Climate Change Resilience
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) joined the "Race Against Time" competition as part of the Annual International Alo Paopao Festival, an outrigger event, in Samoa with Director-General Mr David Sheppard coming third in the celebrity event.
Mr. David Sheppard, Director-General of SPREP in the "Race Against Time"
Mr. Sheppard along with Mr Peniamina Leavai of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project and Mr. David Moverley the Invasive Species Adviser of SPREP joined local celebrities in Samoa that competed in the race, paddling a traditional canoe in the Apia harbor as part of the "Pole to Paris". This is a public awareness campaign ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP21) in Paris, France at the end of the year.
The Pacific islands collectively contribute less than 0.03% to the world's total greenhouse gas emissions but are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This December in Paris all parties to the UNFCCC will meet to sign off on a new global climate agreement to address climate change issues and limit global warming.
"The outcome of the COP 21 is crucial to the Pacific way of life, as Pacific countries are in the "front line" of a changing climate and rising sea levels" said Mr. David Sheppard, who further noted: "SPREP has embarked on a range of activities this year to help strengthen the capacity of the Pacific island parties at this historic event, as part of our ongoing work to help our island region address the climate change."
"We are more than willing to participate in and support every action to help raise the awareness of climate change across the region and the globe."
As part of the "Pole to Paris" young scientists have been traveling across the globe to talk about climate change and bridge the gap between science and society before the COP 21. In Samoa, the "Race Against Time" is part of the Climate Change Campaign that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Pole to Paris initiative sponsored by Digicel.
Other celebrities in the race included CEO's of relevant government ministries, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Lizbeth Cullity (who came first in the ladies race) and the CEO of Digicel, Mr. Rory Condon.
The "Race Against Time" took place on 29 September, 2015 in the Apia Harbour.
For more on "Pole to Paris" please visit: http://poletoparis.com/
For more on this activity organised by UNDP multi country office in Samoa please visit: http://www.ws.undp.org/content/samoa/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/09/29/celebrities-paopao-race-against-time-remind-us-that-is-now-time-to-tackle-climate-change-.html
Mr. David Sheppard, Director-General of SPREP in the "Race Against Time" Mr. Sheppard along with Mr Peniamina Leavai of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project and Mr. David Moverley the Invasive Species Adviser of SPREP joined local celebrities in Samoa that competed in the race, paddling a traditional canoe in the Apia harbor as part of the "Pole to Paris". This is a public awareness campaign ahead of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP21) in Paris, France at the end of the year.
The Pacific islands collectively contribute less than 0.03% to the world's total greenhouse gas emissions but are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This December in Paris all parties to the UNFCCC will meet to sign off on a new global climate agreement to address climate change issues and limit global warming.
"The outcome of the COP 21 is crucial to the Pacific way of life, as Pacific countries are in the "front line" of a changing climate and rising sea levels" said Mr. David Sheppard, who further noted: "SPREP has embarked on a range of activities this year to help strengthen the capacity of the Pacific island parties at this historic event, as part of our ongoing work to help our island region address the climate change."
"We are more than willing to participate in and support every action to help raise the awareness of climate change across the region and the globe."
As part of the "Pole to Paris" young scientists have been traveling across the globe to talk about climate change and bridge the gap between science and society before the COP 21. In Samoa, the "Race Against Time" is part of the Climate Change Campaign that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) and the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Pole to Paris initiative sponsored by Digicel.
Other celebrities in the race included CEO's of relevant government ministries, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Lizbeth Cullity (who came first in the ladies race) and the CEO of Digicel, Mr. Rory Condon.
The "Race Against Time" took place on 29 September, 2015 in the Apia Harbour.
For more on "Pole to Paris" please visit: http://poletoparis.com/
For more on this activity organised by UNDP multi country office in Samoa please visit: http://www.ws.undp.org/content/samoa/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/09/29/celebrities-paopao-race-against-time-remind-us-that-is-now-time-to-tackle-climate-change-.html