4 December 2024, Apia, Samoa – The climate crisis continues to present unprecedented challenges to countries across the Pacific, threatening livelihoods, food security, biodiversity and cultural heritage. Given the vast space of oceans and ecosystems of the Blue Pacific, adaptive and innovative solutions are urgently needed to drive sustainability and resilience in the Pacific.
On 4 December 2024, the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) kicked off a pioneering innovation exhibition showcasing technologies and solutions aimed at tackling the most pressing climate challenges facing the region. The hybrid event, with local hubs based in Samoa and Kiribati, brought together climate change practitioners, researchers and innovators to present new approaches for climate resilience and sustainability.
The PCCC a hub for climate action in the Pacific, hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Centre promotes the sharing of knowledge, training, and technology. It is instrumental in coordinating regional responses, pooling resources, and scaling up successful adaptation strategies.
PCCC Manager, Ms Ofa Ma’asi-Kaisamy welcomed the participants and highlighted the need to pool expertise, perspectives, and resources to support climate solutions.
“Our shared objective is clear, bring forth solutions that will strengthen climate resilience and foster sustainable development in the Pacific. However, these solutions will only succeed if a supportive and enabling environment is established for their growth and flourishing”, she said.
The two-day event convenes stakeholders from diverse sectors—policy, business, science, and local communities—to drive collaborative action. Through expert presentations, panel discussions, and innovation showcases, the exhibition highlighted groundbreaking approaches tailored to the Pacific's unique environmental, social, and economic contexts.
Key topics include sustainable tourism, climate-smart agriculture, water security, renewable energy, and innovative climate finance.
The exhibition includes sessions designed to foster exchange of ideas and strategies that blend modern technologies, new financing mechanisms and partnerships with traditional knowledge.
SPREP Director for Climate Change Resilience, Ms Tagaloa Cooper, put into perspective the need for solutions applicable and relevant to a Pacific context. “You cannot build resilience without being innovative. Climate adaptation and mitigation continue to evolve, so innovative ideas are critical to ensure resilience building evolves. Innovation is about turning ides into solutions. Ideas that are useful for our Pacific communities, relevant and fit for purpose”.
“There is no point in showcasing ideas that are not fit for our climate, our populations, our cultures and our geographical location. The point of this exhibition is to find ideas that are scalable, replicable and affordable for our people”, Ms Cooper said.
The innovation exhibition is a key component under the Project for Innovative Solutions for Pacific Climate Change Resilience, aimed to strengthen the innovation function of the PCCC, and implemented in partnership between SPREP, the Government of Samoa and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Resident Representative of the JICA Samoa Office, Ms. Yumiko Asakuma, expressed gratitude to the participants and acknowledged the importance of the exhibition for fostering collaboration with the Pacific. “The innovation exhibition will be the platform to generate new ideas and knowledge to address climate change. I believe this will also contribute to further partnership among Pacific islands, SPREP and Japan”.
Representatives from the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and Samoa also expressed their gratitude for the exhibition to bring forth meaningful climate change solutions for further investment into building the resilience of the Pacific region.
The innovation exhibition marks a significant milestone in the fight against climate change. As the region faces increasing environmental pressures, events like this highlight the power of innovation and collaboration in creating a more sustainable and resilient future for all. As the exhibition kicked off, participants were also reminded of the importance of continuing the dialogue and building on the solutions developed, ensuring that the Pacific remains at the forefront of climate action.
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 and Australia.
For more information please contact PCCC Manager, Ms Ofa Kaisamy-Ma’asi at [email protected]