Cook Islands, a valuable member in the world negotiations against climate change

Members of the Cook Islands delegation

27 November, Cancun, Mexico - The Cook Islands are committed to the climate change cause.  The nation of 15 small islands is a valuable member of the Pacific wide team that works as one in the fight for an agreement crucial to our survival. As time passes and science gives weight to the impacts of climate change - the need for an agreement grows stronger each day.

Over the next two weeks in Cancun, Mexico the world comes together, yet again, at the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework for the Convention on Climate Change (COP16).

While expectations are being downplayed at this meeting, the Cook Islands are still working towards an agreement, after all the nation is amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change but is one of the nations that contributes least to this global problem.

"I think they are trying to downplay the ambitions of this meeting, but for the Cook Islands it's important that we keep the pressure on to try and come to some sort of agreement. I mean, we can’t just keep deferring the hard decisions, we've got to make a decision and set a deadline for this process," said Myra Patai the  Director, International Organizations & Treaties, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration - the head of the Cook Islands delegation.

The Cook Islands have been actively engaged in the climate change negotiations which have been held more regularly after the formation of the ‘Bali Roadmap’ at the 13th Conference of the Parties two years ago. They have in their team experienced local negotiators who are tasked with leading different working groups for the Alliance of Small Islands States (AOSIS) in addressing the range of agenda items.

“For the Cook Islands we have two key issues; to address problems of rising Greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on us and we’re hoping to put in place an agreement that will capture those countries that aren’t part of the climate change agreement process. We’d also like to see a second commitment period for parties under the Kyoto protocol is established.”

Here at the climate change meetings, it is often commented upon by fellow Pacific delegates that the Cook Islands country team is largely made up of the female gender, however Patai says the strength of their team is more that it reflects the diverse interests from the island nation as the country battles climate change together. In all there are eight delegates in the Cook Islands official team who stem from different government ministries, as well as nongovernmental organisations.

“I think this really reflects what we do back home we have set up a climate change country team which comprises of almost all of government ministries as well as traditional leaders, business people and NGO’s. I think Government understands that to address climate change effectively requires a comprehensive response, that government cannot tackle climate change on its own.”

Pacific prepared for climate talks in Cancun

Cancun, Mexico, 27 November - The Pacific region is preparing their stance in cooperation with all Small Island States at the climate change negotiations in Cancun, Mexico next week. While the possibility of a new global agreement on climate change is being downplayed, it has not dampened the efforts of the Pacific as they ready themselves for the final round of negotiations for 2010. There is strong representation from the Pacific region in Cancun with Heads of State, Environment Ministers and Ambassadors of the Pacific in attendance with their officials.

The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework for the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 16) is bringing the World together for two weeks of climate change negotiations. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) coordinated a meeting of the Pacific islands countries to assist them in preparing for the two weeks of intense discussions.

“I think judging from the dialogue in the Pacific meeting there is a strong desire to see some tangible outcomes from Cancun,” stated SPREP’s climate change adviser Mr. Espen Ronneberg.

“Of course expectations have been downplayed by the host and a number of other influential countries but we’ll have to work through all the issues and see how we can best rescue something that can be of benefit to the region.”

During the preparatory meeting the Pacific delegates discussed issues on the agenda, exchanging views and information, allowing for frank talks before attending the formal meetings. One of the main issues of concern that was discussed extensively by the Pacific region as they prepared for the coming weeks is that of financing.

“We do need to see new and additional resources being made available. The existing funds and so forth that are available to the countries are viewed by many as inadequate and there is so much complexity in accessing the funds. We need new funds and funding modalities that are easier for our countries to take advantage of.”

The final day of the preparatory meeting allowed for negotiations training for the Pacific Island delegates which were coordinated by the highly experienced Tuvalu negotiator, Mr. Ian Fry. His training programme stages a practical exercise to strengthen negotiation skills and for this particular session of the Pacific the activity focussed on the adaptation agenda and the negotiations text now at the table.

“This was a very successful day of negotiations training, these exercises are very helpful, and it is good to have a refresher even for our more experienced negotiators as well just to take a step back and see the negotiations from the perspective of other countries. It is daunting for the new people for whom this is their first COP, and the negotiations training exercise is very valuable in preparing them for the weeks to come.”

