Climate Positive Action in the Pacific
Rising sea temperatures, extreme weather events, coastal flooding and erosion, food security pressures, coral bleaching and degradation are just some of the consequences of climate change affecting all Pacific nations. Pacific nations contribute as little as 0.03 percent to global greenhouse gas levels yet are the most at risk to the impact of climate change and the flow on social and economic implications. In this article we are shining the light on the work being done in the Pacific to mitigate climate change by providing some examples of projects throughout the Pacific that are leading the fight against climate change and its related effects.
Solomon Islands – Tina River Hydro Development Project
The Tina River Hydro Development Project is a National project of Solomon Islands, under the guide of the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification. The project aims to move Solomon Islanders away from their reliance on diesel power, enabling the Solomon Islands to exceed its 2025 greenhouse gas emissions target by two and a half times. The project is financed by the Australian Infrastructure Faculty for the Pacific, the Government of Australia, the International Development Fund, the Green Climate Fund, the Economic Development Compensation Fund, the Asian Development Bank and the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Marshall Islands – Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector (ACWA Project)
The ACWA Project, led by the Government of the Marshall Islands with the support of the Green Climate Fund is an adaptation project aimed at reducing the potential impact of climate change on the country’s drinking water supplies – which are concentrated in vulnerable areas on the small, low-lying island atolls of the Marshalls and which are highly susceptible to rising sea levels. The ACWA Project plans to mitigate the impact of climate change by improving household and community rainwater harvesting and storage structures, as well as securing groundwater resources from seawater intrusion.
Fiji – The World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework
There is no more ominous warning of the effects of climate-induced disaster on Pacific nations and their economies than what the island nation of Fiji has been experiencing in recent years. Over the course of 2020, Fiji experienced both Cyclone Harold and Yasa, alongside the impacts of COVID-19. In support of Fiji, the World Bank has announced a Country Partnership Framework aimed at bolstering the Fijian economy and strengthening fiscal, climate and social resilience. The Partnership, amongst other things, aims to increase Fiji’s resilience to climate-induced disasters by enabling access to disaster funds, improving emergency planning, and assisting in the development of a sustainable Blue Economy.
Tonga – Towards Climate Change Resilient Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Tonga
Like other Pacific nations, Tonga is reliant on its coastal fisheries and related aquaculture sectors for food security for its people. As such, the Green Climate Fund, in tandem with the Tongan Government and The Pacific Community (who are the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region) are working on strengthening the Tongan economy’s resilience against climate change – through a project adequately titled “Towards Climate Change Resilient Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Tonga”. The Project seeks to increase the resilience of Tonga’s coastal fisheries and aquaculture sectors by, amongst other things, improving community-based fisheries/aquaculture management, enhancing local livelihood resilience, and strengthening governance as well as improving institutional and policy frameworks.
Vanuatu – Supporting Climate Resilient Water Security for Rural Communities
With climate change influencing severe weather events, such as intense cyclones, extreme rainfall, changes in ENSO oscillation, increased air temperature and rising sea levels (GreenClimate, 2021), the country’s water systems will endure physical damage from seawater intrusion and bacterial contamination if no preventative measures are taken. If such events continue, rural communities within Vanuatu will be vulnerable to these effects. To minimise such risks, the Green Climate Fund has approved ‘Project Preparation’, to support climate resilient water security for rural communities across Vanuatu. This will be achieved by ‘enhancing community-based planning and adaption for climate-resilient water management, developing climate-resilient rural water infrastructure, and creating an enabling environment at provincial and national level to better address climate risks associated with water security (GreenClimate, 2021).
Samoa – Partnership with Conservation International and Blue Prosperity Coalition
The ocean is a vital centre of life and culture for Samoa – with its protection necessary for the country’s future. As such, the Government of Samoa officially launched the Samoa Ocean Strategy on October 16, 2020. The project commits to protecting 30% of their ocean area (36,000km2) by 2025, with a strategic plan to sustainably manage its entire ocean domain (120,000km2) in the future. As supported by Conversation International, this strategy provides long term goals and objectives toward sustainable ocean management, with the core of this aimed at sustainable development, conservation, traditional knowledge, collaboration, science, and food security (Conversation International, 2020).
Papua New Guinea – Climate Change Action Plan with Australia
PNG and Australia have agreed on a Climate Change Action Plan, that acknowledges their mutual commitment to addressing climate change risks. Significantly, Australia has committed to its continual support to PNG in regards to enhancing the capacity of PNG’s Government institutions to implement climate change policies and access international financing, that will assist in strengthening the resilience of rural communities and the construction of climate smart infrastructure.
