5 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - Having correct and up to date meteorological data is crucial in decision making, particularly here in the region, where many climate change related projects are underway.
Representatives of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) are in Nadi this week attending the Pacific Meteorological Council, where the importance of meteorological data to their work has been highlighted. (More on PACC below)
PACC Coordinator, Taito Nakalevu says climate data is crucial for any climate change project in the region.
Taito Nakalevu, PACC, Project Coordinator
The PACC project in the Cook Islands has also found the importance of meteorological data for its project assessments.
Its pilot project on the island of Mangaia aims to build the resilience of the coastal community, including infrastructure.
Paul Maoate, PACC, Cook Islands
For another small atoll island, Niue, maintaining water supply is crucial.
And that is one area that PACC is working on for the island of 2000.
PACC's water resource management program in Niue is focussing on developing rain water collection.
PACC is providing water tanks to each household.
Hadan Talagi, PACC, Niue
Niue is also looking at weather data dating 50 years back to establish forthcoming weather trends in the country.
Hadan Talagi, PACC, Niue
In Vanuatu the PACC project is engaging communities to identify solutions for environmental challenges.
PACC Vanuatu’s coordinator says this has been done through extensive consultations.
Ian Iercet, PACC, Vanuatu
The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Australian Government (AusAID), with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as its implementing agency and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as implementing partner. The project is from 2009 to 2013.
The PACC project covers 14 participating countries and helps develop three key areas that build resilience to climate change in Pacific communities: Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands focus on Food Production and Food Security; Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Tokelau and Vanuatu are developing Coastal Management capacity; and Nauru, Niue, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu are looking to strengthen their water resource management.
2 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - A community-based geo-spatial topography mapping system using 3 Dimensional (3D) model has empowered the people of the island of Epi in Vanuatu’s Shefa province to make informed decisions on road designs better suited for coastal communities impacted by climate change.
While this model is still at its infancy in terms of its use in the Pacific, the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project has piloted the new tool in Vanuatu working with the communities on the island of Epi.
Sharing lessons learnt from the project, PACC assistant co-ordinator, Ian Iercet said the Epi project was successful because of the full participation, at all levels, of the local community.
“We ensured that the community participate fully in the decision making process. We also wanted to incorporate traditional knowledge with science to work out the best solutions for the community, Iercet told PACNEWS, a member of the Pacific Media Team 2013.
Building the model was totally the work of the community - students of the local high school, women, village elders and chiefs.
“We used cardboard to cut out contours and traced them using carbon and glued them to form the different layers of the landscape of the island.
“We asked community leaders to identify areas where the impact of climate change is happening and how they’ve addressed these problems using traditional knowledge. We then try and incorporate these traditional form of action with the science, said Iercet.
He said they found that bringing various communities together led to better consensus building on issues that affect their livelihoods.
“At the end of the exercise, community leaders agreed to consider relocation of coastal villages and the high school to higher ground. This decision was by consensus.
“Even before we developed the 3D model for the community, the islanders have used their own hand tools to cut roads in higher ground. We have already surveyed the land and before the end of the year, we will build the road on the island, said Iercet.
To show their commitment, chiefs and leaders in Epi publicly offered their resources such as sand, coral, water and quarry materials free of charge from royalties or any other form of payment, to build new roads for the island.
Chiefs on the island also assured they will not claim compensation for any damage or removal of fruit trees or commercial crops such as kava and peanuts from their land, if the road relocation goes through their land.
“The chiefs of Epi could foresee the impact of PACC project in terms of building their resilience and adaptive capacity far outweighs the compensation in the long run, according to a report on the project by the Vanuatu PACC team.
Iercet said the 3D Modeling is a very cost effective tool that saves money and time as assessments are based on the local knowledge of community members.
Lessons learnt from Epi Island will be replicated in the other outer islands in Vanuatu.
