Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ 16ᴛʜ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ʙɪᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴅɪᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴛʏ! Cali, Colombia from 21 October to 1 November 2024! 5 Days to go! 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 – 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐁𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝟏𝟔. The Pacific islands contain rich and vast biodiversity, and they hold responsibility over large proportions of global ecosystems, including about a third of all oceans and seas within national jurisdictions. However, Pacific biodiversity continues to face current and emerging threats creating challenges for building and ensuring sustainable and resilient island futures. In the face of the mounting challenges, the Pacific has continued to show leadership through its commitment to mobilise individually and collectively to address the impacts of the triple planetary crisis, for which biodiversity loss is a growing concern. In the coming weeks, delegates from the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) will converge in Cali, Columbia for the Sixteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), from 21 October to 1 November 2024. For more please visit: https://lnkd.in/gw9iJhP7 Fourteen Pacific Islands countries are Party to the CBD, they are contributing to a unified One Pacific Voice on collective issues at COP16, these are Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. #PeaceWithNature #PacificBiodiversity #ResilientPacific #COP16Colombia 📷Omini island, Tailevu, Fiji © Stuart Chape

𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮’𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞! Preparing for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) #Vanuatu held national negotiations training from 15 to 17 October this week. Twenty-five participants in Vanuatu took part in the negotiations training that focused on broad overview of the UNFCCC and its history and the process. It communicated the structure of the Convention and the bodies and groups that exist under the UNFCCC. It covered the key agreements and the decision-making process, stakeholder engagement and shared experiences on preparations for negotiations, skills and strategies. Vanuatu has been a party to the UNFCCC since 1992 and also signed on to the Paris Agreement in 2015. The training was supported by the Australian funded Strengthening Pacific Leadership in International Climate Change Engagement (SPLICE) project and the Green Climate Fund Climate Information Services for Resilient Development in Vanuatu (Van-KIRAP) in collaboration with the Government of Vanuatu through the Department of Climate Change (DoCC) and Vanuatu's National Advisory Board (NAB) on Climate Change. #ResilientPacific #OnePacificVoice Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department 📷Ministry of Climate Change Vanuatu

🇻🇺 Vanuatu’s Northern Ward Mamas dedicated a week-long clean-up of the Tagabe River catchment, one of Port Vila’s vital freshwater sources. Under the leadership of Emi Tevisiro, President of the Northen Ward Mamas, this voluntary initiative aims to collect and analyse plastic waste while supporting the livelihoods of those who rely on the river. Not only are the women keeping the river clean, but they are also gathering crucial data to advocate for a cleaner environment. Every piece of data collected will strengthen their voices in lobbying for the Tagabe River's health. Supporting their efforts, companies such as Vodafone Vanuatu donated tee shirts to women and men who dedicated their time to the initiative. The Tagabe River is a key site for the Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change #PEBACC+ plus project and plans are underway to partner with the Northern Ward Mamas to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining a clean Tagabe River. A major challenge facing residents is the increasing pollution level in the river with plastic and human waste from upstream settlements, degrading coastal marine habitat and water quality, as well as the growth of invasive weeds and harmful algae and bacteria. While the river cleaning is a great starting point, a series of awareness programs to help change the mindset of people is essential for a lasting change. PEBACC+ is implemented by SPREP with funding from the Kiwa Initiative and the French Facility for Global Environment. More: www.sprep.org/pebacc-plus Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade La politique étrangère du Canada – Affaires mondiales Canada European Union in the Pacific AFD - Agence Française de Développement New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

🌿 The Pacific Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change #PEBACC+ plus project recently hosted the National Project Steering Committee meeting for the Solomon Islands 🇸🇧, bringing together a dedicated multi-stakeholder team to review progress and ensure impactful results of the project. Since its inception last year, PEBACC+ has carried out its ecological and socio-economic resilience assessments and mapping or ESRAM in Malaita Province and replanted native trees across 2 hectares in the Honiara Botanical Garden. Also in the works is the upgrading of the nursery and the implementation of a waste management system. For the Barana Community Nature and Heritage Park, the project is focused on forest rehabilitation and reforestation, enhancing women’s livelihoods, and the development of park management and monitoring plans. In collaboration with national stakeholders such as the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, PEBACC+ in Solomon Islands is taking strides toward sustainable development and climate resilience. The project is implemented by SPREP with funding from the Kiwa Initiative and the French Facility for Global Environment. More: www.sprep.org/pebacc-plus Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade La politique étrangère du Canada – Affaires mondiales Canada European Union in the Pacific AFD - Agence Française de Développement New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade @Lora Thevar

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐰 The role played by environmental law professionals in implementing and enforcing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to ensure compliance, and address legal disputes related to environmental degradation, is critical in fostering regional cooperation to address the unique environmental challenges faced by Pacific countries. For this reason, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Natural Resources coordinated a three-day workshop held in Fiji recently. Attended by lawyers from Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Nauru, the workshop equipped participants with skills and knowledge needed to support their countries to address pressing environmental challenges including pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. Read more: ⬇⬇⬇ https://lnkd.in/gvQzXc5T #ResilientPacific #cleanerpacific #environmentalprotection #environmentmonitoring

