Cir#21/92: Call for nominations: Pacific Climate Change Centre virtual training on “Climate Resilience and Food Production Systems – Agriculture and Coastal Fisheries”, 20 September – 15 October 2021.

We are pleased to inform you that nominations are being accepted for the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) seventh regional training on “Climate Resilience and Food Production Systems – Agriculture and Coastal Fisheries”. This training is a core activity of the Project for Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific (CBCRP-PCCC), and it will be delivered in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The training will be held from 20 September – 15 October 2021, through the PCCC e-learning platform.

Cir#21/90: Information update on the Kiwa Initiative funding opportunities and technical assistance programme provided by SPREP to its Members

The Kiwa Initiative is a multi-donor programme that aims to strengthen climate change adaptation and resilience of Pacific Island countries, ecosystems, and communities through Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) by protecting, sustainably managing and restoring biodiversity.

L'Initiative Kiwa est un programme multi-bailleurs qui vise à renforcer la résilience au changement climatique des écosystèmes, des communautés et des économies des îles du Pacifique grâce aux Solutions Fondées sur la Nature (SFN).

Cir#21/89: Pacific Declaration on Plastics

The deadline for input and comments on the draft Pacific Declaration on Plastics is now extended to 25 August 2021. As noted in our earlier Circular 21/ 81 dated 5 August 2021, the Secretariat hopes to finalise the draft with a view to tabling the Regional Declaration on Plastics for endorsement at the Environment Ministers’ High-Level Talanoa on the 10th of September ahead of the 5th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 5.2) in February 2022.

Cir#21/88: Correction: Dates of the 30 SPREP Meeting and associated Meetings.

Further to circular 21/65 of 6 July 2021, please note the correct dates for the 30 SPREP Meeting and associated meetings are listed below:

  • 2 September 2021 – Noumea Convention
  • 3 September 2021 – Waigani Convention
  • 7 – 9 September 2021 – Meeting of Officials
  • 10 September 2021 – Ministerial High Level Talanoa
Cir#21/87: Logistical arrangements for the 30th SPREP Meeting and associated meetings.

Further to circular 21/76 of 23 July 2021, please find below further updates and additional information for the 30 SPREP Meeting and associated meetings.

Cir#21/86: Invitation for funding support under the SWAP Project (Committing to Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific) for the International Coastal Cleanup Day 18th September 2021.

Every year, on the third Saturday in September, the International Coastal Cleanup Day is celebrated. This is the single largest coastal Cleanup day in the world, and 2021 will mark the 35th year of the ICCD in action. In 2019, more than 940,000 volunteers from all around the world removed over 16 million pounds of trash along 24,500 miles of beaches and waterways. Over the last almost 35 years, more than 50 million volunteers removed more than 280 000 tons of trash in 180 countries around the world.

Cir#21/85: Innovative Logo Design Competition for the Pacific Climate Change Centre.

We are pleased to inform you that the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) invites entries for the design of a logo for the PCCC. The PCCC is a regional Centre of Excellence and hub for climate change information, capacity building, research, and innovation. The PCCC is highly valued by our Pacific islands, as it provides practical support, knowledge, and training to address their adaptation and mitigation priorities and challenges. It is underpinned by strong partnerships with Pacific Governments, applied research institutions, donors, civil society, and the private sector.

Cir#21/83: Invitation to attend the "SPREP PACRES Steering Committee Virtual Meeting", 31 August 2021

The Intra ACP GCCA+ Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change and Resilience Building (PACRES) Project will convene its virtual Steering Committee Meeting on Tuesday 31st August 2021 from 1.00pm-3.00pm Samoa Standard Time.

Cir#21/84: UNFCCC COP26 PSIDS Participation and Travel Assessment Brief

The Secretariat wishes to submit for your information the UNFCCC COP26 PSIDS participation and travel assessment brief that has been prepared by SPREP.

Cir#21/82: Invitation: Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the Third Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, 17 – 18 August 2021.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) will convene a regional preparatory meeting for the Third Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to be held virtually from 17 – 18 August, 2021 from 12:00pm – 4:30pm (Samoa time).

Cir#21/81: Pacific Declaration on Plastics.

In response to on-going regional concerns about the disproportionate impact of plastics and increasing inflows of plastics into the region, there is a growing call from Pacific islands countries and territories for a regional position on plastic pollution that supports a legally binding global plastics treaty. SPREP and Partners, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL), have been working to support countries to draft this regional plastics Declaration.

Cir#21/80: Environmental Monitoring and Governance Webinar on Inform E-Learning to Decision Platform.

The SPREP-led webinar series, “Our Pacific Environment in a COVID-19 World” is pleased to announce the webinar which will be facilitated by the Environmental Monitoring and Governance Programme of SPREP titled “Inform, e-learning to Decision” The webinar is part of the Inform Project activity for the 14 Pacific Island countries.

 

Cir#21/79: AWARD OF CONSULTANCY TO REVIEW THE NOUMEA CONVENTION AND RELATED PROTOCOLS.

Recalling the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Noumea Convention (COP15) held on 29 August 2019, the Parties agreed for the Secretariat to carry out a review of the Noumea Convention. The Secretariat, through the procurement process awarded the consultancy contract to Mr. David Sheppard of David Sheppard Global Environment Consulting Pty Ltd., in Australia to review the Noumea Convention.

 

 

Cir#21/78: Introducing new staff.

We are pleased to announce the following appointments within the Secretariat.

Cir#21/77: Vacancy

Application are invited for the following position that is being advertised with SPREP Apia, Samoa;

1. Climate Change Adviser (CCA)

The closing date for applications is as follows;

  • Friday, 27 August 2021
Climate Change Adviser
Cir#21/76: Working Papers for the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials.

