JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION
AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
SECRETARIAT
The European Union (EU) with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) have
signed a financing agreement for Adapting to Climate Change and Sustainable
Energy (ACSE) programme worth FJ$90.8m.
The ACSE programme will help the 15 Pacific ACP countries (Cook Islands,
East-Timor, Fiji, Kiribati, , Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue,
Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) to address three main challenges common to
all of them: adapting to climate change; reducing their reliance on fossil
fuels; and capacity building.
The total project cost is €37.26 (FJ$95.37) million with the European Union
contributing €35.5 (FJ$90.86) million through the European Development Fund
(EDF). For the implementation of this programme, the European Union will be
working in partnership with the German International Cooperation Agency
(Deutsche Gesellschaft furInternationale Zusammenarbeit - GIZ), the New Zealand
Government, the Asian Development Bank and the Secretariat of the Pacific
Community (SPC).
"I'm thrilled to be here signing this financing agreement. Climate change
adaptation and sustainable energy are in the core of EU's support towards the
Pacific countries. This project not only illustrates this but it's yet another
example of the ever closer cooperation between the European Union and our
partners in the Pacific,” says Mr DirkMeganck, European Commission's Director
for Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, Gulf and the Pacific whilst signing on behalf
of the European Union during the regional programming meeting for the 11th EDF,
held at PIFS in Suva, Fiji this week.
"The Forum Secretariat and its partner regional agencies warmly welcome
the EU’s commitment to climate change and sustainable energy,” says Tuiloma
Neroni Slade, The Secretary-General of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat.
“In almost every Forum communiqué in recent years, Leaders have emphasised the
importance of securing access to energy, their commitment to renewable energy,
the promotion of efficiency measures and the need for significant progress in
diversification by developing domestic renewable energy to reduce their
reliance on imported fuels. Similarly, Forum Leaders have given affirmation of
the dangers of climate change – to the livelihoods, security and well-being of
the peoples of the Pacific.”
The programme aims to strengthen the Pacific island countries' capacity to
adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and to enhance their energy
security at national, provincial and local/community level. The programmeseeks
to deliver the following key achievements:
* Create and/or strengthen national technical expertise on climate change
adaptation and sustainable energy;
* Improved cost-effective and efficient energy systems to reduce fossil fuels
dependency; and
* Improvements in communities’ adaptive capacity to cope with climate change
challenges.
Another aim of the ACSE programme is to enhance sustainable livelihoods through
the support of government institutional efforts and empowering communities to
increase their self-reliance and their ability to cope with the effects of
climate change through appropriate practices in agriculture and coastal
fishery, by disseminating improved plant varieties which are resistant to salt
water, by securing their daily water supply and by improving their access to
energy, among other initiatives.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific Suva, Fiji, Tel: (+679)
3313-633 Email: Delegation-fiji-media@eeas.europa.eu
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat: Diane Abad, Communications Adviser (+679)
868 5166 Email:media@forumsec.org
Background
Climate change is already disproportionally affecting the Pacific island
states, although islanders have done little to contribute to the cause -
producing less than 0.03% of current global greenhouse gas emissions. They are
among the first to be exposed, often disproportionally, and with limited means
to adequately respond.
At the same time, despite efforts to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels,
many small Pacific states remain almost 100% dependent on these imports for
power generation and transportation. Sustainable energy and climate change
adaptation are therefore top priorities for the Pacific ACP governments as
expressed in regionally endorsed frameworks and in national policies and
strategic documents.
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