28 June 2024, Sydney Australia - Delivering climate change solutions for Pacific communities at the forefront of the climate crisis was the focus of a workshop in Sydney, Australia from 25-28 June 2024.
Co-facilitated by the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC), hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the workshop was attended by 120 participants from 14 Pacific countries.
Amongst them was Palau Climate Change Negotiator, Mr. Joe Aitaro, who welcomed the opportunity to enhance the capacity of Pacific countries to understand the role of climate finance, how to estimate and determine climate finance, and learn more about the sources of mitigation and adaptation finance.
“We are extremely grateful to the ADB and SPREP through the PCCC for making this possible,” said Mr Aitaro. “This workshop has enhanced our learning capacity on existing climate finance tracking frameworks and methodologies from various institutions. It is also very useful as it has provided us the latest information on climate science, data projections and best practices, including a range of potential approaches for climate risk and vulnerability assessment, and methods for climate risk screening. These tools will be useful to align strategies and investments at the national level.”
Aside from Palau, other participants came from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshal Islands, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
During the training, emphasis was placed on peer-to-peer learning, fostering dynamic exchanges, and leveraging the expertise of local, regional and international experts. The workshop also delved into low carbon transition, preparation of Long-Term Strategies (LTS) for low Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate resilient development, accessing adaptation and mitigation finances, accelerating private sector investments, as well as the roles of the PCCC, SPREP and ADB in Climate Adaptation and building resilience in the Pacific.
Regional Director, Pacific Liaison and Coordination office of ADB, Mr Shane Rosenthal, said ADB was pleased to bring together Pacific government officials from multiple ministries to discuss strategies and tools to overcome planning silos and address climate risks effectively.
“The event aims to foster dialogue that helps Pacific governments take proactive and well-considered decisions to adapt to climate change impacts and ensure the continued well-being and sustainable development of their countries,” he said. “We’re delighted to have the PCCC and SPREP’s involvement and to be working together to tackle climate change in the Pacific.”
SPREP’s Director Climate Change Resilience, Ms Tagaloa Cooper, conveyed her sincere gratitude to ADB and said that SPREP, as the lead agency on climate change in the Pacific region, welcomes the collaboration.
“Pacific Island countries are amongst the most vulnerable in the world to the impacts of climate change, rising sea levels and extreme weather events which impact traditional livelihoods, food security, and the integrity of the Pacific ecosystem,” she reminded, adding that access to climate finance continues to be a hindrance for Pacific communities in their fight to survive climate change impacts.
“SPREP echoes the call by Pacific countries for more access and predictable climate finance investment in order to address their climate change needs and priorities.” The workshop in Sydney is taking place at a time when climate change continues to threaten the health of Pacific communities, as well as economic and social development.
Manager of the PCCC, Ms. ‘Ofa Kaisamy, said partnerships such as the one between SPREP through the PCCC and ADB to gather Pacific countries in Sydney to work towards climate change solutions are critical.
“This partnership adds value to the work of the PCCC to deliver capacity development programmes in adaptation, mitigation, climate services, climate finance and project development,” she said.
“The PCCC is the regional Centre of Excellence for climate information, science to services and applied research, capacity building and innovation. The need for continued technical capacity development for our Pacific people in topics such as Innovation, Private sector engagement, Just Transition, Climate Finance, climate services, and project development cannot be emphasised enough and it is why trainings like this are very important.”
The four-day workshop was held at the Swissotel in Sydney Australia.
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