Handshakes upon signing of agreement
Photo: CHICHAP
28 January 2013, Taro, Choiseul Province - Today in Taro, the capital of Choiseul Province in the Solomon Islands, over 100 representatives from communities, provincial and national governments joined development partners to witness the formation of a new partnership for climate change adaptation in the province.
The partnership is known as the Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Programme. It aims to increase the resilience of Choiseul Province against climate change and natural disasters, enhance food security and strengthen the resilience of natural ecosystems.
“What is special about this project is that it is an innovative partnership approach and I congratulate the Solomon Islands Government who brought together all the programme partners,” said Mr. David Sheppard, the Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), who was in Taro this week to mark the occasion.
“Not all climate change projects work together and coordinate as well as they could. In Choiseul we are trying to link all our efforts and bring together climate change adaptation, disaster risk management and food security issues.”
An Ecosystem based Adaptation Project in Choiseul, coordinated by SPREP and funded by USAID, is part of the new partnership.
Luke Pitakoe is Secretary of the Lauru Land Conference, a long established organisation representing the traditional land owners in Choiseul.
“It is a very special time that we have here, when so many people come to join us. It is very important to us Lauru people. We have seen the problems of climate change with our own eyes. It is a threat to our lives,” said Mr. Pitakoe.
Speaking about adaptation, Mr. Pitakoe said, “It is important to know what we are going to do - the rise of the sea has already touched the soil and destroyed our properties. Our people are very concerned.”
Local ownership of climate change adaptation projects is seen as vital to their success in Choiseul. The Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Programme can only gain from the leadership of the Provincial Government and Lauru Land Conference and from the support of local churches and communities.
“This is your project and we are excited to be a part of this innovative collaboration,” said Mr. Sheppard to the representatives from all the different partnering groups in Choiseul.
The Choiseul Integrated Climate Change Programme partners are: Secretariat of the Pacific Community; Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Programme; The Nature Conservancy, and the United Nations Development Program.
For more information please contact Mr. Carlo Iacovino, Project Communications Officer – [email protected]