Pacific countries meet to "plan for an uncertain climate future"

Monday  3 November 2014, Port Vila, Vanuatu: "Pacific LDCs must adapt to survive" was the strong statement on Monday from the Honourable James Bule, Minister of Climate Change, Ministry of Climate, Meteorology, Geo-hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management, Government of Vanuatu. He opened a meeting of nine Pacific Island countries, working to address long term climate change adaptation planning.

"Pacific countries are experiencing the effects of climate change already, with stronger and more unpredictable storms and increasing climate variability. This meeting of regional and international climate change adaptation experts will assist our Pacific Island nations to plan for an uncertain climate future," said Bule.

The 5-day meeting taking place this week,convened by the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG) with the support of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Government of Vanuatu, in collaboration with the UNDP/UNEP National Adaptation Plan Global Support Programme (NAP-GSP), is bringing together representatives from ministries of environment. planning and finance from Pacific Island least developed and developing countries, together with delegates from regional and academic institutions, donor organisations, and UN agencies. Representatives are present from the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The focus is on enhancing the capacity of the Pacific least developed countries (LDCs) to address medium and long term adaptation needs through the formulation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Sessions led by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the NAP-GSP will bring focus onto the support which can potentially be provided to Pacific LDCs and developing countries.

> LEG Regional Training Workshop on NAPs for Pacific LDCs in collaboration with NAP-GSP - [details | agenda | presentations | resources]

In his statement at the official opening of the meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu, the Minister highlighted the crucial relevance of climate change adaptation, in particular, to the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which are likely to be fundamentally affected by the impacts of climate change. Due to their vulnerability, climate change is likely to magnify development challenges and undercut progress already made in these countries. The economic and social costs are likely to be substantial in many critical sectors – including food security, livelihoods, health, access to water and infrastructure.

Ms. Diane Araki, Head of UN Joint Presence Office in Vanuatu, also gave a statement at the opening session, urging countries to move beyond “immediate and urgent” issues towards a medium-term to longer term approach by building in climate concerns in development programmes. She reiterated; "The NAP process provides an opportunity for countries to forge greater alignment between climate initiatives and ongoing longer term planning frameworks, as well as more institutional integration and coordination. This will contribute to systematically reducing vulnerability." Additional speakers were Mr. Paul Desanker, Manager, National Adaptation Plans and Policy, UNFCCC Secretariat, Mr. Jan Verhagen, Least Developed Countries Expert Group and Mr. Mozaharul Alam, Regional Climate Change Coordinator, UNEP.

 "The NAP-GSP is here to support Pacific LDCs and developing countries as you advance your NAP processes. Our support is country-driven, working with existing planning processes, to strengthen integrated longer term planning," said Alam.

The event includes interactive presentations from Pacific region and interntional experts, discussion sessions, opportunities to discuss NAP support with GEF and NAP-GSP, and a field trip to an adaptation project site in Vanuatu, planned by the Vanuatu Meteorology & Geo-hazards Department.

> LEG Regional Training Workshop on NAPs for Pacific LDCs in collaboration with NAP-GSP - [details | agenda | presentations | resources]
> UNFCCC anouncement on LEG Pacific workshop
> UNFCCC Workshop Site