PRESS STATEMENT 2000
Welcome Address Mr Fiu Mataese Elisara Laulu Assistant Resident
Representative, UNDP-Samoa Pacific Islands Conference on Climate
Change, Climate Variability and Sea-Level Rise
Rarotonga, Cook Islands 3-7 April 2000
UNDP is indeed most privileged to be involved in this most
timely initiative since the Pacific Island countries as you
know are amongst the most vulnerable to the adverse impact of
climate change and sea-level rise.
The increase in the frequency and intensity of storms and
cyclones, combined with sea level rise threaten both the very
existence of many of the low-lying atoll countries of the
Pacific, and has, furthermore, proven to be a significant
impediment and threat to many other aspects of sustainable
human development in the region.
The adverse impacts of climate change and sea level rise are, as
many of you scientists and policy makers here today will agree,
amongst the most serious environmental threats in the region.
UNDP, in close partnership with the Global Environment Facility
(GEF), has for a number of years now assisted the Pacific
Island countries in their efforts to try and reverse these
threats through initiatives such as the SPREP executed Pacific
Island Climate Change Assistance Programme, or PICCAP as it is
known for short.
UNDP is therefore is particularly proud to support and provide
funding for this Conference, which is a direct output of
PICCAP. Its overall objective of linking climate change policy
and science, as well as developing a Pacific Regional Strategic
Framework for future action is of paramount importance in these
efforts. Your presence here today: the policy-makers,
scientists, country participants, representatives of the
regional organisations and institutions, members of the donor
communities, NGOs and other development partners, gives the
Pacific Island countries a most encouraging signal and
resounding vote of confidence that their future is in good
hands.
Needless to say, the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED) in 1992, put climate change and sea-
level rise on the global agenda for the first time. The United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as an
outcome, signaled a new era of environmental treaty and global
partnership. Since then, and reflecting the region’s concern,
all the Pacific Island countries ratified the UNFCCC. UNDP/GEF
have subsequently been committed to assist in addressing the
adverse impacts of climate change and sea-level rise and other
inter-related problems.
PICCAP, which started out in 1997, is yet another step towards
our obligations and commitments in the Pacific. UNDP is
currently working together with SPREP and the countries of the
Pacific to ensure that the momentum and success of PICCAP can
be maintained in the long term. First, through a one year
extension to the PICCAP programme. Later, through the
development of a second phase of PICCAP under the Pacific
Regional Framework Strategy being developed here this week. With
your useful contribution this strategy is expected to provide
the future direction for the region’s response to climate change
and sea-level rise over the period 2000-2005 and beyond.
Furthermore, UNDP also recognises that commercially viable and
environmentally sound technologies are becoming increasingly
available to help Pacific Island countries in their
mitigating/adaptation initiatives on climate change. We are
therefore currently engaged in consultations with the
Pacific Island countries, regional organisations and other
partners to develop a regional project aiming at removing
barriers for the adoption of renewable energies in the Pacific.
We look forward to further advance the process during this
conference in our scheduled discussions with the country
participants and other interested development partners. The
regional experience of SPREP, SPC, SOPAC and others in the area
of renewable energy will, hopefully, guide our work in these
discussions. Unfortunately UNDP/GEF resources will not be
sufficient to implement the Climate Change Regional Framework
Strategy.
Neither will our efforts be adequate to address all that needs
to be done in our region to mitigate the adverse impacts of
Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise. For this reason, UNDP/GEF is
most appreciative of the broad participation in this forum. We
see this as a conduit for all interested partners and
stakeholders to consult together, and collectively advance
complementarily in their individual but integrated approaches to
addressing the adverse impacts of climate change and sea-level
rise. What we will do well, we must do together.
Forum Secretariat/South Pacific Regional Environment Programme
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
3 April 2000
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