Representatives from the ten implementing countries of the Global Climate Change Plus Scaling Up Pacific Adaptation (GCCA+ SUPA) Project gathered at the SPC Pasifika Conference Room, in Suva Fiji on 28 and 29 September 2022 for the Project’s 4th Steering Committee Meeting.
The hybrid meeting connected countries with the implementing organisations, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), University of the South Pacific (USP) and The Pacific Community (SPC), where progress made thus far was highlighted.
The Steering Committee heard from some of the countries on aspects of the work being implemented on the ground. Tonga, for example, highlighted the results of a public poll conducted during their National Climate Change Awareness Week to gauge the youth’s perspectives and awareness of climate change science, preparedness, and information dissemination
For the Cook Islands, the case of local indigenous knowledge contributing to tangible on-the-ground actions by the communities in Mangaia, and reflections from the training with Pa Enua officers supporting the Cook Islands Office of Climate Change on the light version tools of the impact methodology, was highlighted.
Palau highlighted efforts geared towards building resiliency and how different agencies learn and view the potential of the methodology to enhance their programme of work at national and state level.
The meeting also reviewed the progress of the work to implement sector-based, but integrated, climate change and disaster risk management strategies, designed to enhance climate change adaptation and resilience.
Funded by the European Union (EU), the Head of Cooperation for the Delegation of the EU for the Pacific, Mr Michal Krejza, reiterated the importance of the work being done to help Pacific countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. He added that the EU is a longstanding partner of the Pacific and they remain committed to working with countries and implementing organisations to strengthen the sectors responsible for providing water, food, health, marine resources and coastal protection for the Pacific communities.
The countries involved, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu, expressed their gratitude to the European Union for their support. They also acknowledged the implementing organisations for persevering with the work despite the challenges of COVID-19.
The GCCA+ SUPA project which exists to scale up climate change adaptation measures in specific sectors supported by knowledge management and capacity building is delivered and supported by SPREP, USP and SPC utilising a people-centred approach.
SPREP is tasked with delivering an impact methodology to assess past adaptation interventions as part of Output 1, which targets the strengthening of strategic planning at national levels. SPREP’s Information and Research Officer, Ms Gloria Roma, facilitated a session titled “Learning from the past: Application of the Light Version of the Methodology.
The meeting was told that Pacific tailored methodology examines the desired, measurable impact of past efforts and building the first database on impacts to allow countries to monitor climate actions; and trace key result in areas of adaptation with most vulnerable people, communities. These areas include health and well-being, food- water security; ecosystem and ecosystem services and infrastructure.
Output 2, led by USP focuses on enhancing capacity of subnational government stakeholders to build resilient communities. Country presentations under Output 2 highlighted the impact of development plans on building community resilience, gender and human rights empowerment at the subnational level for countries including Kiribati, Tuvalu and Palau.
Output 3, led by SPC looks at scaling up resilient development measures in specific sectors, food security, water security, human health, coastal protection and marine resources. It highlights the scaling up of adaptation in outer islands as well as communities and households as well as scaling up coastal protection measures with key lessons from countries including FSM, Kiribati and Nauru.
The next Steering Committee Meeting is scheduled to be held in Palau on 13-17 March 2023.
ABOUT THE GCCA+ SUPA Project
The GCCA+ SUPA project is about scaling up climate change adaptation measures in specific sectors supported by knowledge management and capacity building. The project places people in 10 Pacific Island countries at the centre of climate change adaptation efforts as the project seeks to strengthen the sectors responsible for providing water, food, health, marine resources and coastal protection.
Learning from the past, the project will enhance, replicate and strengthen existing on-the-ground measures so the five sectors can better withstand the increasing threats posed by climate change over the next 20 years. At the same time, SUPA will enhance the knowledge and skills of Pacific islanders to prepare and adapt to the ever-increasing impacts of climate change.
