Working together to build American Samoa’s resilience to climate change is the Governor’s Resilience Office and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
The Office known as GRO was newly established in 2021 by the Executive Order of the Governor of American Samoa, High Chief Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga. The priority of the office is to build the resilience of over 45,000 residents of American Samoa in the face of the impacts of climate change.
As such, work is now underway by GRO to strengthen climate change public policy, legislation, communications and engagement with the support of SPREP.
“When it comes to climate change, we have various plans, a draft framework - we have progressed work in this space. We now need to work together to bring it all together and consolidate it into one national plan for American Samoa,” said Lieutenant Governor La'apui Talauega Ale as he welcomed the SPREP delegation.
“One we have locked everything into place at the government wide level, that will help guide us in working together island-wide to build resilience in all sectors. We thank the Director General of SPREP and the Climate Change Resilience Programme for working with us to help build a resilient American Samoa, together.”
Like all Pacific Islands, American Samoa is already feeling the effects of climate change.
Amongst the most vulnerable to its impacts are those least resourced to relocate or adapt to climate change in American Samoa. Island residents are vulnerable to intense hurricanes, rising sea levels, droughts, floods and extreme heat that worsen their livelihoods and health.
A draft resilience framework and action plan for American Samoa has been developed by the GRO uniting all key sectors to address climate change in unity.
“Climate change impacts everyone, it’s everyone’s business across all sectors in any Pacific Island. It is the greatest threat to our people of the Pacific Islands,” said Ms Tagaloa Cooper, Director of Climate Change Resilience of SPREP.
“Our work is to support our Pacific islands as needed to address climate change; we are excited to be in American Samoa to undertake this groundbreaking work that will have a positive impact on the lives of American Samoans – members of our Pacific family.”
Across the two-week period the SPREP delegation is working with the GRO and Environmental Protection Agency to hold a range of consultations with different sectors of American Samoa, as well as conduct site visits to help complete the draft resilience framework and action plan.
This work will continue across until the endorsement of the framework, action plan and a communications and engagement strategy.
“Climate change will continue to have harmful effects on our health and culture. Its impacts on our infrastructure will compound the danger to our fragile economy and unique natural resources,” said Director of Governors Resilience Office, Mr Amaamalele Tofaeono.
“The work we are doing now will help build and empower the resilience for all American Samoans. This is pioneering for us all and we’re committed to making this happen for our people.”
The SPREP Delegation to American Samoa is led by Ms Tagaloa Cooper, the Director of Climate Change, and includes Ms Filomena Nelson and Ms Nanette Woonton who are in American Samoa from 19 to 22 August and Mr Ewan Cameron and Mr Tuileva Tuileva who are in American Samoa from 19 to 31 August 2024.