The Pacific preparatory meeting was held in Cancun from 21 – 23 November, while the formal Cancun COP will be held from 29 November to 11 December.

News from COP 16 in Cancun

We will e uploading news to this site on events unfolding at the COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico. These updates should will be starting soon so keep watching this space.

Pacific Waste Newsletter by SPREP

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme has published the first in a series of newsletters that chronicles the progress of solid waste management in the Pacific islands.   

This newsletter is an output under the Pacific Regional Solid Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015, which is the region's guiding document for solid waste management. The Regional Strategy, whose implementation is coordinated by the Secretariat, was developed in 2009 with  assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The first newsletter briefly discusses past and upcoming regional solid waste management projects, provides a matrix of regional projects by donor, examines waste management in Tokelau, and provides a summary list of the known solid waste management activities taking place in the Pacific Islands since November 2009.   

The newsletter also provides a summary of lessons learnt during the waste clean-up in the aftermath of the devastating September 29th tsunami in Samoa.

"It is only the first in a series, and it is intended to provide the reader with a snapshot of progress in solid waste management in the region, while also highlighting areas where resources are needed." said Ms. Esther Richards, SPREP's Solid Waste Officer.  

"We also hope to feature solid waste management success stories from the islands in each issue in order to promote a regional waste management network among the islands"

The newsletter, which will be published biannually in June and December, is expected to serve as a tool for disseminating the good lessons for solid waste management in the region and for promoting awareness of regional and national waste management needs in the Pacific.  

For more details please contact SPREP's Solid Waste Officer, Ms. Esther Richards at estherr@sprep.org.
 

SPREP launches study on regional financing for climate change

23 July, 2010 - The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has commenced a study with a view to establishing a regional Climate Change Fund or other mechanism. It will aim to help Pacific island countries improve access to and management of the various financial resources being committed globally to combat climate change.

The study responds to recommendations of the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable held in the Marshall Islands in 2009. Delegates to the Roundtable meeting had expressed concern that, while millions of dollars in climate change funding are currently available at the global level, the Pacific region faces challenges in the ability to access this funding. There are also the added difficulties with effectively managing and implementing many of the projects under current funding arrangements.

The lack of human resources to design and develop proposals and general limitations in technical expertise are major challenges. Compounding the issue are the different expectations and reporting requirements of the different donor organisations.

“There is a need to develop a process that will help countries access funds that can be mobilised in a timely fashion to meet their priorities in mitigation and adaptation,” said SPREP’s Climate Change Adviser, Mr Espen Ronneberg.

At the same time, it is recognised that countries also require assistance in implementation and management of mitigation and adaptation initiatives and in ensuring timely reporting to donors.

“The funding mechanism will need to also address this issue and provide some form of technical backstopping for those countries requiring this additional assistance,” said Mr Ronneberg.

The study will assess resources currently available to Pacific Island Countries for Climate Change initiatives and will identify likely new funding.

“This information will help guide future national and regional responses and policies, including coordination arrangements,” explained Mr Ronneberg.

The SPREP-commissioned study is timely with climate change financing set to dramatically increase as a result of the Copenhagen Accord, which includes a collective commitment by developed countries to provide new and additional resources approaching US$30 billion for the period 2010 – 2012.

The Copenhagen Accord, which was the outcome of the 10th Conference of Parties to the 2009 UN Climate Change Convention, also commits developed countries to jointly mobilise US$100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries.

“The outcomes of the study will help ensure that Pacific requirements are well-articulated and that current challenges and barriers to accessing available climate funds are minimised under current international financing mechanisms,” said Mr Ronneberg.

The results of the study will be presented to the SPREP Ministerial Meeting in Madang, Papua New Guinea in September this year.

Call for Proposals for the IPCC Scholarship Programme

As taken from a letter to designated Intergovernmental panel on climate change focal points from the Secretary of the IPCC.

The Call for Proposals for the IPCC Scholarship Programme was announced yesterday on the website (www.ipcc.ch).  This Programme has been established with the funds received from the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the IPCC in 2007. Its purpose is twofold: to develop the knowledge, skills and capacity of young scholars from some of the regions most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and to strengthen the ability of developing countries to contribute to climate science and research.

