The Pacific Climate Change Centre

15 November 2016, UNFCCC COP22, Marrakech, Morocco - The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) was the focus of a special event at the UN Climate talks in Marrakech this week. The PCCC is to be the shared regional climate hub for inclusive collaboration and coordination to address and meet adaptation and mitigation priorities of Pacific island countries and territories.

It was during the special event titled Climate resilient development in SIDS: Opportunities provided by the Pacific Climate Change Centre that panellists presented from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Government of Samoa. The PCCC is funded by the Government of Japan in partnership with the Government of Samoa and SPREP. It will be built at the SPREP Campus in Apia, Samoa, and is planned to be completed come mid-2018.

Some highlights of the special event also saw panellists from the Governments of Australia, Fiji and Vanuatu as well as the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) outline their climate change work in the Pacific, and how the PCCC can help add value.

The side event was facilitated by Dr Netatua Pelesikoti the Director of Climate Change at SPREP. She introduced the event by asking, "What is resilient development? It may mean different things to different communities and people. Examples from the Pacific could mean being able to recover quickly after a cyclone in terms of accessing to food and water; it may mean that fish return and their habitat recover and or multiply quickly or adapting to changing climate." The PCCC will address these needs through partnership and collaboration.

"I look forward to the active discussions on hour best the Pacific Climate Change Centre can serve the capacity building needs of the Pacific region," said Mr Ichiro Sato, Deputy Director, Climate Change Office, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)"

"This Pacific Climate Change Centre is for all the Pacific island countries, because this is your asset, this centre belongs to all of you," said Ms. Peseta Noumea Simi, CEO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Samoa"

"This centre will be a shared regional resource – a climate hub where Pacific island countries, partners, donors and key stakeholders will be able to share experiences and coordinate climate action whether it be on adaptation, mitigation, climate finance, and meteorological services. It is in these areas, amongst others, that the PCCC will deliver critical support services and add value to existing regional mechanisms on climate change and integrated disaster risk management. It does not aim to duplicate but aims to complement," said Mr Kosi Latu, Director General, SPREP.