Ambassador Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia (middle) moderator of the side event
29 November 2012, Doha, Qatar – “Durable partnerships” was the
summation of a successful side event showcasing the Pacific region at the UN
Climate negotiations in Doha.Ambassador
Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia, Samoa’s Representative to the United Nations
highlighted the role of partnerships to help bring about a better environment
for the Pacific region.
“We have international agencies,
regional agencies and national governments at this table, we know partnerships
are important,” said Ambassador Elisaia.
“Durable partnerships are essential at
all levels, across agencies and even within countries, between the civil
society, business sector, local governments….everyone plays a crucial role.”
The side event launched the Pacific
Environment and Climate Change Outlook Report, featuring speakers from the
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), United
Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and delegates from Samoa and Vanuatu to
showcase their response to the impacts of climate change at the national level.
The Pacific side event
Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea, Samoa
Mr. Tepa Suaesi of SPREP presenting an overview of the PECCO
22 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro - The efforts of world leaders put their national interests aside to agree to what is now still a draft Rio Declaration has been highly commended by the Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
Addressing the High Level Segment of the Rio+20 conference, Prime Minister Meltek Sato Kilman Livtivanu said negotiators must be congratulated for their hard work in mapping the “Future We Want’ declaration, now expected to be endorsed here in Rio de Janeiro Friday.
"My delegation is very pleased that, regardless of the different national interests, we as the family of nations can still work together and develop a road map for the years to come.
“It is my hope that we will continue to move away from a reactive style of managing development, that has only provided short-term band-aid solutions.
PM Kilman said ‘our decisions will provide the opportunity to better guarantee our citizens and their future generations, a future they deserve.
The reaffirmation of the special case of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the draft agreement has been praised by the Vanuatu PM.
“We commend our G77 family for their ongoing solidarity with us on this issue.
However, what remains to be seen is the commitment by developed countries to mobilise financial resources including technology, which will build our capacity to progress sustainable development in Vanuatu and other SIDS.
“This, I believe, has been considered under many aspects of the planned “Future We Want” and the “Future We Will Have”. We urge all development partners to help us facilitate the implementation of our decision, so that it does not become another declaration.
PM Kilman said his country also, like other Pacific SIDS supports regional and global efforts related to the sustainable management of the Pacific Ocean.
"To that end, Vanuatu being part of the large ocean state believes a green economy is mostly possible with a blue backbone.
“The ocean can sustain us only if there is a concerted global effort to conserve and manage oceans resources wisely enough, guided by the wisdom of the precautionary approach to ensure that these resources sustain this generation, and those to come.
The Future We Want Declaration, to form the outcomes of Rio+20 conference will be endorsed by leaders on Friday.
20 June 2012, Rio de Janeiro - Pacific leaders have highlighted their key areas of concerns at a Rio+20 side event.
Kiribati President Anote Tong, Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman, the President of the Federated States of Micronesia Emanuel Mori and the Ulu o Tokelau, Kerisiano Kalolo and Samoa's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment spoke on the theme “Pacific islands applying a green economy in a blue world.”
Vulnerable Pacific Islands raise expectations for climate change negotiations
29 November 2010, Cancun – A group of Pacific small island developing states (Pacific SIDS), among the most vulnerable countries to climate change, challenged other nations to raise their expectations for the negotiations that began in Cancun today.
Andrew Yatilman, Head of delegation for the Federated States of Micronesia, spoke on behalf of the Pacific SIDS. “While the politics of climate change may have shifted in the year since the world last met in Copenhagen, the dangers of life in a warming world are no less real. We must raise, not lower our expectations for Cancun.”
Yatilman delivered his statement on day one of the negotiations, where the Pacific SIDS are insisting on progress in a number of key areas that would set the stage for a planet-saving agreement to be signed in South Africa next year.
“Make no mistake, what happens in Cancun matters. That is why many of our Heads of State, Heads of Government, and ministers are returning this year to COP16 – to finish what we set out to do in Copenhagen and preserve a future for our people and our countries,” said Yatilman.