The Programme will start with a Pilot Phase, managed by the Programme’s Board of Trustees and Science Board, and facilitated by the IPCC Secretariat, with a limited number of scholarship awards for the initial round.

Graduate or doctoral students from developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, wishing to pursue academic education and training, undertake advanced research or upgrade skills are welcome to apply for a scholarship before 31 July 2010.

It is expected that the selection process will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010 and that the selected applicants will commence their studies as soon as possible thereafter.

Please circulate this call for proposals as widely as possible to help it reach prospective students who would most benefit from it, in the spirit of the Nobel Peace Prize.

The IPCC has set up the Scholarship Programme in view of its long experience in assessing risks of human-induced climate change, its broad global network of scientists and research institutions, its experience with producing policy-relevant information and identifying knowledge gaps and research needs, the IPCC is uniquely positioned to govern this Scholarship Programme and I sincerely hope that it will contribute to enhancing the knowledge base in developing countries.

The above is taken from a letter to designated Intergovernmental panel on climate change focal points from the Secretary of the IPCC, please visit (www.ipcc.ch) for more details.

SIDS climate change dilemma: keeping average temperature increase below 1.5°C to stay alive

A feature from the Alliance of Small Islands States, for more details please visit www.aosis.info 

As changing climate and rising sea levels negatively affect Small Island Developing States (SIDS), an uncertain future lies ahead for the millions of people who inhabit these island nations. What is certain is the destruction and disappearance of lives, livelihoods, countries,

and the likelihood of large displaced populations if average global temperatures increase by more than 1.5°C. What would industrialized economies do if faced with such a high probability of destruction?

Because SIDS are small countries, we are seldom heard, but we must urgently point out that the global population, primarily the industrialized economies, has already increased the average temperature by 0.8°C above pre-industrial levels. Current atmospheric concentrations of GHG are in excess of 387 parts per million, which scientists believe would raise average global temperature above 1.5°C over time. This current level of GHG is the highest concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in millions of years. The global economy is producing more than twice the GHG that is being sequestered; excess GHG is increasing the acidity of the oceans and increasing average temperatures.

We call upon the industrialized economies and, in particular, the historic polluters to act speedily, appropriately and morally by: 

1. Agreeing to limit average global temperature to less than 1.5°C and send a signal to the global marketplace that the world is serious about clean energy.

2. Signing a legally binding agreement where all countries commit to greening their economy to achieve emission reduction to get to the temperature target.

3. Providing funding and technology to support adaptation to climate change through a dedicated mechanism so we can pursue sustainable development.

4. Supporting establishment of a comprehensive insurance and risk management facility to make sure that socioeconomic gains attained through sacrifice is not destroyed by climate change. 

As emissions increase, changing the global climate, triggering rises in sea levels, changes in rainfall patterns, bleaching of corals, eroding shorelines, and reducing our fisheries, we, the SIDS, would like to know what would you in the industrialized economies do if the situations were reversed? 

Would you want us to be concerned about your future survival and that of your children, or merely consider you as collateral damage in order to maintain a comfortable and fulfilling

lifestyle? Sustainable technological systems that can provide the global population with the same level and significantly more energy services, than what is now provided by high GHG

emitting sources, have been developed but not deployed due to perceived higher costs. For example, the oceans have many times the energy needed by the global population, and it  can be harvested with limited emissions of GHG. How you would feel if you were a citizen of  SIDS, and knew there were low carbon energy alternatives available that can provide the global population with productive and enjoyable lifestyles many times over, without our destruction, but it was considered too much of an economic sacrifice?

For thousands of years, the millions of people living on small island states have generally  been responsible stewards of their environment, due to high dependency on environmental

services for survival and economic development. SIDS have acted as custodians of almost  25 percent of the world’s oceans, a responsibility that is taken very seriously. We have also  played major roles in the evolution of the global maritime and tourism industries, with the  tourism sector accounting for between 45 and 80 percent of gross domestic product in most  SIDS today.

We wish to continue welcoming you to our environment, and we also want to enjoy some of your luxurious lifestyle, a lifestyle that you can still enjoy by pursuing alternative, sustainable energy sources; a lifestyle that can help reduce the unprecedented rate of GHG emissions.

This is a feature from the Alliance of Small Islands States - please visit www.aosis.info for more information.