Le Pacifique était bien représenté la semaine dernière au Green Overseas Finance Forum organisé par le Programme Green Overseas sous la direction d’Expertise France et financé par l’Union Européenne. Le forum réunissant des représentants des 25 Pays et Territoires d’Outre-Mer (PTOM) de l’UE et du Royaume-Uni, des donateurs et des partenaires; pour discuter des défis auxquels les PTOM sont confrontés dans l’accès au financement climatique. Le forum a eu lieu à la Commission européenne à Bruxelles, en Belgique. Les trois PTOM (territoires français) du Pacifique – la Polynésie française, la Nouvelle-Calédonie et Wallis-et-Futuna – étaient représentés par leur délégations, comprenant des ministres, des hauts fonctionnaires des administrations territoriales ainsi que des représentants de la jeunesse. Le PROE était représenté par Salome Tukuafu, Conseillère en Partenariats Stratégiques et Relations Donateurs, qui a partagé l’expérience du PROE dans l’accès aux sources de financement climatique multilatérales et bilatérales, ainsi que les opportunités pour les PTOM du Pacifique en tant que membres du PROE de tirer parti d’une intégration régionale accrue (étant donné des défis structurels et des vulnérabilités similaires à ceux des petits États insulaires en développement souverains). Les premiers résultats du forum incluent l’intention de travailler de manière plus collaborative tant au niveau régional qu’interrégional entre les PTOM, et soulignent le rôle important des organisations régionales dans l’apport d’expertise ainsi que la mobilisation de financements pour leurs membres PTOM. @Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Caledonie @Présidence de la Polynésie française @Assemblée Territoriale de Wallis et Futuna #CFF2024 #FinancementClimatique #PTOM #OCTA #ActionClimatique

ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ 16ᴛʜ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ʙɪᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ᴅɪᴠᴇʀꜱɪᴛʏ! Cali, Colombia from 21 October to 1 November 2024! 6 Days to go! We hear voices from our Pacific Future on this countdown as they share with us why our Pacific Biodiversity is important, and what we can do to protect our biodiversity! Fourteen Pacific Islands countries are Party to the CBD, they are contributing to a unified One Pacific Voice on collective issues at COP16, these are Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. For more information on CBD COP16 please visit: https://lnkd.in/dAtxN-aE #PeaceWithNature #PacificBiodiversity #ResilientPacific #COP16Colombia

The Pacific was well represented at last week’s @Green Overseas Finance Forum hosted by the Green Overseas Programme under @Expertise France and funded by the @European Union, bringing together members of the EU and @Government of UK’s 25 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), donors, and partners; to discuss challenges of OCTs in accessing climate finance. The forum took place at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium. All three OCTs (territories of France) in the Pacific- French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna; were represented by delegations of ministers and senior officials of their respective territorial governments, as well as youth. SPREP’s Strategic Partnerships and Donor Relations Adviser - Salome Tukuafu, shared SPREP’s experience in accessing multilateral and bilateral sources of climate finance; as well as opportunities for OCTs in the Pacific as members of SPREP, to capitalise from further regional integration (given similar structural challenges and vulnerabilities to sovereign Small Islands Developing States) despite not being parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Early outcomes of the forum include the intent to work more collaboratively both regionally and inter-regionally amongst OCTs, and highlights the important role of regional organisations like SPREP in providing expertise as well as leveraging finance for their OCTs members. The Green Overseas Climate Finance Forum was from 7 to 11 October 2024. For further information please visit: https://lnkd.in/grjy2RpQ #CFF2024 #ClimateFinance #OCTs #OCTA #ClimateAction @European Union in the Pacific @European External Action Service - EEAS

As the countdown to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting #CHOGM2024 in Samoa continues, the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) welcomed the Samoa National Youth delegates selected for the #CommonwealthYouth (CYF) at Vailima on Tuesday. The youth delegates were empowered with knowledge on narratives and the status of environment and climate change in the Pacific. Facilitated by PCCC in collaboration with the Commonwealth Youth Forum International Taskforce and the Samoa National Youth Council - SNYC, the delegates were joined by students from Vaiala Beach School for the half-day session, which concluded with a visit to the PCCC. #ResilientPacific #1point5tostayalive #ClimateAction #CHOGM2024 #samoa #buildingourresilientfuture

𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐎𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐢𝐠𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐍𝐮'𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐚 Nu’utele Island, situated within the Aleipata Island Group off the eastern end of Upolu Island, in Apia stands as a vital focal point for conservation efforts in Samoa and is recognised as a critical biodiversity hotspot as it holds intact native forests and significant populations of endangered land-birds, seabirds, and nesting turtles. The island could serve as a sanctuary for several of Samoa’s threatened species, offering potential refuge from the introduced mammalian pests that plague larger inhabited islands however, the island's ecological integrity has been severely threatened by the introduction of invasive rat species and, more recently, feral pigs. Read more ➡ https://lnkd.in/gwcbWvbw Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Samoa #ResilientPacific #PRISMSS #Samoa