Page 27 - IB JAN 2017

Climate Change

Kosi Latu with Bill Hayes of Climate Analytics. Photo: Supplied
for the Pacific islands, the 2019 review will agreement with Climate Analytics and
look at financial support made available to Charles and Associates to implement
support loss and damage work, including the IMPACT project. This will continue
the modalities for accessing such support. on from the Survive Project and the High
Adaptation Communications, a country Level Support Mechanism which aimed to
report to be submitted on a regular basis enhance the participation of SIDS negotia-
that communicates adaptation priorities, tors at the international climate negotia-
needs and efforts on a regular basis was tions through building capacity of Pacific
an outcome of the Paris Agreement. It negotiators with SPREP.
was decided that how the report was to be Another component of IMPACT will
nance and other issues. The Adaptation submitted is flexible, and it could be part of strengthen the linkages between the cli-
Fund was established under the Kyoto the Nationally Determined Contributions mate science impacts, vulnerability and
Protocol and has since provided funding (NDCs), or National Communications (Nat adaptation to help enable access to finance
to five Pacific island countries totaling Comms) country party reports that are and help implement concrete projects. The
over USD 14 million. This now means already underway, or it could be a sepa- very first workshop of this will take place
the Adaptation Fund continues and will rate report. Since Marrakech there were in the first quarter of 2017, and this project
remain available for Pacific island coun- further discussions on this, in particular is currently seeking a Senior Research As-
tries to help them undertake projects to the purpose of this adaptation commu- sociate: Climate Change Strategies to be
adapt to climate change. nication, the elements it would include, based at SPREP to help contribute to the
The discussions on Loss and Damage possible linkages to other issues, vehicle IMPACT Project.
saw Parties conduct the first review of and timing for communicating them and Much was achieved and compromises
the Warsaw International Mechanism for other flexibilities required. There has also made over the course of the two weeks of
Loss and Damage. This mechanism was been a call for countries for submissions to negotiations at the UN Climate COP, what
established at COP19 and is also working input into this, which must be provided to we have shared here are just a few of
under the Paris Agreement. Its’ role is to the UNFCCC by 12 January, 2017. what may be key outcomes for the Pacific
develop approaches to help vulnerable The Global Environment Facility also islands, there were so many more which
countries cope with unavoidable climate established the Trust Fund for the Capac- may be relevant to your island nation.
impacts such as slow-onset events like ity-building Initiative for Transparency to To read the outcomes of the COP22 in
sea level rise. Pepetua Latasi of Tuvalu help parties meet their reporting require- Marrakech, Morocco this year, please visit:
is the co-Chair of the WIM Executive ments under the UNFCCC, in particular http://unfccc.int/2860.php#auv
Committee. The next review will take for mitigation. More than USD 50 million
place in 2019 with ongoing reviews to was pledged for the new Trust which was q Kosi Latu is the director-general of the
happen every five years which may align declared ‘open for business’ at COP22. Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment
with the global stocktake under the Paris Aside from outcomes from the COP22, Programme (SPREP)
Agreement, as before this there was only other major milestone achievements were
a two-year work programme. Also to note made on the sidelines. SPREP signed an

Islands Business, January 2017 27