Climate Change Resilience
A ground-breaking Letter of Agreement has been signed between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to support the development of urgently needed climate change adaptation activities.
The formal Agreement will see SPREP provide capacity development and technical advisory support to the Marshall Islands to develop concepts and project proposals for submission to the Adaptation Fund Board.
In November 2013, SPREP was accredited as a Regional Implementing Entity (RIE) under the Kyoto Protocol Adaptation Fund of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC). This milestone accreditation has made SPREP one of only three such RIEs in the world.
With the signing of this Agreement, the Marshall Islands has become the secondSPREP Member country to officially engage with SPREP in its capacity as RIE.
In Majuro, Foreign Minister from the Republic of Marshall Islands, The Hon. Tony de Brum, talked about the impetus for the agreement:
"Through the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project, we have seen many successful activities undertaken here in the Marshall islands to better defend us from climate impacts and threats. With this important project drawing to a close at the end of the year, we feel a strong sense of urgency to upscale this vital work. I'm very pleased to be signing this Agreement which will see the Marshall Islands benefit from the expertise and support of SPREP to apply for funding for this crucial work to continue."
At the October 6 signing, Director General of SPREP, Mr David Sheppard, said that it was fitting for the Agreement to be formalised in Majuro following the close of the highly successful 25th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme:
"This Letter of Agreement is a critical first step in cementing our mutual understanding and to formalising our commitment to work together to develop concepts and proposals for submission to the Adaptation Fund Board."
Some of the most urgent and immediate activities which will be developed for funding submission will centre
around improving water security and responding to accelerated sea level rise, particularly in the outer atolls of the Marshall Islands. Given the country's limited groundwater supplies, even a small reduction in rainfall leaves the nation at high risk of water shortage. Adaptation initiatives to address this issue include increasing water storage and improving existing water systems to conserve this precious resource.
The formal Agreement will see SPREP provide capacity development and technical advisory support to the Marshall Islands to develop concepts and project proposals for submission to the Adaptation Fund Board.
In November 2013, SPREP was accredited as a Regional Implementing Entity (RIE) under the Kyoto Protocol Adaptation Fund of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC). This milestone accreditation has made SPREP one of only three such RIEs in the world.
With the signing of this Agreement, the Marshall Islands has become the secondSPREP Member country to officially engage with SPREP in its capacity as RIE.
The Hon. Tonny de Brum and Mr David Sheppard at the signing of the Letter of Agreement in Majuro, Marshall Islands.
In Majuro, Foreign Minister from the Republic of Marshall Islands, The Hon. Tony de Brum, talked about the impetus for the agreement:
"Through the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project, we have seen many successful activities undertaken here in the Marshall islands to better defend us from climate impacts and threats. With this important project drawing to a close at the end of the year, we feel a strong sense of urgency to upscale this vital work. I'm very pleased to be signing this Agreement which will see the Marshall Islands benefit from the expertise and support of SPREP to apply for funding for this crucial work to continue."
At the October 6 signing, Director General of SPREP, Mr David Sheppard, said that it was fitting for the Agreement to be formalised in Majuro following the close of the highly successful 25th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme:
"This Letter of Agreement is a critical first step in cementing our mutual understanding and to formalising our commitment to work together to develop concepts and proposals for submission to the Adaptation Fund Board."
Some of the most urgent and immediate activities which will be developed for funding submission will centre
around improving water security and responding to accelerated sea level rise, particularly in the outer atolls of the Marshall Islands. Given the country's limited groundwater supplies, even a small reduction in rainfall leaves the nation at high risk of water shortage. Adaptation initiatives to address this issue include increasing water storage and improving existing water systems to conserve this precious resource.