Victoria Uni supports climate change resilience for Pacific [1]
Friday, February 26, 2016 - 12:22. Updated on Thursday, April 14, 2016 - 15:12.
The impending effect of climate change in the Pacific has initiated a partnership between the Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 February 2016.
Both parties will work towards protecting and improving the environment in the Pacific by bringing about changes to ensure systems, organisations, institutions and individuals are strengthened to meet these goals.
Some of the areas that will be looked at include coral research, climate change research, development studies, social and environmental accounting, and biosecurity enhancement.
Director General of SPREP, Mr Kosi Latu, said that it was an honour for SPREP to sign the MOU with Victoria University. “We look forward to the full benefits of this partnership reaching through to our members and our island nations as we strive to strengthen the resilience of our Pacific environment.”
“The talking is done, now is the time for action,” he said.
Victoria University Professor, Wendy Larner, acknowledged the signing of the MOU as and beginning as well as "a major step in thinking about how we might work more effectively across the Pacific."
“The university has a long-held role in the Pacific and recognises we must work hand-in-hand with out Pacific neighbours if we are serious about facing the issues arising from global warming.”
SPREP is a regional intergovernmental environment organisation assigned to protect and ensure sustainable development of the region’s environment.