New Climate Change Unit for Niue

18 September, 2013, Apia Samoa, 24SM - A Climate Change unit based at the Department of Environment has been approved for the Island of Niue. This new division will be responsible for all matters relating to climate change, including the implementation of the Joint National Action Plan of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (JNAP).

The JNAP for Niue is now complete and in the final stages of printing.

Mr. Sauni Tongatule, head of the Department of Niue addressing the floor at the 24th SPREP Meeting

"I think things have moved forward in terms of some of the activities that address climate change and disaster risk management together, I think the crucial thing now is that we finally have agreed for a central agency to drive the JNAP," said Sauni Tongatule head of the Department of Environment of Niue.

"We have support from the European Union through the SOPAC Division of SPC to establish this division, it's really well received. It's always good to have official endorsement from government to give us that extra support to seek resources."

If everything goes to plan, Niue will be one of the first countries to begin their consultations for the Roadmap process. These consultations aim to engage stakeholders in Niue in the development of the Regional Strategy to integrate climate change and disaster risk management as one. This follows on from a regional joint Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Conference in Fiji in July, in which countries endorsed this process.

The process towards developing an integrated strategy for submission for high level endorsement requires first, that countries are engaged by leading consultations internally which will help inform the actual final product. One of the foundations of this process is that it is country driven, hence the consultative process in country.

This Roadmap consultation process in Niue will be led by the new climate change unit.

"There needs to be a clear roadmap for everyone to follow, in particular the communities as there are a lot of activities that are not well coordinated, the Roadmap process and the actual integrated strategy will provide the necessary guidance and support required. It is timely that the JNAP document is finalised for distribution, the commencement of the Roadmap consultations in country are happening at the same time that our government endorses new climate change unit that will help ensure a coordinated approach."

Niue is represented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in Apia, Samoa from 17 to 19 September, chaired by the Government of Nauru and brings together 24 of the 26 members of SPREP, including the newest member, the Government of the United Kingdom.