Climate Change Resilience
The bonds of partnership have been strengthened between the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding today.
This is the very first official MoU between SPREP and a New Zealand based University. The agreement will see the two partners working together to achieve the shared objective of Pacific environment protection and the strengthening of systems, institutions, organisations and individuals to do so.
Photo courtesy of Victoria University of Wellington
This includes the areas of coral research, climate change research, development studies, enhancing of biosecurity, democratic and participatory governance in relation to the environment, political-economy of climate change, social and environmental accounting and, organisational and social change.
"It is an honour for SPREP to participate in this signing today with such an esteemed university that was founded in 1897, we look forward to the full benefits of this partnership reaching through to our members and our island nations as we strive to strengthen the resilience of our Pacific environment," said Mr. Kosi Latu, Director-General of SPREP.
SPREP is the primary intergovernmental environmental organisation in the Pacific. SPREP's mandate is to promote cooperation in the Pacific region to achieve the vision of a "Pacific environment sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures."
Victoria University has nine faculties, of which seven conduct teaching and research.
Victoria University Provost Wendy Larner described signing the Memorandum as an historic occasion.
"Something really powerful is beginning," she says.
"The University has a long-held role in the Pacific and recognises we must work hand-in-hand with our Pacific neighbours if we are serious about facing the issues arising from global warming. This is a major step in thinking about how we might work more effectively across the Pacific."
Professor Larner said while the science on climate change is clear, the hard part now is translating science through institutions into policies and initiatives that have a meaningful impact on the communities.
The signing of the MoU took place after the Pacific Climate Change Conference which was hosted by Victoria University from 15 – 17 February for which Mr. Kosi Latu was featured as the closing keynote speaker.
Mr. Latu said he's looking forward to implementing some concrete initiatives.
The Memorandum provides a platform to "translate the dialogue we have heard over the last three days [at the conference] into action. The talking is done, now is the time for action".
To find out more about the conference please visit: http://www.victoria.ac.nz/vicpasifika/our-community/events/climate-conference
This is the very first official MoU between SPREP and a New Zealand based University. The agreement will see the two partners working together to achieve the shared objective of Pacific environment protection and the strengthening of systems, institutions, organisations and individuals to do so.
Photo courtesy of Victoria University of WellingtonThis includes the areas of coral research, climate change research, development studies, enhancing of biosecurity, democratic and participatory governance in relation to the environment, political-economy of climate change, social and environmental accounting and, organisational and social change.
"It is an honour for SPREP to participate in this signing today with such an esteemed university that was founded in 1897, we look forward to the full benefits of this partnership reaching through to our members and our island nations as we strive to strengthen the resilience of our Pacific environment," said Mr. Kosi Latu, Director-General of SPREP.
SPREP is the primary intergovernmental environmental organisation in the Pacific. SPREP's mandate is to promote cooperation in the Pacific region to achieve the vision of a "Pacific environment sustaining our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures."
Victoria University has nine faculties, of which seven conduct teaching and research.
Victoria University Provost Wendy Larner described signing the Memorandum as an historic occasion.
"Something really powerful is beginning," she says.
"The University has a long-held role in the Pacific and recognises we must work hand-in-hand with our Pacific neighbours if we are serious about facing the issues arising from global warming. This is a major step in thinking about how we might work more effectively across the Pacific."
Professor Larner said while the science on climate change is clear, the hard part now is translating science through institutions into policies and initiatives that have a meaningful impact on the communities.
The signing of the MoU took place after the Pacific Climate Change Conference which was hosted by Victoria University from 15 – 17 February for which Mr. Kosi Latu was featured as the closing keynote speaker.
Mr. Latu said he's looking forward to implementing some concrete initiatives.
The Memorandum provides a platform to "translate the dialogue we have heard over the last three days [at the conference] into action. The talking is done, now is the time for action".
To find out more about the conference please visit: http://www.victoria.ac.nz/vicpasifika/our-community/events/climate-conference