Expert Committee for the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5)
Discussion Outline of the 3rd Meeting

1. Date:

Tuesday January 13, 2009 09:30-11:40

2. Venue:

Conference Room in Mita Kaigisho, Tokyo

3. Participants:

Committee members:

• Mr. Kobayashi (Chair)
• Mr. Kusano, Ms. Chino, Mr. Tokita, Ms. Nakano, Mr. Noda

Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

• Mr. Yamada, Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation Bureau
• Mr. Iwama, Director, Oceanian Division, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau

Other officials

• Observers: Government and governmental organizations officials

4. Agenda:

5. Outline of discussion:

(1) Opening Remarks by the Chair, Mr. Kobayashi

This is already the 3rd meeting, and we should be thinking of the final proposal of this Expert Committee. Today, Mr. Asterio Takesy, Director of South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP), is going to give us a presentation, followed by free discussion.

(2) Presentation by Mr. Asterio Takesy, Director of SPREP

(a) Summary

Pacific island nations are, in many ways, vulnerable, faced with impediments in terms of economic development, such as limited land areas, small market sizes, and remoteness from the major global market. Recently, damages caused by cyclones are expanding, resulting in coastal erosion, destruction of houses, and damages to biodiversity. Global warming is also significantly endangering coral reefs and fishery. Climate change, as well as pollution, has negative impacts on the Pacific Ocean and has a lot to do with the Pacific's sustainability - Yet, it is beyond Pacific islands' direct control.

Pacific island leaders have been expressing concerns over climate change since 1990. In 2005, Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change (PIFACC) was adopted and Pacific Roundtable was established, in which SPREP coordinates donors and other stakeholders to execute actual projects. We also discussed climate change at Pacific Islands Forum held in Niue in 2008, focusing on greenhouse gas emission reduction of post-Kyoto protocol period. Because we think all the nations should reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, PIF has set out target to reduce 33 per cent greenhouse gas emissions by 2015.

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project (PACC) receives a special fund of US$13 million from Global Environment Facility (GEF). This regional project involves all the island nations except for Kiribati that has its own program. PACC focuses vulnerable fields, such as food production and security, water sources, and coastal area management. It should be region-oriented, and SPREP works through community empowerment.

In addition, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Islands Applied Geosciences Commission (SOPAC), and the University of South Pacific (USP) are also active for climate change. We now realize how sustainability encompasses economy, society, and environment.

SPREP is run with funds from GEF, but Australia and New Zealand each contributes US$ 1 million as well. Another GEF fund of US$100 million is expected, but GEF is bureaucratic at times and there remain obstacles like complex procedures. We are now negotiating an EU fund of US$ 96 million that is applicable to climate change and other environmental programs over 5 years. My understanding is that Japan has not yet assisted Pacific island countries through Cool Earth Partnership fund.

The Pacific Roundtable brings together Australia, New Zealand, the US, France, and EU. They will help us to enhance local people's awareness on climate change.

While PACC is targeted to adaptation to climate change, we are also attempting in the area of mitigation through PIGGAREP - the Pacific Islands Greenhouse Gas Abatement through Renewable Energy Project. We seek international assistance to protect the environment. As discussed at Poznan Conference (COP 14), we look forward to the success of the pilot project with Saga University applying Ocean Thermal Energy.

Solid waste management is critical for the Pacific islands - Because it is a serious, ongoing issue, we strive to obtain funds for it and make legal adaptation. We have been promoting the Regional Waste Management Strategy since 2005, but some nations have not yet committed to it.

In short, we would like Japan to seriously consider the environmental issues at the next PALM.

(b) SPREP's Requests to Japan

• We value scientific information but lack funds, appropriate human resources, proper data, and technical expertise. Japan has experts, technology, and early prevention systems that we would like Japan to share with us.
• Japanese assistance to date has been focusing on fishery and infrastructure but not climate change that is important for future sustainability. Therefore, we would like Japan to support local leaders and villagers in this field based on correct scientific data.
• The Adaptation Fund under the Kyoto Protocol has been established but should be more accessible.
• Assistance should help local islanders to understand, analyze, and find appropriate solutions to climate change on their own.
• The UK funded the Pacific Climate Change Film Festival, which was a great success. Japan could do likewise and help us in with climate change.
• As for waste management, JICA has introduced Samoa the Fukuoka Method, which was successful and should be continued. Ocean pollution and invasive species can be other assistance areas.
• We would like the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and JICA to make ODA more accessible.

