AUST DONATES $786K FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE
The fund is to implement the Pacific Regional Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Hub’s vision for sustainability.
The Australian government pledged an additional $786,000 for phase two of the Pacific Regional Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Hub.
The fund is to implement the hub’s vision for sustainability, low-carbon growth, development and climate resilience.
NDC are efforts by a country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The hub’s 2030 strategy, which was launched by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday also reflects the urgency expressed in the Kainaki II Declaration for Urgent Climate Change Action Now.
It also complements the forthcoming 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Mr Bainimarama said the NDC hub, reflected the common challenges and aspirations of the Pacific people to share wisdom, experiences and take ownership of their future in the face of climate challenges.
“We Pacific people will not wait for events to control us. We welcome solutions from everywhere, but will not wait for others to come up with them. We have ingenuity and experience, research and scientific knowledge to bring to the table for our own benefit,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“I am proud to say that the region is rising to the challenge of climate change – from raising the ambition of our NDCs to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and by making our infrastructure more resilient to committing to sustainable development and the goal of a blue economy for the Pacific. “The more ambitious path that we are taking commits us to a faster transition to renewable energy, more efficient utilisation of our forests and mangroves – nature’s carbon capture – and a whole range of innovative mechanisms to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”
Although the troubling fact that the target of keeping global warming at 1.5 degree Celsius by the end of this century is unattainable, Mr Bainimarama said it was not a pretext to lose hope.
Rather, there is a need for greater commitment by large carbon emitters to reduce greenhouse gases and engage in more action towards mitigation and adaptation.
Australian High Commissioner
Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes said Australia’s ongoing support for the Pacific NDC Hub further recognises the importance of climate change to the Pacific.
“I want to acknowledge the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama for his vision and drive to realise the Pacific Regional NDC Hub. This is just one element of Pacific leadership on climate change in action,” Mr Feakes said.
“The NDC hub is ‘made for the Pacific, by the Pacific’ and indeed the NDC hub has been conceived, developed and continues to be led by its Pacific Island members, to support the Pacific’s leadership and action on climate change under the Paris Agreement.”
The regional Pacific NDC hub was launched at the 23rd annual Conference of the Parties (COP23) climate conference in Bonn, Germany in 2017.
It has been operational since 2018 and provides technical support to 14 Pacific Island countries to implement their NDCs.