Opening statement to the 22nd SPREP Meeting from David Sheppard, Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
Reverend Benjamin Tapelu
Honourable Prime Minister of Samoa
Honourable Ministers of the Government of Samoa
Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps
Honourable Ministers from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, French Polynesia and Federated States of Micronesia
Ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you Reverend Tapelu for your uplifting spiritual words this evening, you have got us off to a great start.
Thank you Prime Minister for honoring us with your presence tonight and for making time in your busy schedule to open this years' SPREP meeting
We look forward to your opening address.
I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone to this Official Opening Ceremony. I hope your journey to our shores was a safe one, and thank you for making the time to attend this very important meeting.
I am well aware this is a hectic time for all of us working in the environmental field and that you are all busy people.
This is my third SPREP meeting since returning as Director.
Last years' SPREP meeting set a clear direction for SPREP for the next 5 years in addressing environmental issues in the Pacific. This has been possible by having many more paddlers – our partners – to help us move the SPREP canoe forward.
The environmental challenges in our region are immense and they are growing.
Last week's Pacific Islands Forum meeting in New Zealand reinforced climate change as the over arching challenge facing Pacific countries and territories.
Many of us gathered in Niue in March this year for the 3rd Pacific Climate Change Roundtable Meeting. We were able to see at first hand the immediate impacts of climate change and extreme weather events, in particular the impacts of Cyclone Heta in 2004.
Climate Change is not just an environmental issue – it is an issue of survival with immense social, economic and moral dimensions.
Although our region contributes to only 0.03% of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, our countries are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
There is a need to act decisively – and to act now. Many Pacific countries and territories have risen to the challenge and are taking major and positive steps. We have heard about many of these steps today at the first ever Pacific Environment Forum.
The Prime Minister of Tonga in his address to the Forum last week noted countries of the Pacific region have collectively committed that by 2020 50% of the region's energy will be from renewable energy.
We call on donors and partners to increase their support for Pacific countries in ensuring these targets are met.
The SPREP and UNDP PACC Project – Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change is now starting to demonstrate many practical outcomes which are helping Pacific Countries and Territories to adapt to climate change, particularly in sectors such as food security, health and agriculture. In a word of one of the delegates to the Niue Roundtable: "PACC is working". We need to build on this success and it is very positive to see donors such as Australia and the United States as announced last week at the Forum, helping Pacific countries adapt to climate change by building on the PACC process and priorities.
Another positive trend has been to link climate change adaptation with disaster risk reduction and we applaud the efforts of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tonga and other countries in developing Joint National Action Strategies and policies which link these key issues.
Climate Change is an issue for which our region requires support from the international community.
Pacific Environment and Finance Ministers met in Apia in July this year and welcomed new developments with climate financing such as the Cancun Green Fund and the associated Transnational Committee.
However, they urged developed countries to meet their commitments, particularly under the Copenhagen Accord and its associated fast start mechanism.
Forum leaders last week also emphasized that funding for climate change must flow more effectively and quickly to support Pacific island countries and territories to adapt to climate change.
We need to continue to exert pressure for a legally binding agreement to address climate change and specifically to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Change meeting in Durban in November this year is a vital step towards this goal.
Failure of the international climate processes is not an option for us in the Pacific. We need an outcome that guarantees a firm legal and institutional framework for action now, and for the future.
The loss of biodiversity remains a major challenge for Pacific countries and territories. The Biodiversity Convention meeting in Nagoya last year, CBD COP 10 was attended by many Pacific countries. We worked hard together under the umbrella theme of the Pacific voyage. The efforts of many in this room ensured the Pacific voice was heard, and heard loudly.
Ambassador Feturi from Samoa reminded us at the Niue Climate Change Roundtable meeting that: "no-one has a monopoly on good ideas." We applied this principle at the CBD COP 10 meeting last year. Wide ranging input from SPREP members and partners ensured the Pacific voyage was a resounding success.
Biodiversity is essential for life in Pacific islands, it provides our food, our shelter, and underpins our livelihoods.
Biodiversity of Pacific island countries is being lost at alarming rates and the rate of biodiversity loss in our region is among the highest in the world for some species. Threats such as deforestation, overfishing, and invasive species must be addressed as a priority.
SPREP has expanded its programmes on biodiversity over the last year on land and at sea.
We have been pleased to support the Oceanscape proposal put forward by President Tong from Kiribati to ensure the better sustainable management and conservation of our precious Pacific ocean – the lifeblood of this region.
We commend the Cook Islands Govt. for its announcement last week to declare 50% of it's EEZ as a Marine Protected Area.
We have responded to Member requests to assist with the reduction of waste and pollution in Pacific countries and territories. Partnerships and tangible support from the Governments of Japan and France is starting to make a difference in addressing the challenge of waste and pollution in our region.
A wise person once said: "if you want to run fast you go alone, if you want to go far you go together."
SPREP aims to go far, and partnership has been fundamental to SPREP's change management process over the last few years.
We are pleased to welcome 40 observers to this years' SPREP meeting and we would like you to know how much we value our joint work together. Thank you.
Environmental challenges in the Pacific are enormous and we must all paddle together and in the same direction if these challenges are to be effectively addressed.
We are pleased to have increased our partnerships so SPREP can better implement our Strategic Plan. We particularly welcome the announcement at the Forum last week, from the United Kingdom that they will shortly apply to be a member of SPREP.
We have taken a different approach to this years' SPREP Meeting with the inclusion of a Pacific Environment Forum which aims to increase the technical content and focus of the meeting. I am pleased that today's forum has been a great success with excellent discussion and suggestions.
Over the coming week we will be reporting to this meeting on many positive developments with SPREP over the last year. In particular we have increased the range and scope of our activities in member countries and SPREP is becoming a more effective and dynamic organization better able to serve our members.
We are pleased to have passed the recent EU Audit and appreciated their positive comments on SPREP's financial management and governance.
We have an important week ahead of us. We look forward to receiving the benefit of your collective wisdom and guidance as we move forward together on this path.
In closing I would like to acknowledge the hard work of SPREP staff, over the last year. I feel honored and very fortunate to be able to lead such a team of competent and hardworking men and women.
Many of you have had the opportunity to work directly with our staff members.
We look forward to strengthening the bonds of this relationship and our friendship over the coming week and beyond.
Thank you to the many donors and partners of SPREP. Your support is greatly appreciated and deeply valued.
I applaud the efforts of SPREP Members to ensure a better Pacific environment is passed on to our children and future generations.
Sincere thanks are due to our host country. Samoa is a beautiful country and I hope you will be able to visit some of its sites and attractions. SPREP is indeed fortunate to be so generously and graciously hosted by the Government of Samoa. We deeply appreciate this support and generosity.
Thank you Prime Minister for your continued and strong support for SPREP over many years.
I look forward to a positive, busy and enjoyable week together.
Thank you, Fa'afetai lava