New climate change qualification for Pacific students [1]
Thursday, May 19, 2016 - 21:01. Updated on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 - 21:23.
A new academic programme that will teach Pacific Islands students about climate change resilience and sustainable energy, is being developed by 15 countries in the region, including Tonga, with assistance from the European Union.
Representatives from 15 countries are meeting in Nadi, Fiji, this week to finalise the competencies that will make up the new Pacific regional qualifications that will also include climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The qualifications: "Certificate I-IV in Resilience and Sustainable Energy" are part of the European Union Pacific Technical Vocational and Education Training (EU PacTVET) Project, which is being jointly implemented by the University of the South Pacific and the Pacific Community.
The new regionally-accredited programme will raise the standards of training for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management in the Pacific and is expected to lead to an increase in employment opportunities in the region.
The European Union Deputy Head of Delegation, Johnny Engell-Hansen said, “The European Union is looking forward to the outcomes of the meeting whereby the Pacific will, once again, lead the way to ensure a climate-resilient sustainable development.
“The adoption of Technical Vocational and Education Training in sustainable energy and climate resilience on a regional basis would be a world first.”
Dean of the School of Technology and Maritime Studies for the Solomon Islands National University, Mr Solomon Pita, said that the course would provide the Solomon Islands and the region an opportunity to develop environmentally accepted practices, citing refrigeration and air conditioning as examples. “More importantly this will contribute to the capacity of the region to adapt to the impacts of climate change,” he said.
The project is part of a EURO 6.1 million project which commenced in 2014 under the Adapting to Coimate Change and Sustainable energy Programme and funded under the 10th European Development Fund.