Cir#22/02: Invitation to the SIDS support webinar on IPCC AR6 WGIII (Mitigation and Climate Change) Final Government Distribution (FGD) Review January 25, 2022 Blended Platforms - Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) and Virtual

SPREP Pacific Climate Change Centre and Climate Analytics would like to warmly invite you to the fifth webinar in the series for the IPCC support project for SIDS. The project aims to facilitate the engagement of this particularly vulnerable country group in the IPCC process. Technical expertise and capacity building will be provided in expert webinars throughout the AR6 review cycle and by in-person support during the approval plenaries.

Cir#22/01: Save the Date - Pacific SIDS Post-COP26 Analysis Meeting, 15 -17 February 2022.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in collaboration with Climate Analytics will convene a Virtual Pacific SIDS Post-COP26 Analysis Meeting 15-17 February 2022.

Cir#21/159: Data Collection on Consent for Foreign Research Vessels.

Please find enclosed a Questionnaire for kind response and also enclosed is a letter of
support. This is an important area of research, and the findings will be duly presented and discussed with relevant authorities in your countries as well as with key stakeholders in regional and global bodies concerned with marine scientific research.

Cir#21/158: Draft Agenda UNEA 5.2 Preparatory Workshop.

The Secretariat is pleased to confirm that a virtual consultation workshop will be held for SPREP Member States as noted in our Circular 21/155 regarding the resumed session of UNEA5 (UNEA5.2) that will take place in Nairobi, Kenya and online, on 28 February to 2 March 2022

Cir#21/156: SPREP Published Knowledge Resources: July-December (Qtr. 3 & 4) 2021 Update.

To ensure that you received the latest and most recent information on SPREP publications, knowledge products and resources. The Secretariat is pleased to share the final update of 2021 for your information and use. All our knowledge resources are freely available and can be accessed on the NEW SPREP Virtual Library.

Cir#21/155: Preparations for UNEA 5.2 relating to draft resolutions and decisions.

The Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly is fast approaching being held on the 28 February to 2 March 2022 with the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) to be held the week before. The meeting itself will be held in Nairobi, Kenya and online.

Cir#21/155: Preparations for UNEA 5.2 relating to draft resolutions and decisions

The Fifth Session of the UN Environment Assembly is fast approaching being held on the 28 February to 2 March 2022 with the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR) to be held the week before. The meeting itself will be held in Nairobi, Kenya and online and the format and structure can be found in the link here.
 

Cir#21/154: Third Clean Pacific Roundtable 2021 Outcome Statement.

Following the successful conclusion of the Third Clean Pacific Roundtable 2021 which was held on the 16 – 25 November 2021, SPREP is pleased to present the Third Clean Pacific Roundtable 2021 Outcome Statement which was endorsed by the Roundtable.

Cir#21/153: Vacancies

Applications are invited for the follwoing positions that are being advertised with SPREP Apia, Samoa:

  1. Project Implementation Officer (PIO)
  2. Project Development and Implementation Officer (PDIO)

The closing date for the vacancies is Friday 28 January 2022.

Cir#21/152: Pacific Region Agreement on Prevention of Pollution by Marine Litter and Microplastics

The Secretariat is pleased to advise that the virtual consultation workshop scheduled for Tuesday 7th December 2021 for the development of a non-negotiated draft regional framework has been postponed to Wednesday 30th March 2022.

Cir#21/151: Pacific Regional Declaration on the Prevention of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution and its Impacts – Voluntary endorsement Extension.

The Secretariat is pleased to provide you with the Pacific Regional Declaration on the Prevention of Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution and its Impacts that was presented at the Environment Ministers’ High-Level Talanoa on the 10th of September and to advise that it is extending the time for voluntary endorsement until the 17 December 2021.

Cir#21/150: Inform Plus Project – Scaling Up Environmental Data Management Beyond 2022.

Greetings from Apia. SPREP would like acknowledge all the support and the guidance to the Secretariat on the implementation of the SPREP programmes activities and projects. This has been recognized by our development partners and also our member countries.

The Environmental Monitoring and Governance (EMG) Programme of SPREP is currently executing the GEF funded “Inform Project", implemented through UN Environment, which has supported and delivered a number of key targeted interventions to support environmental decision making in the region. This phase of the project will be closing at the end of 2022.

Cir#21/149: Draft Terms of Reference for the SPREP Member Working Group to Assess Recommendations of the 3rd Independent Corporate Review and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026

The Secretariat has attached the draft Terms of Reference for the SPREP Member Working Group to assess the recommendations of the 3rd Independent Corporate Review of SPREP and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026.

Cir#21/148: Upgraded Data Portal Launch.

The Environmental Monitoring and Governance (EMG) Programme of SPREP is currently executing the GEF funded Inform Project, implemented through UN Environment, which has supported and delivered several key targeted interventions to support environmental decision making in the region.

Cir#21/145: Final Combined Report of the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials, 7-9 September 2021 and Special SPREP Meeting,15 October 2021.

The Secretariat is pleased to attach the following reports for your information and record.

  1. Combined Report of the 30SM of Officials and Special SPREP Meeting; and
  2. The Approved 2022/2023 Work Programme and Budget
Cir#21/144: Launch of the first Pacific Climate Change Centre Open-Learning program under the PCCC e-Learning Platform. First Program: “Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction through structural approaches”.

