Pacific islands hailed as leaders by CEO of largest environment donor partnership

15 October 2014, Pyeongchang Korea, CBD COP12 - Compliments to the Pacific islands from GEF CEO were made today at a high level breakfast meeting with Pacific island ministers and heads of delegation with the Head of the Global Environment Facility, Dr Naoko Ishii.

The breakfast meeting took place on the sidelines of the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), this provided an opportunity for the Pacific islands to discuss strategic issues and the way ahead for the GEF, one of the largest donors of environment projects in the Pacific islands region.

"I am impressed by the small island states that are leading the way by example, taking an integrated stance to help heal our ecosystems, taking the ridge to reef approach. We can help you to continue to lead the way through your integrated holistic approach," said Dr Ishii today referring to environment conservation work in Samoa as an example. Dr. Ishii visited several activities when in Samoa in September for the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States.


"Our ecosystem is very sick due to human pressures and it's important for us to take action in two key ways - to focus more on drivers of environmental degradation, not only the symptoms but the drivers, as well as employing a more integrated approach as we tend to work in different silos be it climate change, biodiversity or forestry. Your role is to save our ecosystems and an integrated approach can help this."

The GEF is a partnership for international cooperation where 183 countries work together to address global environmental issues. Since 1991, the GEF has provided $12.5 billion in grants and leveraged $58 billion in co-financing for 3,690 projects in 165 developing countries including the Pacific islands.

SPREP works with Pacific island members to provide more support when working with GEF to confirm funding and implement projects. This is the third such high level breakfast meeting coordinated by SPREP for the Pacific islands on a biannual basis, the last being in 2011 when GEF CEO Dr. Naoko Ishii had been in her role as CEO for two months.


"Our members have directed us to support you more and since our last gathering in 2011 we have appointed a GEF Advisor at SPREP," said Mr. David Sheppard, Director-General of SPREP during his welcome.

"Within SPREP we have established a GEF support team consisting of staff with expertise on GEF and also at the request of member countries, through the leadership of Minister DeBrum we have applied to become a project agency through GEF."

The Hon. Tony DeBrum, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Marshall Islands is currently the Chair of SPREP. Supportive of SPREP as a Project Agency, the Hon Minister believes working with a Pacific regional organisation will ensure there is faster response, access and support when needing assistance in accessing GEF funding and implementing GEF Project.

"It is easier for each one of us in this room to pick up the phone and call SPREP if something goes wrong than it is to call the other side of the world," said Minister DeBrum.


"I intend to be very active in my role with SPREP this year and intend to pass on to the next SPREP Chair a vibrant and strong organisation that will work together with you to continue the good working happening our way and on our time."

Present at the high level breakfast meeting were Minister from the Marshall Islands and Kiribati, along with Heads of Delegation from Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.

The 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is held in Pyeongchang Korea from 6 to 17 October. There are 14 Pacific islands that are a party to this Convention with FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu represented at the CBD COP 12.