“First, the Pacific SIDS, as members of AOSIS, have consistently called for limiting the rise in average global temperature to well below 1.5 degrees to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and provide a reasonable opportunity for the survival of all our island nations.”
“A recently released UNEP report confirmed that there remains a wide gap between the emissions reduction pledges on the table and what is needed to achieve this goal. These pledges would likely take the world beyond 3 degrees – a reality that would leave many of our islands, and indeed entire island nations, uninhabitable. We must establish a process here in Cancun to reach agreement on targets, using the survival of small island nations as a minimum benchmark.
“Second, the agreements reached in Cancun must be a stepping stone towards a legally binding agreement that is needed to lock in the emissions cuts and other measures needed to protect the future of our islands. The stakes are too high for all players to rely on voluntary arrangements.”
“Third, our region faces enormous hurdles implementing adaptation programmes, and urgently needs the support of the international community in the areas of finance, capacity building, and technology transfer. It is essential that we establish a new global climate change fund that provides streamlined access that takes into account the special circumstances of SIDS and LDCs, so that our people can see concrete results in their communities.”
Speaking in relation to the Kyoto Protocol, Ambassador Donald Kalpokas, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the United Nations emphasised the following:
“We must reach a conclusion to the Kyoto Protocol negotiations to avoid a gap between the first and second commitment periods. The Kyoto Protocol is the lynchpin of the international legal regime for responding to the climate crisis and a gap in commitment period would seriously undermine our ability to respond effectively.”
Pacific negotiators met prior to the COP to discuss priority issues for their islands and coordinate their negotiating strategy.
Heads of state and government from the Pacific island nations of Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu will be attending the Cancun meeting during the second week of negotiations to provide the high level political guidance needed to ensure a robust outcome.
For more information or for comment, please contact Michael Crocker in Cancun at 9982243678 or by email press@pacificsids.org
Full statements as per below - please click on the images to read:
The power utility of Vanuatu (UNELCO) has set itself a goal of generating 33% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2013. Here at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Climate Change Convention, Vanuatu hopes the world will agree to strengthen climate change mitigation policies. Although the nation is amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change it is also amongst those countries that barely contributes to the global problem.
Despite this, Vanuatu is not discouraged in taking action and is doing what it can do to reduce carbon emissions by growing their reliance on renewable energy.
“Vanuatu’s position is similar or closely linked to the Small Island Developing States, we hope to have some outcomes here concerning mitigation, when it comes to that we’d like to see support for our renewable energy projects and hope to make a case for that here through dialogue with our Pacific partners,” said Ambassador Donald Kalpokas, Vanuatu’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
Hoping for success at this conference in Cancun, Vanuatu is also interested in seeking further support to achieve their renewable energy targets. Partners such as the Government of Italy and Austria have helped the country in achieving their energy goals, but at this meeting it is hoped that they will be able to negotiate for further developing assistance.
Vanuatu is part of the Pacific family that is attending the Cancun climate change talks, strengthened by Prime Minister of Vanuatu who is leading the delegation. In all there is a team of eight that is joining the Small Islands Developing States to strive for success in Cancun. As current chair of the Pacific Island Leaders Forum, Vanuatu is taking its responsibility seriously in supporting the rest of the Pacific at these negotiations.
“Even if we don’t get a legally binding agreement here, we want to see a way forward from here so that the next Conference of the Parties will address this issue.”
The 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Conference on Climate Change is held in Cancun, Mexico from 29 November to 11 December.
By Makereta Komai for Climate Pasifika in Bonn, Germany
04 June 2010 Bonn, Germany ---Vanuatu is one of the 11 countries chosen to pilot climate resilience and capacity building projects, funded as part of the European Union’s fast start climate change funding commitment promised in Copenhagen in 2009.
At a side event organised at the margins of the Bonn climate change talks, representatives from five major European nations that have made pledges to the climate change fast start financing briefed delegates on their commitments.
Norbet Gorben of German’s environment ministry said under the Global Climate Change Alliance, the EU was providing €40 million to pilot climate resilience projects in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, which includes Vanuatu in the Pacific.
