The Kingdom of Tonga hosted a significant event during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM), focused on the Pacific Climate Change Centre's (PCCC) long-term investment strategy and its commitment to creating an Innovative Climate Finance Investment Hub. The event was attended by representatives from governments, the diplomatic corps, donor agencies, NGOs, the private sector and other stakeholders with strong interests in the region.
The keynote address was delivered by Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti, Minister of Finance for the Kingdom of Tonga, who emphasised the critical need for increased financial investment to address climate change challenges in the Pacific region. Minister Tiueti highlighted that while the PCCC has been instrumental in building resilience, a lack of long-term investment remains a significant obstacle and that investment in this critical center of excellence must be made.
The Minister outlined the Pacific Climate Change Centre’s threefold approach to secure long-term investments:
• Service Delivery through Partnerships: The PCCC has successfully leveraged partnerships for cost-sharing and co-technical support, demonstrating a commitment to collaborate and leverage resources effectively.
• Convening Donor Support and Resources Mobilization: The PCCC is actively developing the Pacific Climate Resilience Legacy Initiatives, a set of projects aimed at strengthening its capacity to deliver climate action.
• The Innovative Climate Investment Hub: The PCCC is actively pursuing alternative and innovative climate finance options to develop a compelling business case for a hub that can effectively deliver climate action in the Pacific.
Minister Tiueti further reiterated Tonga's commitment as the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) Climate Finance Political Champion to support the Centre's leadership in establishing the Innovative Climate Investment Hub to be hosted at the PCCC to ensure that climate resilience initiatives remain sustainable in the future.
Also speaking at the Talanoa event was the Manager of the PCCC, Ms Ofa Kaisamy, who expressed that securing long-term predictable investments would allow PCCC to continue to make important contributions to the delivery of climate action for the Pacific. The PCCC is also looking to launch the Pacific Climate Resilience Legacy Initiatives with its partners in 2025.
The event was a critical step towards solidifying the Pacific Climate Change Centre's position as a leading force in driving climate action in the Pacific Islands region. The PCCC's commitment to securing long-term investments will be crucial in supporting the region's efforts to achieve climate resilience and build a sustainable future for the Blue Pacific.
The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM) was held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga from 26 – 30 August 2024.
For more information, please contact [email protected].
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The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) is the regional Centre of excellence for climate change information, research, capacity building, and innovation, hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Apia, Samoa. As a Centre of excellence, the PCCC is mandated to provide practical information, support, and training to address the adaptation and mitigation priorities of Pacific Island communities.
The PCCC is underpinned by strong partnerships with Pacific Governments, applied research institutions, donors, civil society, and the private sector. The PCCC is a partnership between the Governments of Japan and Samoa. It is funded under grant aid through JICA for Samoa as the host country of SPREP. Additionally, the Centre receives generous funding and support from the Governments of New Zealand and Australia.
