Climate change takes centre stage

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 05 March 2018, 12:00AM

Climate Change was at the forefront of a lunch hosted at the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum at Vailima yesterday.

In attendance was Prime Minister, Jacinda Adern and Deputy Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa.

They were joined by government officials and N.G.O’s who shared views and exchanged notes to better understand the impact of climate change and the resources available through climate funding. 

Ministry of Natural Resources C.E.O, Ulu Bismark Crawley, said the gathering was an important dialogue featuring presentations from S.P.R.E.P, Conservational International and more.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs C.E.O, Peseta Noumea Simi, outlined the need for Samoa to actively engage in order for Samoa to access climate change funds. 

“Firstly we need to be engaged at the political level in order to determine our readiness to exceed to and ratify international instruments such as the Paris Agreement." 

“Being part of the political dialogues and specific targeted resources as initiated under the Paris Agreement provides us with information on how to access such resources." 

“We need to determine how we could have representation on the governance institutions of such facilities; the good examples the Pacific is benefiting from, is that Samoa represents the Pacific on the Green Climate Fund board." 

“We need to ensure there’s advocacy through the country and original representations that allows consideration of special case adaptation for groups, of countries that have special needs such as Small Island Developing States with low capacity in this regard, we welcome the 2017 launch of the approved simplify proceeds of the green climate fund, as was done C.O.P.23 in 2017,” said Peseta. 

“We have learned from experience that as recipient countries, we should be in a state of readiness to receive funds, managed them well and commit to meet our important obligations.” 

According to Peseta, such prerequisites for readiness include ensuing country systems and processors. 

“These must be in place and this has happened for Samoa as a consequence of extensive reforms including reforms in public finance managements."

“We have had extensive iterative assessment of our systems by our multiple development partners." 

“To be an accredited implementing entity we have the option of accreditation for direct access or we may choose to work through other accredited implementing entities or through regional entities such as S.P.R.E.P., A.D.B, World Bank and of course U.N.D.P." 

“We need to ensure that a requisite policy framework is in place to deity all the stakeholders involved." 

“There is also a need to develop national adaptation program of action and national appropriate mitigation action.” 

The C.E.O. noted that in accessing climate funds Samoa has the opportunities whereby special provisions are made for countries of special case status, such as least developing countries. 

By Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu 05 March 2018, 12:00AM
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