As global temperatures inch closer to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, the risk of dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate rises with it. If the world does not act quickly, the majority of projects in the Pacific will be heavily focussed on mitigation rather than adaptation, as Pacific nations attempt to adapt to an ever-changing climate that is being caused by the “developed” world. Pacific Legal Network has a long history of working on projects aimed at alleviating risks posed by climate change and other environmental issues and is accredited by the Green Climate Fund as an observer organisation.
"Mtazamo wa ""Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa"" katika Pasifiki: ""Kupanda kwa joto la bahari, matukio ya hali ya hewa kali, mafuriko ya pwani na uharibifu, shinikizo la usalama wa chakula, rangi ya matumbawe na uharibifu ni baadhi tu ya matokeo ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanayoathiri mataifa yote ya Pasifiki." Nchi za Pasifiki zinachangia asilimia 0.03 tu ya viwango vya gesi chafu vya ulimwengu, lakini ndio zilizo hatarini zaidi kwa athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na athari zake za kijamii na kiuchumi. Katika makala hii, tunaangazia kazi inayofanywa katika Pasifiki kupunguza mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kwa kutoa mifano ya miradi kote Pasifiki ambayo inaongoza mapambano dhidi ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na athari zake zinazohusiana. Mji wa Solomon Islands ni sehemu ya mradi wa maendeleo ya maji ya Mto Tina, ambao ni mradi wa kitaifa wa Solomon Islands chini ya uongozi wa Wizara ya Madini, Nishati na Umeme wa Vijijini. Mradi huo unakusudia kuondoa utegemezi wa watu wa Visiwa vya Solomon kwenye nishati ya dizeli, na kuwezesha Visiwa vya Solomon kuzidi lengo lake la uzalishaji wa gesi chafu kwa miaka miwili na nusu. Mradi huo unafadhiliwa na Chuo cha Miundombinu cha Australia kwa Pasifiki, Serikali ya Australia, Mfuko wa Maendeleo ya Kimataifa, Mfuko wa Hali ya Hewa ya Kijani, Mfuko wa Mfuko wa Mfuko wa Maendeleo ya Kiuchumi, Benki ya Maendeleo ya Asia na Mfuko wa Abu Dhabi kwa Maendeleo. "Mashariki ya Mashariki: ""Mashirika ya Uhifadhi wa Maji ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki ya Mashariki." Mradi wa ACWA unakusudia kupunguza athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kwa kuboresha nyumba na jamii za kukusanya maji ya mvua na kuhifadhi miundo, na pia kulinda rasilimali za maji ya chini ya ardhi kutoka kwa uvamizi wa maji ya bahari. Mfumo wa Ushirikiano wa Nchi wa Benki ya Dunia wa Fiji: Hakuna onyo la kutisha zaidi la athari za msiba unaosababishwa na hali ya hewa kwa mataifa ya Pasifiki na uchumi wao kuliko kile taifa la kisiwa cha Fiji limekuwa likipata katika miaka ya hivi karibuni. Mwaka 2020, Fiji ilipata dhoruba ya Kimbunga Harold na Yasa, pamoja na athari za COVID-19. Kwa msaada wa Fiji, Benki ya Dunia imetangaza Mfumo wa Ushirikiano wa Nchi unaolenga kuimarisha uchumi wa Fiji na kuimarisha usaidizi wa kifedha, hali ya hewa na kijamii. Ushirikiano huo, miongoni mwa mambo mengine, unakusudia kuongeza uwezo wa Fiji wa kukabiliana na majanga yanayotokana na hali ya hewa kwa kuwezesha upatikanaji wa fedha za majanga, kuboresha mipango ya dharura, na kusaidia katika maendeleo ya uchumi wa bluu endelevu. Tonga: Kuelekea Mabadiliko ya Hali ya Hewa Uvuvi wa Pwani na Ufugaji wa Maji Tonga Kama mataifa mengine ya Pasifiki, Tonga inategemea uvuvi wake wa pwani na sekta zinazohusiana na ufugaji wa maji kwa usalama wa chakula kwa watu wake. "Mfuko wa Hali ya Hewa ya Kijani, pamoja na Serikali ya Tonga