership with the government to sharing available resources.

Hughes stressed that lack of coordination between the private sector, government and international agencies is something that needs to be strengthened.

Bruce Clay of Bruce Engineering said the use of Renewable Energy system is commercially viable and significant technical development that can offset the use of fossil fuel and reduce green house gas emissions.

“So getting together with the agencies and identifying what resources they have and get the private sector together and share information and resources where necessary in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation,” Clay said.

Governments were also urged to design policies that support the efforts of the private sector through sharing of information and resources and assist in tariffs, concessions on renewable energy products to boost investments in this sector.

The involvement of the commercial sector like in Fiji, Vanuatu and Tonga in the telecommunication sector where  solar systems were  installed in powering telecommunication towers were seen as a positive collaboration between government and the private sector.