Investing in a resilient Pacific, the United Kingdom has increased funding to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) to GBP 3 million across a one-year period.
This financial contribution was announced as part of the Pacific package of funding for the Pacific from the UK at the Fifty-third Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM53) by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office Minister Catherine West, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo Pacific.
SPREP is the intergovernmental environment organisation of the Pacific with 21 Pacific Islands Members, this increase in funding will support the implementation of activities on the ground across the Pacific.
SPREP has four programmes through which support is provided to our Pacific Islands, those being Climate Change Resilience, Environmental Monitoring and Governance, Island and Ocean Ecosystems, Waste Management and Pollution Control.
Now living with the impacts of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, plastic pollution and biodiversity loss, this funding support will help boost the region on their voyage towards resilience.
“We are grateful for this contribution from the United Kingdom. This increase will enhance our core funding, enabling us to undertake longer-term planning,” said Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of SPREP.
“This contribution is testament to the UK’s commitment to our region and demonstrates the leadership of the UK, New Zealand and Australia – three of our five Metropolitan Members who have increased their funding towards the work we undertake for a resilient Pacific.”
The United Kingdom has been a Member of SPREP since 2012 and will take on the role of SPREP Chair during the Fourth Executive Board Meeting from 4 to 6 September 2024.
Ahead of the meeting, Minister West said:
“The Government is seeking to reconnect the UK with partners around the world and to return to the forefront of international climate action.
The climate crisis needs global, long-term action – but we must also take rapid steps to support countries on the frontline, like our partners in the Pacific.
That is why the UK is supporting Pacific-led action to equip vulnerable communities facing the impacts of climate change with GBP 12.9 million in new funding.”
The Partner Dialogue of the PIFLM53 announcing the UK Pacific Package was held on 26 August 2024 in Tonga. – SPREP/Gov.UKPressRelease