16 November 2022, Sharm El-Sheikh - The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) on the margins of the COP27 Meetings of the Parties on Climate Change in Sharm El Shiekh, hosted a side event at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, highlighting its efforts to support the Pacific to Access Climate Innovative Solutions.
Tonga’s Minister for the Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti personalised his opening remarks reflecting on the powerful underwater volcanic eruption that blanketed his home island Tonga with ash and devastating tsunami.
The challenges involved in responding to disaster underscores the need for innovative approaches and enabling capacity in the current state of climate emergency as declared by the Pacific Island leaders.
He said that at COP27, the survival of the Pacific people, livelihood, culture, and well being is being negotiated and reiterated our Pacific leader’s call for a loss and damage financing to be part of the long-term solution.
Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Mr. Sefanaia Nawadra reflected on the function of the PCCC to support innovation and how the event will further lead to the formulation of an innovation partnership framework for the Pacific.
This was the a key outcome from the first Pacific Virtual Climate Innovation Exhibition hosted by the PCCC from 4 – 6 October 2022.The exhibition saw 400 registrants and 640 virtual exhibition booth visits. The exhibition was a platform that brought those with the challenges and those with the solutions into the same space to dialogue and share knowledge.
The innovation partnership framework once developed will lead to the formulation of innovative climate change products and services available in the Pacific Islands region, improved access to funding for innovation solution and responses to climate change, and more private sector engagement on climate finance opportunities.
Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre, Ms. ‘Ofa Ma’asi-Kaisamy,reiterated both the sentiments of the Honorable Minister for Finance of Tonga and Director General of SPREP stating that the Pacific Islands need novel, useful, and sustainable innovative solutions to strengthen the resilience of Pacific people to climate change.
She also introduced the newly approved Project on Capacity Building Supporting the Pacific to Access Climate Innovative Solutions, funded by the Government of Japan through JICA in partnership with the Government of Samoa and the Pacific Climate Change Centre. The new project is due to start implementation in 2023.
The event featured examples of innovative solutions being developed in the Pacific Islands. The speakers were from the Fiji Electric Vehicle Public Transport sector, the Niue Ocean Conservation Credit, and the Carbon/NBS Project Development in Tonga.
The panel presentation brought to light the innovative solutions and opportunities for the Pacific and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the climate innovation space. SPREP through the PCCC will use the event to forge partnerships and develop the innovation partnership strategic framework for the region.
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The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) is the regional Centre of excellence for climate change information, research, capacity building, and innovation, hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Apia, Samoa. As a Centre of excellence, the PCCC is mandated to provide practical information, support, and training to address the adaptation and mitigation priorities of Pacific Island communities.
The PCCC is underpinned by strong partnerships with Pacific Governments, applied research institutions, donors, civil society, and the private sector. The PCCC is a partnership between the Governments of Japan and Samoa. It is funded under grant aid through JICA for Samoa as the host country of SPREP. Additionally, the Centre receives generous funding and support from the Governments of New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia.
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