The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) highlighted efforts to support the Pacific to access climate innovative solutions, at the first Pacific Virtual Climate Innovation Exhibition from 4-6 October 2022.

The exhibition saw 400 registrants and 640 virtual exhibition booth visits at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, in Egypt, held as a side event at the COP27 meetings of the parties on climate change.

SPREP stated that Tonga's Minister for Finance and National Planning, Hon. Tiofilusi Tiueti, reflected on the powerful underwater volcanic eruption that blanketed parts of the Kingdom of Tonga with ash and the devastating tsunami.

He said  the challenges involved in responding to disasters underscored the need for innovative approaches and enabling capacity in the current state of climate emergency, as declared by the Pacific Island leaders.

The survival of the Pacific peoples’, livelihoods, cultures, and well-being was being negotiated and he reiterated the Pacific leaders’ call for a loss and damage financing to be part of the long-term solution.

Supporting innovation

SPREP Director-General, Mr. Sefanaia Nawadra, reflected on the function of the PCCC to support innovation and how the event will further lead to the formulation of an innovation partnership framework for the Pacific

He said it was a platform that brought those with the challenges and those with the solutions into the same space to dialogue and share knowledge.

The innovation partnership framework once developed would lead to the formulation of innovative climate change products and services available in the Pacific Islands region, along with improved access to funding for innovation solutions and responses to climate change, and more private sector engagement on climate finance opportunities.

The event featured examples of innovative solutions being developed in the Pacific Islands. The speakers were from the Fiji Electric Vehicle Public Transport sector, the Niue Ocean Conservation Credit, and the Carbon/NBS Project Development in Tonga.

Project on Capacity Building

The Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre, Ms. ‘Ofa Ma’asi-Kaisamy, recapped on both the ideas of the Hon. Minister for Finance of Tonga and Director General of SPREP, stating that the Pacific Islands need novel, useful, and sustainable innovative solutions to strengthen the resilience of Pacific people to climate change.

She also introduced the newly approved Project on Capacity Building Supporting the Pacific to Access Climate Innovative Solutions, which is funded by the Government of Japan through JICA in partnership with the Government of Samoa and the Pacific Climate Change Centre. The new project is due to start implementation in 2023.

The event at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion featured examples of innovative solutions being developed in the Pacific Islands. The speakers were from the Fiji Electric Vehicle Public Transport sector, the Niue Ocean Conservation Credit, and the Carbon/NBS Project Development in Tonga.

The panel presentation brought to light the innovative solutions and opportunities for the Pacific and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the climate innovation space.

SPREP through the PCCC will use the event to forge partnerships and develop the innovation partnership strategic framework for the region.