Climate Change Resilience
Just weeks away from the next UN Climate Change negotiations, the Pacific islands are completing a final round of strategising and preparation for the event with a special meeting in Samoa for Pacific island ministers, high-level political representatives and their senior officials.
Known as the High Level Support Mechanism, the three-day meeting helped Pacific island delegations prepare for the twenty-second Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP22) to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco from 7 – 18 November, 2016.
"This is our fifth HLSM event since 2013 and our second since the Paris Agreement made history at COP21 in Paris, last year. Even though that major feat was achieved, the work is still ongoing as all parties to the UNFCCC continue to negotiate under a number of different issues, including how to implement the Paris Agreement," said Dr Netatua Pelesikoti, the Director of Climate Change of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Participants of the High Level Support Mechanism at Taumeasina Island Resort. Photo: SPREP
"Years of negotiations have led to the Paris Agreement, now we have achieved that; there are some new 'landscapes' that we are now approaching. So while we are strengthening our knowledge for COP22, countries will also be using this information to help implement climate change activities at home."
Pacific participants at the HLSM have been provided with an update on the status of international climate change negotiations which have been underway during the year with meetings of UNFCCC subsidiary bodies, discussed regional plans to support Pacific implementation of the Paris Agreement, and helped to prepare for COP22 in Marrakesh
The High Level Support Mechanism is a culmination of successful partnerships working together to help build the capacity of Pacific islands to participate in climate change negotiations.
"We've seen the impact of these HLSM events at the UN Climate Change negotiations - that they are making a difference for the Pacific island delegates, they have helped build the confidence of Pacific island delegations while they negotiate with global players. You can see this in the results of the climate negotiations themselves," said Dr Pelesikoti.
Working in groups as part of preparations for COP22. Photo: SPREP
The Pacific activities are implemented by SPREP in partnership with Climate Analytics and Charles and Associates and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
This week in Samoa, representatives from the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, United Nations Development Programme, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Pacific Islands Development Forum and the University of the South Pacific are also attending.
There are nine countries participating including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu with Minister Hon Charmaine Scotty from Nauru, H.E Reteta Rimon the Kiribati High Commissioner to Fiji and Vanuatu's Special Envoy on Climate Change, and Member of Parliament Hon Albert Williams.
The HLSM was held 27 – 29 September, 2016 in Apia Samoa.
Known as the High Level Support Mechanism, the three-day meeting helped Pacific island delegations prepare for the twenty-second Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP22) to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco from 7 – 18 November, 2016.
"This is our fifth HLSM event since 2013 and our second since the Paris Agreement made history at COP21 in Paris, last year. Even though that major feat was achieved, the work is still ongoing as all parties to the UNFCCC continue to negotiate under a number of different issues, including how to implement the Paris Agreement," said Dr Netatua Pelesikoti, the Director of Climate Change of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Participants of the High Level Support Mechanism at Taumeasina Island Resort. Photo: SPREP"Years of negotiations have led to the Paris Agreement, now we have achieved that; there are some new 'landscapes' that we are now approaching. So while we are strengthening our knowledge for COP22, countries will also be using this information to help implement climate change activities at home."
Pacific participants at the HLSM have been provided with an update on the status of international climate change negotiations which have been underway during the year with meetings of UNFCCC subsidiary bodies, discussed regional plans to support Pacific implementation of the Paris Agreement, and helped to prepare for COP22 in Marrakesh
The High Level Support Mechanism is a culmination of successful partnerships working together to help build the capacity of Pacific islands to participate in climate change negotiations.
"We've seen the impact of these HLSM events at the UN Climate Change negotiations - that they are making a difference for the Pacific island delegates, they have helped build the confidence of Pacific island delegations while they negotiate with global players. You can see this in the results of the climate negotiations themselves," said Dr Pelesikoti.
Working in groups as part of preparations for COP22. Photo: SPREPThe Pacific activities are implemented by SPREP in partnership with Climate Analytics and Charles and Associates and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
This week in Samoa, representatives from the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, United Nations Development Programme, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Pacific Islands Development Forum and the University of the South Pacific are also attending.
There are nine countries participating including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu with Minister Hon Charmaine Scotty from Nauru, H.E Reteta Rimon the Kiribati High Commissioner to Fiji and Vanuatu's Special Envoy on Climate Change, and Member of Parliament Hon Albert Williams.
The HLSM was held 27 – 29 September, 2016 in Apia Samoa.