“The first tranche of the funds will be given in 2010. Half of the funds will be targeted at adaptation programmes. We are targeting the ‘smallest of the small.’
“We will build on the national adaptation plans and assist with adaptation practices and provide budget support, said Gorben.
At the same time, the EU has allocated €4.2 million to Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu for adaptation projects.
“Tonga is looking at land use, while in Fiji the focus is on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) and Vanuatu on putting together its NAPA database on climate change.
“This assistance will be extended due to demand from 12 Pacific countries, said Gorben.
The European Union insists the funding initiative pledged in Copenhagen is a process of ‘learning by doing.’ Its member states will continue dialogue with developing countries to get to know their needs and expectations better, according to an EU briefing paper.
“Lessons learnt will be very valuable in helping to decide where to direct funding not yet allocated.”
It said experience with fast start funding will be key in shaping the post 2012 climate financing architecture.
The European Union has pledged €2.4 billion annually until 2012 to combat the impact of climate change. This, it says represents a third of the global commitments made by mostly industrialised countries that supported the Copenhagen Accord in 2009.
“Despite the recent economic difficulties and strong budgetary constraints, all 27 member states of the EU contributed to this funding.
63 percent of the EU confirmed pledge in 2010 will go towards mitigation projects while the rest will be for adaptation. A huge bulk of that funding will support reducing emissions from forests.
The EU has also directed that 61 percent of its pledge be distributed through bilateral channels and only 39 percent through the multilateral process including financial mechanisms within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
With governments tightening their coffers in the wake of the global financial crisis, development campaigners are calling for more transparency in the initial stages of climate change funding for developing countries.
Campaigners say they want to ensure climate funding promises are over and above current development aid (ODA), rather than transferred from existing projects.
The finance of climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries is a key pillar in the climate negotiations.
There is a lot of slippery language around ‘new and additional’,” said Rob Bailey, a policy advisor on climate change for Oxfam.
According to the Copenhagen Accord, “this funding will come from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources of finance.”
In the Copenhagen Accord, developed countries agreed to provide vulnerable nations with “new and additional resources” of about US$30 billion for period 2010-2012 to help them with climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Australia, France, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States have collectively agreed in the context of an ambitious and comprehensive outcome in Copenhagen to dedicate USD3.5bn as initial public finance towards slowing, halting and eventually reversing deforestation in developing countries.
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe said the EU has failed to provide clarity about where the €7.2 billion pledged for 2010-2012 for immediate climate finance needs in developing countries will come from.
“This unwillingness to be clear about the sources of their fast start finance is only corroborating the grape vine, which contends that a great majority in the EU intend to recycle their ODA commitments and baptise it climate finance,” said Augustine B. Njamnshi of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance.
“This lack of clarity is frustrating developing countries, especially those who quickly associated with the Copenhagen Accord with the hope of getting something from the package.”
EU leaders this week in Bonn insisted the money pledged would be ”fresh,” language that does not exclude previously committed development aid from being double counted as climate finance. The lack of country-by-country detail in today’s report deepens green and development groups’ concerns that the commitment made in Copenhagen that funds would be new and additional is not being kept. In addition, there is not enough detail on how the money will be divided between projects.
“Helping poor countries adapt to climate change impacts and develop in a low carbon way are both equally important,” said Tim Gore, Oxfam International EU Climate Adviser.
“However, about twice as much has been allocated for low carbon development rather than adaptation, which means that at the moment, the bulk of the money is more likely to go to larger emerging economies instead of the World’s poorest,” said Gore.
Ms Komai will be covering the Bonn Climate Change negotiations from 31 May – 11 June 2010, thanks to support from Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). She will provide daily coverage of the negotiations via PACNEWS and the SPREP website www.sprep.org, the climate pasifika blogspot, http://climatepasifika.blogspot.com and the PINA Green page http://green.pina.com.fj/
