Project breaks new ground with exciting way to share climate change adaptation knowledge in the Pacific
Discussion details
In a new approach to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on climate change adaptation in the Pacific, the Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Island States project ran a series of eight roadshows in November 2015, involving different partners and more than 200 development professionals in Fiji, Samoa and Federated States of Micronesia.
The roadshows featured key climate change adaptation experiences and lessons learnt during the Pacific Community’s (SPC) implementation of the project in the past five years in nine smaller Pacific Island countries, and presented an opportunity for discussion and sharing of ideas during this important year of climate change action.
The roadshow celebrates SPC’s partnership with the European Union during the European Year for Development 2015 and, in particular, the theme for the month of November: “Sustainable Development and Climate Action”.
European Union Deputy Ambassador for the Pacific, Johnny Engell-Hansen while speaking at the feature event for the roadshow, which involved many of the high level diplomatic corps based in Fiji, highlighted the plight of the small island states in the region and reiterated the importance of the ongoing COP21 meeting for the region.
European Union Deputy Ambassador for the Pacific, Johnny Engell-Hansen delivering his keynote address at the feature event.
“We are all too often painfully reminded year after year, cyclone after cyclone, drought after drought – how fragile and vulnerable this region and the Small Island Developing States are to the plight of climate change and disasters as exemplified by Cyclone Pam and Typhoon Maysak respectively.”
“The question before us now is whether we, collectively as humankind, have the courage and determination to act decisively before it’s too late. The answer to that question will have a profound impact on the world, on our children and future generations,” Mr Engell Hansen said.
“The European Union is happy to support this meaningful project that benefits the communities and peoples of the nine participating countries. This is a good example of the European Union supporting governments and communities to implement their own priorities in partnership with regional organisations like the Pacific Community in this case.”
“The approach taken by the nine participating countries on this project, with support and guidance from SPC, can be replicated by other Pacific Island countries who face the very same climate change challenges such as coastal erosion, water and food security for example,” he added.
The roadshow, which was taken to several development partners and regional organizations prior to the feature event, consists of a 15 minute video titled, “Advancing climate change adaptation in the Pacific: Experiences from the past five years”, followed by further exploration of some of the issues through specific case studies, and culminating with candid and open discussion.
One of the key highlights of the project has been the implementation of on-the-ground climate change adaptation measures in remote outer islands where the challenges of logistics and transportation are enormous. Mr Albon Ishoda, Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of the Marshall Islands, commended the project for taking a non-traditional approach and implementing projects in outer islands where the need is greatest but for the past ten years major interventions have been impossible because of the challenges and costs.
The High Commissioner for Kiribati, H.E. Mrs. Reteta Rimon commenting on Kiribati’s ownership of the project.
Also speaking at the feature event, H.E. Mrs. Reteta Rimon, High Commissioner for Kiribati, noted that allowing governments to choose their own project priorities is extremely important as it promotes ownership and sustainability of the intervention once the project has finished.
The case study on solar disinfection (SODIS) in Kiribati generated huge interest throughout the roadshow. SODIS is a cheap, easy method of disinfecting contaminated water by placing the water in 2 litre clear bottles in strong sunlight for several hours on a reflective surface. Participants felt, given its uptake and positive results in Kiribati, the SODIS method has the potential for uptake by other countries in the region.
Link to Lessons learnt factsheet: https://www.scribd.com/doc/292401582/Lessons-Learnt-Factsheet
Link to ‘Advancing climate change adaptation in the Pacific: Experiences from the past five years’ video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l81xjKJnN_s&index=10&list=PLCq-WnF3Hdri67k5l3c-ew7AyfhQcWIXq
Caption: European Union Deputy Ambassador, French Deputy Head ofSuvamission (4thand 3rdfrom right) and Director of SPC Geo Sciences Division (5thfrom left) with the GCCA: PSIS team in Suva, Fiji.
Background:
The Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Island States project is a €11.4 million European Union supported project, implemented regionally in partnership with the SPC and nationally by each of the nine participating governments in Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu.
More information on the GCCA: PSIS project is available online at;
For more information, contact:
Zhiyad Khan SPC Project Communications, email: ZhiyadK@spc.int
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