As climate change hastens the demise of our coral reefs and accelerated coastal erosion impacts our lands, people living on the frontlines of these changes strive to adapt to these changing conditions.
Research indicates that we need to adapt to extreme weather events, crop losses, damage to infrastructure and impacts on health. These are amongst a myriad of emerging issues impacting our world and the Pacific today. Hence, it is vital that we choose clean energy and low carbon technology and adopt better planning practices.
The Global Climate Change Alliance Plus Scaling up Pacific Adaptation (GCCA+ SUPA) project is about scaling up climate change adaptation measures in specific sectors supported by knowledge management and capacity building. The 4.5-year project (2019-2023) is funded with € 14.89 million from the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and The University of the South Pacific (USP), in collaboration with the governments and peoples of Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu.
SPREP in cooperation with SPC and USP aim to develop an impacts’ analysis methodology designed to assess past adaptation interventions as part of strengthening strategic planning at national levels. Adaptation is localized and the impacts of any climate action may change over time. Our work is cut out for us in the development of this impacts’ analysis methodology, during a time of COVID-19 pandemic. More about the scope of the impact analysis of adaptation actions in the next article. Here are your GCCA+SUPA team based in SPREP:
The SUPA team at SPREP: Introductions...
Climate Change Adviser: “I was part of the SPREP team that engaged in negotiations for the project with the EU, working closely with SPC and USP. It was a long and difficult journey, but in the end we agreed on the basis of SUPA as a way of improving climate change knowledge and enhancing the adaptation efforts in the region. Now that the full team is on board I am happy to play a supporting role and to help out where I can.” Espen Ronneberg (photo attached in bottom of the page)
Impacts Analysis Adviser: “To be able to measure an impact implies that the effectiveness of an action can be measured and resources manageable over time.” Monifa Fiu
Project Administration & Finance officer: “Joined the GCCA+ SUPA team since May 2020 and my role has been an eye-opening experience so far. I look forward to working with the GCCA+ SUPA team and contribute towards building the resilience of our Pacific. If my children and the future generation after me question what have I done during my time to create change, my response would be GCCA+ SUPA.” Dannicah Chan
Project Information & Research Officer: "GCCA+ SUPA project aims to build sector resilience through lessons learnt from past adaptation actions in the Pacific. Working with the GCCA+ SUPA team at SPREP to assist in achieving the goals of the project with other implementing partners will provide a great learning experience for me." Gloria Roma
