Section 3 Other Cooperation

1. The Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)

In May 2009, Japan hosted the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5) (Note 9) in Tomamu, Hokkaido, inviting the leaders and representatives of 16 member countries and areas of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). At PALM5, heated discussion on various topics, including the environment and climate change, took place under the catchphrase, "We are islanders – Towards an Eco-friendly and Rich Pacific." As a result of the meeting, the Hokkaido Islanders' Declaration was adopted.

At the meeting Japan announced that it will extend assistance on the scale of 50 billion yen over the next three years. With regard to the environment and climate change issues in particular, Japan also advocated the Pacific Environment Community, an initiative to cooperatively engage in such issues, including international negotiations for COP15. In addition, as part of assistance under this initiative, Japan announced that it will cooperate, through a contribution of 6.8 billion yen to PIF, in the form of a provision of solar panels and seawater desalination units as well as human resources development for 1,500 people in the areas of the environment and climate change. In response to this announcement, participating countries and areas expressed their support, as well as their expectations that Japan will take the lead and provide assistance on the climate change issue, as it affects the existence of their nations.

Notes:

(9) PALM5: The Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting

The Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting

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