Samoa Observer 11 May 2018
The Pacific island region is only 13 months away from having its’ very own Pacific Climate Change Centre hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme at Vailima, Samoa.
The ground breaking ceremony today signified the start of construction of the PCCC funded by the Government of Japan through grant aid to the Government of Samoa. The PCCC will be the regional centre of excellence for climate change information, research and innovation.
“The construction of the Pacific Climate Change Centre is now open!” said the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi at the special event.
It is planned that construction of the Pacific Climate Change Centre will end in July, 2019.
A Steering Committee drawn from a wide range of key stakeholders including SPREP Member countries, partners, donors, agencies of the Council of the Region Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) and the Government of Japan is currently consulting with a view to finalise the details of the role and functions of the PCCC, as well as its governance structure and budget.
“The PCCC will be a major asset in SPREP’s contribution to the Pacific region in terms of effective climate action and most importantly, in meeting the expectations of Members that such action will progress national efforts to achieve their climate change priorities,” said Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Leota Kosi Latu.