JICA-SPREP renew commitment to combat waste in the Pacific

JICA-SPREP renew commitment to combat waste in the Pacific

A new commitment to review the Pacific Regional Solid Waste Strategy that ends in 2015 and develop a new, integrated Pacific Regional Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy has been signed off between the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

An estimated USD 150,000 has been allocated by JICA to fund the development of the new strategy which will improve waste and pollution management in region until 2025. This new strategy will expand integrated solid, hazardous and pollution control strategies and improve waste and pollution monitoring and reporting efforts.

“The review will be completed in partnership with our Member countries and partners, at every step of the way, as this strategy will reflect the views of our Pacific island members,” said Mr. David Sheppard Director-General of SPREP.

“We are grateful for our friendship and partnership with JICA, we have seen positive outcomes from it and we look forward to the excellent impacts this will have for our island region.”

The consultation and development phases of the strategy include a number of workshops throughout the Pacific island region. The first workshop will be held in Nadi, and will cover the Melanesia sub-region, including Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Wallis & Futuna.

A second consultation workshop will be held in Samoa and will cover the Polynesia sub-region, including Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, American Samoa, and Tokelau. The atoll countries and the Micronesia sub-Region, includingKiribati, Tuvalu, RMI, FSM, Tokelau, Nauru and Palau will meet in Guam in a third workshop.

A final regional workshop will be held in Suva, which will include representatives from French Territories, Micronesia, Polynesia, Melanesia sub-Regions and atoll countries. Donors will be invited to the Regional workshop in Suva where the first draft of the strategy will be presented.

“We look forward to the implementation of this new strategy,” said Mr. Hideyuki Suzuki of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Samoa Office.

“The Pacific islands face difficulties in managing the increasing threats of waste and pollution. We hope this strategy will help people address the regional challenges, helping them to improve their management of waste.”

It is expected that the new Pacific Regional Waste Management and Pollution Control Strategy will be ready for endorsement by the Member countries during the SPREP Meeting, due to be held in September 2015, in Samoa.

ENDS

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