By Gustava Esther Pavihi, TV Niue
More than twenty young people from across the Pacific are in Samoa this week for the first Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage with the theme ‘Providing our Pacific youth with the safe space to navigate our Pacific future”.
Pastor Junior Gaia of the SDA Church delivered a poignant message to start the two day dialogue calling on young people to “Be the Noahs of our time’’ a biblical story familiar to every Pacific island child.
Through this message, Pastor Gaia encouraged the participants to not just be informed, but to transform because climate change is a present emergency and it touches every facet of our daily lives from language and culture, to mental health.
In her opening remarks, SPREP Climate Change Director, Ms Tagaloa Cooper promised the young delegates “Your voice will be heard”, a message that was well received by the participants.
Charlotte Magatogia from Niue said: “I think that the message that came out today is that our opinion and our thoughts going forward are valued by those in leadership currently and it really does again reflect the assurance that we will be heard and change will be made and things that we want to see in place, and solutions that will help shape our future and relevant to our island realities.”
Japheth James Gai from Papua New Guinea said: “This is the voice of the Pacific, not only in our local community level but basically going international, the youth voice as a collaborative voice for the Pacific islands and what we can bring to the international stage. And tell them that the Pacific, we are not only small nations, we are a collaborative and powerful voice as well.”
Pacific island cultures and traditions are at stake, says Kenley Kenneth, of Palau: “It is very important that young people are aware of just how important loss and damage is, not only for the Pacific region but in a global scale as well. Loss and damage refers to the economic and non economic loss which refers not only to economic livelihood but our cultures and traditions at stake.”
At the end of discussions tomorrow, the youth delegates will select representatives to deliver any outcomes positions or messages from the youth dialogue to the first Regional Dialogue on Loss and Damage and the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable next week.
The inaugural Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage, guided by the theme “Navigating our Future” is held from 7- 8 August, Taumeasina Resort, Samoa. This precedes the Pacific Regional Loss and Damage Dialogue 2025 to be held from 11-12 August at the same venue in Samoa.
The inaugural Pacific Youth Dialogue on Loss and Damage and the Pacific Regional Loss and Damage Dialogue 2025 are made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.
Hosted by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the dialogues bring together Pacific governments, youths, civil society, academia, NGOs, and the private sector to collectively advance the region’s priorities on Loss and damage.
This story was produced by the Pacific Media Team covering the meetings. Their attendance is made possible with funding support from the Loss and Damage Capability and Capacity (LDCC) Project with the Government of New Zealand.
For more information, please contact SPREP Climate Change Adaptation Adviser, Ms Filomena Nelson [email protected] , SPREP Climate Change Loss and Damage Officer, Ms Jessica Rodham [email protected] or Media and Public Relations Officer, Mr Keni Lesa [email protected]