15 May 2015, Apia, Samoa, PCCR - Speed dating at the marketplace, was on the agenda for the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable, speed dating for climate change solutions that is.
A special evening event brought delegates together with development partners and the private sector in a market place atmosphere whereby delegates were able to spend time with each other to discuss future opportunities, with a twist. The event was coordinated like an evening of speed dating.
Facilitated by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Enterprise for International Cooperation (GIZ) joint Programme, Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (ACSE), the Speed Dating for Climate Change Solutions was a highlight of the PCCR for many.
"This is a crucial year for climate change and disaster risk reduction, and the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable is an important dialogue in moving towards the COP 21 meeting in Paris. This informal event gives countries the opportunity to see what development partners can offer," said Mr Jesus Lavina Richi, the First Secretary for the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, during the opening of the event.
"While this event may be informal, Pacific island countries can be reassured that the European Union is lobbying for a legally binding agreement," he said.
The Climate Change Market Place came about through feedback from the island states at previous roundtables who wanted the opportunity to talk directly with development partners.
The first time "speed dating" happened was at the PCCR in Niue 2011, where development partners set up tables and Pacific island country officials were able to move from table to table and network directly with them, to find the partner who could best match their country's climate change needs.
For the first time this year, the private sector has also been represented by a company from Fiji who can help countries with their renewable energy needs.
"We are pleased that the private sector was a part of this event, it has helped strengthen this activity. We really wanted to bring countries together with development partners in an informal setting so they can nurture their networks and strengthen relationships," said Mr. Kosi Latu, the Deputy Director-General of SPREP.
"We hope from this that people return home and find further opportunities from this activity"
The Pacific Climate Change Roundtable is held from 12 – 14 May in Apia, Samoa. The event in its current format has been held since 2008 on a biannual basis coordinated by SPREP in partnership with others and is coordinated by SPREP with the guidance from a steering committee.
The PCCR has been made possible with support from the Government of Switzerland, Government of Samoa, Government of Australia, European Union, GIZ, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Pacific Council of Churches (PCC). Additional funding support was provided by the EU-GIZ Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (ACSE) Programme, and Climate Analytics through its High Level Support Mechanism (HLSM) project as well as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). #pccr2015
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