The Secretariat is pleased to inform you that the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) launches their first Open-Learning program under the PCCC Project for Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific (CBCRP-PCCC). The Open-Learning program is designed primarily for entry-level to mid-level practitioners from governments and non-government institutions including the private sector and is open through self-registration on the PCCC e-Learning Platform.

Cir#21/143: Launch of the Interactive State of Environment (SOE) Webpage.

The Environmental Monitoring and Governance (EMG) Programme of SPREP is currently executing the GEF funded Inform Project, implemented through UN Environment, which has supported and delivered several key targeted interventions to support environmental decision making in the region.

Cir#21/142: Expression of Interest – Vanuatu C-band Weather Radar.

We are excited to inform you that the Vanuatu Climate Information Services for Resilient Development Project (Van-KIRAP) with the Climate Change Resilience Programme, is releasing the following Expression of Interest. The EOI aims to identify potential suppliers and service providers to supply, install, train, commission, handover the operation and maintenance to Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) and provide post installation support.

Cir#21/141: Pacific Region Agreement on Prevention of Pollution by Marine Litter and Microplastics.

Recalling the Noumea Convention COP16 Meeting where the development of a Regional Framework was agreed and the possibility of implementation by way of a Protocol discussed, the Secretariat is pleased to circulate a zero draft of potential elements, including sample text, for consideration towards the development of the draft Regional Framework. The draft Regional Framework would serve as the starting point for diplomatic negotiations for the Pacific Region, on marine litter and plastic pollution.

Cir#21/140: Invitation to the SIDS support webinar on IPCC AR6 WGII (Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability) Final Government Distribution (FGD) Review – November 18, 2021. Blended Platforms – Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) and Virtual.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) Pacific Climate Change Centre and Climate Analytics would like to warmly invite you to the fourth webinar in the series for the IPCC support project for SIDS.

Cir#21/139: Final Report of the Eleventh Conference of the Parties to the Waigani Convention

The Secretariat would like to thank you for your engagement in the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Waigani Convention (CoP 11) which was held virtually on the 3rd of September 2021.

Cir#21/138: Call to Register and Join the Pacific Conversation at the Third Clean Pacific RoundTable (CPRT) 2021

We have a few more weeks to the 3rd Clean Pacific Roundtable 2021 which will to be virtually held on the 16th – 25th November 2021. The Secretariat is pleased to inform you that REGISTRATION is still opened, and we encourage you to register and “Join in the Pacific Conversation”.

Cir#21/137: SPREP Meeting Communique.

The Secretariat would like to acknowledge the participation and engagement of the Ministers and High-Level representatives in the SPREP Ministers’ High-Level Talanoa “Accelerating Actions for a Resilient Blue Pacific”, held on 10 September 2021, which canvassed some of the most important challenges facing our region today.

Cir#21/134: Meeting Record and Summary of the Outcomes from the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Noumea Convention.

The Secretariat is pleased to attach the final Meeting Record and Summary of the Outcomes from the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Noumea Convention in both English and French languages.

Cir#21/133: Climate Information and Early Warning Systems, One Pacific Programme.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Pacific Programming dialogue in June 2021 provided a clear indication on its Pacific focus areas, namely:

  1. Marine and Coastal Eco-systems and Fisheries;
  2. Climate Information and Service; and
  3. Food, Agriculture and Water Security.
Cir#21/132: Climate Information and Early Warning Systems, One Pacific Programme.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Pacific Programming dialogue in June 2021 provided a clear indication on its Pacific focus, namely:

  1. Marine and Coastal Eco-systems and Fisheries;
  2. Climate Information and Service; and
  3. Food, Agriculture and Water Security

A stocktake of current similar projects /programmes in the climate information and service focus area under implementation includes the GCF-funded Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen blong Redy, Adapt mo Protekt (VAN-KiRAP), and Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for resilience in five island countries (Tuvalu, Marshal Islands, Cook Islands, Palau and Niue) in the Pacific Ocean, and the European Union (EDF-11) funded Intra ACP Climate Services and related applications in the Pacific ACP region.

Cir#21/131: Call for nominations: Pacific Climate Change Centre virtual training on “Enhancing Climate Resilience in Tourism in the Pacific” 24 January – 18 February 2022.

The Secretariat is pleased to inform you that nominations are being accepted for the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) eighth regional training on “Enhancing Climate Resilience in Tourism in the Pacific”. This training is a core activity of the PCCC Project for Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific (CBCRP-PCCC), to be delivered in collaboration with the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO). The training will be held from 24 January – 18 February 2022 through the PCCC e-learning platform. Kindly note that this training will be delivered in both English and French.

Cir#21/130: Information note on the Pacific Climate Change Centre schedule of training programs for 2022, implemented under the Project for Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific.

The Secretariat would like to advice you of the updated schedule of training programs for the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) in 2022. The training programs will be implemented under the PCCC Project for Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific” (CBCRP-PCCC) in partnership with the Government of Samoa and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Cir#21/129: Final Report – 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials.

The Secretariat is pleased to attach the Final report of the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials. The French version of this report will be shared as soon as available.

Cir#21/128: Pacific Region Agreement on Prevention of Pollution by Marine Litter and Microplastics.

The Secretariat is please to advise that the University of Wollongong, Australia, has been engaged to facilitate the development of a draft non-negotiated framework for the Pacific Region on marine litter and plastic pollution.