Fiji Times, 20th May 2018
FIJI has joined forces with Regions of Climate Action (R20) and Reunion Island to create the Sub-national Climate Fund for Islands and coastal regions (SnCF Islands).
A Government statement issued today said they would work together to foster the development of green infrastructure projects for the Pacific in renewable energy, waste management and municipal lighting, and also to create an investment fund to finance the projects.
Island States and territories are among those most affected by climate change, not least from severe weather, and rising sea levels.
The Government said the island states were also among those territories that suffered the most from the lack of essential energy, waste management and city lighting infrastructure projects that were necessary to power the economy, create jobs, and reduce negative impacts on health.
The statement said the approach would be based on BlueOrchard Finance and R20’s first fund, the Sub-national Climate Fund for Africa (SnCF Africa). It will complement the Pacific Regional NDC Hub launched at COP23 by seeking to leverage additional private and public investments in projects crucial to implementing and enhancing Pacific NDCs.
Fiji’s Ambassador in Brussels and the COP23 Climate Ambassador Deo Saran had presented a letter of support from the Fijian Government supporting this partnership with R20 at the R20 World Summit held this week in Vienna, Austria.