The Governments of Samoa and Japan have united yet again in another historical landmark agreement that will help benefit Pacific island communities through the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The agreement was signed in Samoa by Mr. Yutaka Fukase of Japan International Cooperation Agency, Mr. Lavea Tupa’imatuna Iulai Lavea, CEO of Ministry of Finance, and Mr. Kosi Latu, Acting Director General of Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
Facilitated by the Grant Aid Program of the Government of Japan, the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) will be the Regional Centre for Climate Change in the Pacific region, within the context of the Integrated Strategy for Resilient Development, the SRDP. This PCCC is one step closer to construction with the formal agreement to conduct the preparatory survey that will guide the design and construction.
"On behalf of the Government of Samoa, we are grateful for this unique opportunity to commit to the Pacific Climate Change Centre, and we hope it produces benefits not only for Samoa but for the whole region," said Mr. Lavea Tupa’imatuna Iulai Lavea, the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Finance.
Hosted in Apia, Samoa, the Pacific Climate Change Centre as a centre of excellence in service and support for Pacific island countries and Territories on climate change will also be the base to host a range of different secondments of experts, researchers and officials for collaborative and applied research, training and policy initiatives.
"Since the Small Island Developing States meeting last year, the efforts of the Samoan Government and SPREP to bring this about has been huge," said the Ambassador of Japan, H.E Kazumasa Shibuta. "It is exciting to be at this first step towards making the Pacific Climate Change Centre a reality.”
The Pacific Climate Change Centre will boast new environmentally conscious innovation using active solar energy for electricity generation, use local and recycled materials and appliances as well as renewable and sustainable systems for water catchment, supply and waste management including the use of anaerobic digesters for the treatment of all of SPREP’s sewage and organic waste.
“We’re on a new and pioneering course ahead with this new Centre of excellence that will not only be the very first regional centre for climate change in the Pacific region, within the context of the Integrated Strategy for Resilient Development, the SRDP,” said Mr. Kosi Latu, Deputy Director-General of SPREP, “but also when it comes to the centre itself as a leading, environmentally friendly building within the region.”
The first preparatory survey team for the outline design of the Pacific Climate Change Centre will be in Samoa to carry out work from 13 to 30 May, 2015.