28 November 2023, Dubai UAE – Support has grown for Pacific delegates to have their own space at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai, UAE with the announcement of the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion funded by the Governments of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, as well as the Pacific Delegation Office funded by Aotearoa New Zealand.
COP28 will take place from Thursday 30 November 2023 – Tuesday 12 December 2023.
Strategically located inside Building 29 in the heart of the vibrant Dubai Expo City, the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion and the Pacific Delegation Office is managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Aotearoa New Zealand has funded both spaces for the Pacific managed by SPREP since COP24. Further empowering the Pacific to amplify their voice in this space, Australia is a new partner with Aotearoa New Zealand for the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion at COP28.
This support by the two countries for a Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion to be managed by SPREP is further confirmed for COP29 and COP30. The financial assistance from Aotearoa New Zealand to fund a Pacific Delegation Office is also to continue across COP29 and COP30.
“We are grateful to our partners for their role in helping to strengthen our Pacific Voice within the Climate Change Conference of the Parties. Our Pacific Leaders have continued to declare that climate change and resilience is a standing regional priority for the Blue Pacific continent, in recognition of the fact that climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihood, security, and well-being of Pacific people,” said Mr Sefania Nawadra, Director General of SPREP.
“The impact of these spaces in the Climate COPs is immense, our Pacific Islands voices are now seen and heard across the many different areas all of which help buoy our negotiations for our survival. Our Pacific stories ripple across every space possible.”
Whereas the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, to open from 30 November – 12 December 2023, will host various events initiated by Pacific Island governments, private sector, civil society, CROP agencies and partners, the Pacific Delegation Office offers a space which allows Pacific delegations to hold daily coordination meetings and bilateral meetings during the COP negotiations.
“COP28 is an opportunity for the world to come together to look at the mirror to see how much more we need to do to address the climate crisis. In the Pacific, we live and breathe the impacts of climate change and we are heading to Dubai knowing there is so much more that needs to be done,” said Ms Tagaloa Cooper, SPREP’s Director of Climate Change Resilience.
“As the coordinator for climate change action in the region, SPREP continues to lead the region’s response to climate impacts and we are extremely appreciative about the assistance from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia which will allow us to continue to amplify our One Pacific Voice to drive ambitious climate action at COP28.”
Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to support both the Moana Pacific Blue Pavilion as well as the Pacific Delegation Office.
Australia is equally delighted to be able to support the One Pacific Voice at COP28.
“The Australian Government is deeply committed to taking real and significant climate action and we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our Pacific partners to address climate change,” said Australia’s Ambassador for Climate Change, Ms Kristin Tilley. “The Australian Government is pleased to provide this support to the Pacific family to strengthen capacity to engage in international processes, critical to the fight against climate change.”
Coordinated and managed by SPREP, the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion will showcase Pacific climate change leadership, actions and challenges as the Pacific Islands strive for resilience in the face of climate change impacts.
More than 80 side events will be held across the duration of the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion at COP28, providing the platform for Pacific Islands people to tell Pacific stories.
The set-up and décor of the space gives out a true Pacific feel, which welcomes and embrace visitors to learn more about our Pacific way. The Pavilion is also networking space which will allow you to mix and mingle with counterparts, “tok story” and talanoa, share experiences and build networks that will span oceans to help our Pacific Islands.
The Pacific Delegation Office at COP28 is a dedicated space to allow Pacific Islands delegations to hold coordination meetings, a safe space to strategise negotiations approaches, hold bilateral or other meetings.
For further information please visit: www.sprep.org/moana-blue-pacific
The 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP28) in Dubai, UAE is taking place from Thursday 30 November 2023 – Tuesday 12 December 2023.
It is being attended by Pacific leaders and their delegations, who are advocating for the survival of Pacific communities who continue to be at the forefront of climate change impacts.
A key part of amplifying the One Pacific Voice at COP28 is the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, which is a Pacific partnership with Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. Another key part of the Pacific’s work at COP28 is the Pacific Delegation Office, which is a partnership with Aotearoa New Zealand. Both the Moana Pacific Pavilion and the Pacific Delegation Office are managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).