Pacific Countries will be benefiting from a $14-million (US$9.7 million) climate change funding support from the New Zealand government.
The five-year funding assistance will help Pacific countries in addressing the impacts of climate change in the region.
The fund will be channelled through the Pacific Community programme to improve food security, livelihoods, economic and environmental resilience in the Pacific.
New Zealand Minister for Pacific Peoples and Minister for Courts, Aupito William Sio announced the funding during the Pacific Fisheries Minister virtual meeting last week.
“Climate change remains an enormous challenge in the region. We note that the coastal fisheries resources have been under increasing pressure as a result of climate change, pollution, and, as noted at last year’s Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting, the impacts of COVID-19.
The new project will build on the significant progress made over the last five years in developing and implementing relevant legal and policy frameworks, setting biosecurity standards, and providing business and technical training for aquaculture enterprises,” Sio said.
Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Jeremiah Manele has called on Pacific Island countries to work on innovative ways to ensure everyone benefited from Pacific marine resources.
He said Pacific leaders should consider developing strategies that will address the impacts of climate change in the fisheries sector.
“We need to focus on key strategic issues to align ourselves in the battle against climate change, and our fisheries are important. More or so, we have to work together on innovative solutions to cope with climate change and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.”
Newly appointed Chair of the Pacific Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting (RFMM), Semi Koroilavesau has appealed for greater solidarity to overcome all obstacles through harnessing collective strengths.
“We are stronger together, and as a nation, we can overcome all obstacles if we keep harnessing our collective strengths”, Minister Koroilavesau said.
SOURCE: SIBC/PACNEWS