(c) Comments and Questions to Mr. Takesy

• SPREP is an international agency - Does it conduct its own projects?
• What is the priority for SPREP among all the environmental concerns?
• Japanese assistance is unique in its grass-roots approach and region-wide cooperation, which should be applied in environmental projects as well. It is essential to empower community and involve locals to adapt to global warming - What do you think is the best way to make it with JOCV and grant assistance for grass-roots human security projects in this matter?
• What will be the best way to share the success of the Fukuoka Method in Samoa in other nations?
• What is SPREP's stance on environmental refugee?

(d) Response from Mr. Takesy to questions above

• SPREP is not a donor agency but receives funds from organizations like UNDP, UNEP, WB and ADB to implement projects.
• Climate change is the priority.
• One way is capacity building through training, for example on how to set up the solar energy system and maintain it. Another is to introduce the locals crops tolerant of strong saltwater.
• Funds are needed to apply the Fukuoka Method in other nations and I will discuss it with JICA later. Waste management assistance is especially crucial in coral atolls.
• The word `environmental refugee' has a political implication - SPREP is not a political organization. It only offers information and options to those who are in trouble. Yet, this issue entails various political elements and pacific island nations would like to avoid discussing it.

(3) Presentation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Yamada, Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation Bureau, explained Japanese assistance to the Pacific region associated with climate change. Its measures consist of two themes: mitigation and adaptation, and Japan concentrates on the latter. Assistance examples include - granting Tuvalu a seawater desalination unit as grant assistance for grass-roots human security project; training programs for weather forecasters; and grant aid project for improving the meteorological observation and forecast system. There are also malaria prevention projects in infectious diseases sector; technical cooperation projects held at the Palau International Coral Reef Center in biodiversity conservation sector; and Project for Eco-technological management of Tuvalu against sea level rise. Mitigation approach leads to assistance in renewable energy such as solar and water energy.

Regardless of the assistance area, one of the biggest challenges is project sustainability - whether or not the islands can maintain and operate granted equipments by themselves, for example. Additionally, it is difficult to increase aid for the Pacific region when total ODA is decreasing. The Pacific islands' priority was not climate change or the environment during the 20th century, which is why Japan had not prioritized it either. However, the island nations are susceptible to climate change, and Japan will focus more on this field.

(4) Free Discussion

• It was surprising to hear from Mr. Takesy that Japanese assistance has not been emphasizing environmental issues. My understanding was different, but if the island nations have such impression, it should be corrected. I agree with Mr. Takesy's opinion that environmental issues are the priority and should be brought up at PALM too. Perhaps Japan should consider its stance on environmental refugee as well.
• Even if climate change is the priority, accountability is needed when spending public money. In addition to the key words of 'prioritization' and 'emphasis,' it should be organized and thus easy to grasp Japanese assistance for each country.
• Japanese government should make the best use of private and other sectors, such as Japan Foundation that is working on the regional coast guard project. It is disappointing that Japanese assistance is passive. Although Japanese role in international society is clear, Japanese national strategy is uncertain, being too influenced by the world. Japan should properly investigate the reality and stand with its own national interest. Japanese policy should be firm when assisting this important region in respect to environmental issues.
• Mr. Takesy's insight on environmental issues is valuable. In order to respond to such an urgent need, Japan must clarify its aid objectives and improve by unifying its aid implementation bodies. We must point out Japanese administration shortfalls in our proposal, which will also lead to prompt implementation. Japanese assistance in early prevention is easy for the public to see.
• When narrowing down the assistance fields, assistance promptness should be valued too. We can include this point in the proposal. In short, late service is not so appreciated.

Chair's opinion to the above

• The word 'environmental refugee' is politically used by non-islanders at the international level, whereas people of the Pacific islands do not think that way or discuss it. Therefore, we should not use this word.

(5) Announcement about Next Meeting & (6) Closing Remarks (both by the Chair)

I would like us to start thinking of the proposal of this Expert Committee and thus discuss what Japan should do for the big event, PALM. We could then narrow down assistance areas for PALM 5, such as people to people exchange, education, and environment. I would like each member to consider my draft that was just passed out. If there are any questions, I will answer by the next Expert Committee meeting so that we will be more prepared for the upcoming discussion.

(Approved by each member)

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