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Pacific nations discuss climate change impact on food, water
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Posted on Nov 08 2011
NOUMEA, New Caledonia-Heads of government, ministers and ambassadors from 22 Pacific Island countries and territories, or PICTs, and Australia, France, New Zealand and the United States are meeting in Noumea, New Caledonia for the start yesterday of the two-day 7th Conference of the Pacific Community.
The theme of the conference is “Climate Change and Food Security – Managing the Risks for Sustainable Development.”
Delegates will discuss the impact of climate change on food production and drinking water-one of the most critical issues facing the Pacific region today.
“Managing risks to food security and reducing exposure to extreme weather events are arguably the most pressing climate change issues confronting Pacific nations,” said SPC Director-General Dr. Jimmie Rodgers. “The conference will discuss how to deal with the impacts of climate change on sources of food and drinking water.”
Representatives from regional and international development agencies and international aid donors are also attending the conference.
The Pacific region’s oldest and largest development agency, SPC addresses climate change through all its technical programs, including those in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, fisheries, water and sanitation, and disaster risk reduction.
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. (SPC)