na Jumuiya ya Pasifiki (ambayo ni shirika kuu la kisayansi na kiufundi katika mkoa wa Pasifiki), wanafanya kazi ya kuimarisha uthabiti wa uchumi wa Tonga dhidi ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kupitia mradi unaoitwa ""Kufikia Uvuvi wa Pwani na Ufugaji wa Samaki wa Hali ya Hewa Tonga.""" Mradi huo unatafuta kuongeza nguvu za uvuvi wa pwani ya Tonga na sekta za ufugaji wa samaki kwa, miongoni mwa mambo mengine, kuboresha usimamizi wa uvuvi wa jamii, kuongeza nguvu za maisha ya ndani, na kuimarisha utawala na kuboresha mifumo ya taasisi na sera. Vanuatu: Kuunga mkono Usalama wa Maji ya Uvumilivu wa Hali ya Hewa kwa Jamii za Vijijini Pamoja na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanayoathiri matukio mabaya ya hali ya hewa, kama vile vimbunga vikali, mvua kali, mabadiliko katika oscillation ya ENSO, kuongezeka kwa joto la hewa na kuongezeka kwa viwango vya bahari (Green Climate, 2021), mifumo ya maji ya nchi itateseka uharibifu wa kimwili kutoka kwa uvamizi wa maji ya bahari na uchafuzi wa bakteria. Ikiwa matukio kama hayo yataendelea, jamii za vijijini ndani ya Vanuatu zitakuwa hatarini kwa athari hizi. Ili kupunguza hatari kama hizo, Mfuko wa Hali ya Hewa ya Kijani umekubali "Utayarishaji wa Mradi", kusaidia usalama wa maji wa hali ya hewa kwa jamii za vijijini kote Vanuatu. Hii itatimizwa kwa kuimarisha mipango ya msingi wa jamii na marekebisho kwa usimamizi wa maji wa hali ya hewa, kuendeleza miundombinu ya maji ya vijijini ya hali ya hewa, na kuunda mazingira ya kuwezesha katika ngazi ya mkoa na kitaifa ili kukabiliana vizuri na hatari za hali ya hewa zinazohusiana na usalama wa maji (GreenClimate, 2021). Samoa <unk> Ushirikiano na Conservation International na Blue Prosperity Coalition Bahari ni kituo muhimu cha maisha na utamaduni kwa Samoa <unk> na ulinzi wake muhimu kwa siku zijazo za nchi. Serikali ya Samoa ilizindua Mkakati wa Bahari ya Samoa mnamo Oktoba 16, 2020. Mkataba huo unazingatia kulinda asilimia 30 ya eneo la bahari (km2 36,000) ifikapo mwaka 2025, na mpango wa kimkakati wa kusimamia kwa njia endelevu eneo lote la bahari (km2 120,000) katika siku zijazo. "Kama inavyoungwa mkono na ""Mazungumzo ya Kimataifa,"" mkakati huu hutoa malengo ya muda mrefu na malengo kuelekea usimamizi endelevu wa bahari, na kiini cha hii inakusudia maendeleo endelevu, uhifadhi, maarifa ya jadi, ushirikiano, sayansi, na usalama wa chakula. """ Papua New Guinea na Australia wamekubaliana juu ya mpango wa hatua za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa, ambayo inathibitisha kujitolea kwa pande zote za kushughulikia hatari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Australia imeahidi kuendelea kusaidia PNG katika kuboresha uwezo wa taasisi za serikali za PNG kutekeleza sera za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kupata fedha za kimataifa, ambazo zitasaidia kuimarisha nguvu za jamii za vijijini na ujenzi wa miundombinu ya hali ya hewa. "Wakati joto la dunia linapokaribia 1.5 ° C juu ya viwango vya kabla ya viwanda, hatari ya kuingiliwa hatari ya binadamu na hali ya hewa inaongezeka. """ """Ikiwa dunia haitachukua hatua haraka, miradi mingi katika Pasifiki itazingatia sana kupunguza badala ya kukabiliana, wakati mataifa ya Pasifiki yanajaribu kukabiliana na hali ya hewa inayobadilika daima ambayo inasababishwa na ulimwengu wa maendeleo." Mtandao wa Sheria wa Pasifiki una historia ndefu ya kufanya kazi kwenye miradi inayolenga kupunguza hatari zinazosababishwa na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na masuala mengine ya mazingira na imeidhinishwa na Mfuko wa Hali ya Hewa ya Kijani kama shirika la mtazamaji.