Further to Circular 21/65 of 6 July 2021, please be advised that the Working Papers for the upcoming 30SM of Officials are now available as of Friday 23rd July on the SPREP website via: https://www.sprep.org. These are available in both English and French for viewing and downloading.

Cir#21/75: Invitation to HydroMet Pacific Talanoa and Exhibition Event on Technology and Innovation: Blended Platforms – Pacific Climate Change Centre and Virtual (via Zoom).

We are delighted to invite you to the HydroMet Pacific Talanoa and Exhibition Event, that will include the display and dialogue around the latest Technology and Innovation in hydrology and meteorology.

Cir#21/74: WORKING PAPERS FOR THE ELEVENTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE WAIGANI CONVENTION.

The Secretariat of the Waigani Convention wishes to advise you that the Working Papers for the upcoming Eleventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) are now finalized and available for viewing. These can be accessed on the SPREP website via https://www.sprep.org/30th-sprep-meeting-2021.

Cir#21/73: WORKING PAPERS FOR THE SIXTEENTH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE NOUMEA CONVENTION (COP-16).

The Secretariat of the Noumea Convention wishes to advise that the Working Papers for the upcoming Sixteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) are now finalised and available for viewing. These are available in both English and French languages and can be accessed on the SPREP website: https://www.sprep.org/30th-sprep-meeting-2021.  

Cir#21/72: Draft Provisional Agenda for the SPREP Environment Ministers’ High-Level Talanoa, 10 September 2021.

Further to Circular 21/65 of 6 July 2021, please find attached the draft provisional agenda for the SPREP Environment Ministers’ High-Level Talanoa to convene virtually on 10 September 2021. The Secretariat invites Members’ comments and feedback to the agenda.

Cir#21/71: Natural Solutions Pacific Letter on SPREP Partner Survey for the Third Independent Corporate Review of SPREP and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026.

Further to Circulars 21/47 and 21/69 on the Third Independent Corporate Review of SPREP
and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026, please find attached a letter
from the SPREP Independent Review Team Project Director, Dr Russell Howorth of Natural
Solutions Pacific inviting Partners to complete a survey using the platform SurveyMonkey.

Cir#21/70: Natural Solutions Pacific Letter on SPREP Members Survey for the Third Independent Corporate Review of SPREP and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026.

Further to Circulars 21/47 and 21/58 on the Third Independent Corporate Review of SPREP
and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026, please find attached a letter
from the SPREP Independent Review Team Project Director, Dr Russell Howorth of Natural
Solutions Pacific inviting Partners to complete a survey using the platform of SurveyMonkey.

Cir#21/69: Natural Solutions Pacific Letter on SPREP Partner Consultations for the Third Independent Corporate Review of SPREP and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026.

Further to Circular 21/47 on the update of the Third Independent Corporate Review of SPREP
and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026, please find attached a letter
from the SPREP Independent Review Team Project Director, Dr Russell Howorth of Natural
Solutions Pacific.

Cir#21/68: Invitation to attend the “SPREP PACRES Steering Committee Meeting”, 27 July 2021 – Pacific Climate Change Centre and Virtual (via Zoom).

The Intra ACP GCCA+ Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change and Resilience Building (PACRES) Project will convene its virtual Steering Committee Meeting on Tuesday 27th July 2021 from 1.00pm-4.00pm Samoa Standard Time.

Cir#21/67: Vacancies

Applications are invited for the following positions that are being advertised within SPREP Apia, Samoa:

  1. Project Manager - Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP)
  2. Marine Pollution Officer – PACPLAN Project (MPO)

The closing date for applications is: Friday, 6 August 2021

Marine Pollution Officer – PACPLAN Project (MPO)
Cir#21/66: CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – COP 26 POLITICAL CLIMATE CHAMPIONS.

Recognising the capacity constraints faced by Pacific Island Countries to meaningfully engage at the highest political level at recent UNFCCC COPs, the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in 2020:

  • “Tasked the Forum Secretariat and the One CROP+ team to progress the appropriate advocacy initiatives for stronger political engagement and advocacy in the lead up to and at COP26”; and
  • “Supported the need for consistent senior Pacific political representation for the duration of COP26 negotiations, including clarity on the role of political champions, and tasked the One CROP+ team to explore funding opportunities to ensure this”.
Cir#21/65: Invitations and Arrangements – 30 SPREP Meeting and Associated Meetings from 2 – 9 September 2021, Virtual meeting.

Further to Circular 21/12 of 4 March 2021, we are pleased to extend an invitation to attend the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials and Associated Meetings to be held virtually from 2 – 9 September 2021.

Cir#21/64: Invitation: 1st Pacific Islands Bat Forum, 10 – 14 August 2021.

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), in collaboration with the Australasian Bat Society and other regional partners will be convening the 1st Pacific Islands Bat Forum to be held virtually from 10 – 14 August 2021 at 9:00am – 1:15pm (Vanuatu time).

Cir#21/63: SPREP Published Knowledge Resources: April-June (Qtr. 2) 2021 Update.

To ensure that you receive the latest and most recent information on SPREP publications, knowledge products and resources, please find attached the second quarterly update of SPREP’s published knowledge resources for your information and use.

Cir#21/62: Melanesia Consultations for the SPREP Independent Corporate Review and Mid-Term Review of the SPREP Stategic Plan 2017-2026

Further to Circulars 21/55 and 21/58, this serves to inform you that the Independent Review Team of Natural Solutions Pacific have advised the Secretariat that they will be conducting country consultations through separate meetings and interviews, rather then hosting a virtual consultation workshop for the Melanesia Region, initially scheduled for this Wednesday 7 July 2021.