Climate Change Impact On Food Hits Home

Monday 7 November 2011, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Noumea, New Caledonia -

The theme of 7th Conference of the Pacific Community - Climate change and food security: Managing risks for sustainable development - is one that hits home for Pacific Island delegates gathered in Noumea, New Caledonia this week.

'The theme of our conference is dear to me and my country,' said the Honorable John Silk, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Marshall Islands, in his opening address as chair of the high level conference.

'My small atoll country already faces a wide range of pressures and constraints to achieving long-term sustainable development, due to threats posed by climate change. Our shores are shifting, the salinity in our soil is increasing, our marine resources and fish stocks are changing - all of which put extreme pressure on the livelihoods of Marshallese people, particularly where food and water security are concerned.

'It is timely that we, as a region, discuss the threats of climate change to food and water security,' he said.

Heads of government, ministers and ambassadors from 22 Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) and Australia, France, New Zealand and the USA are deliberating on one of the most critical issues facing the Pacific region today at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) headquarters in Anse Vata, Noumea.

Representatives from regional and international development agencies and international aid donors are also attending the conference.

'The theme of our 7th Conference is Climate Change and Food Security: Managing risks for sustainable development and how appropriate is this given the challenges that our small nations are facing due to climate change, which threatens us with increased frequency, intensity and impact,' said Mr Silk.

He went on to thank the delegates of the 41st meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA), which met last week at SPC headquarters to discuss key issues facing the region.

'Our officials deliberated on three very important matters that are of grave concern to us all: the Pacific non-communicable diseases (NCD) crisis, youth unemployment and climate change,' he said.

'I strongly agree that we need to take urgent action now. We need to arrest the increase of NCDs in our small nations, as they will in the very near future, if not already, have devastating impacts on our societies.

'Youth unemployment is by far the most important challenge facing our young people today. As a region we must find sustainable solutions, and most of these solutions rest in individual countries and territories. We must pick up the pace nationally, as regional and international assistance can only add value, it cannot take over the national responsibilities in addressing the youth challenge.

'In recognising the increasing global focus on climate change, it was prudent of our officials to endorse the adoption of the SPC-wide Climate Change Engagement Strategy. This strategy acknowledges and builds on our Secretariat's existing contribution to building resilience across the broad range of sectors that provide support to us,' the Honourable Minister said.

'Our officials also discussed a range of other matters ranging from technical and scientific to organisational governance and policies. Over the next two days it will be our turn to contribute to the future of our organisation - SPC.'

The Minister also welcomed the representatives from Timor Leste, who are attending Conference for the very first time as observers.

The Pacific region's oldest and largest development agency, SPC addresses climate change through all its technical programmes, including its agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, fisheries, water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction programmes.

The Conference of the Pacific Community, which meets every two years, is SPC's governing body.

SPC's members include the 22 PICTs it serves: American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna, plus its four founding members: Australia, France, New Zealand and the USA.

ENDS

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