Climate Change financing study commences in Nauru

A Climate Change financing case study has begun on the Pacific island nation of Nauru. At the invitation of the Government of Nauru, a small team of officials from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat was in-country this month to begin the exercise. The ultimate purpose of the case study is to assess the practical application of options for improved access to international finance and related management of climate change resources for Nauru. Nauru is the first country to agree to undertake such a review. “I would like to congratulate the Republic of Nauru for taking on this important exercise,” said the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade. Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2011 reviewed an Options Paper prepared by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat that contained an initial assessment of several modalities and options to improve access to, and management of, climate change resources. To advance the work, Leaders tasked the Forum Secretariat with exploring how national and regional options could work in practice. Mr Russ Kun, Secretary of Nauru’s Department of Commerce, Industry and Environment, welcomed the country study. “Nauru welcomed the opportunity to take part in identifying options suitable for Nauru to access funds and improving linkages to various international funding sources,” said Mr Kun. “We anticipate that this study will assist our nation and people, and eventually, the region, in our shared struggle to address climate change as the greatest challenge of our time.” Mr Slade added that in undertaking this work, the Forum Secretariat will assess the feasibility of the options and associated risks and benefits, taking into account the specific and varying needs of countries. The Nauru study will be completed by August 2012 to allow preliminary recommendations to be presented to Pacific Islands Forum Leaders when they meet in the Cook Island in August this year. The case study will focus on budget support, general and sector support and national trust fund arrangements. Other options will also be considered, based on national priorities as outlined in Nauru’s National Sustainable Development Strategy 2005-2025. Consideration will also be given to the strengths and challenges of national systems, as considered under the Forum Compact Peer Review process. (click here to view the Nauru Peer Review Report 2010) The Forum Secretariat mission to Nauru was carried out in conjunction with other Climate Change-related missions undertaken by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The mission held consultations with a number of senior Nauru Government officials from central planning and financial management agencies and key agencies affected by climate change, including water, energy and fisheries. Representatives of key development partners, non-government organisations and the private sector were also consulted, among others. (Ends) For further information please contact the Forum Secretariat's Communications Officer, Mue Bentley Fisher, via mueb@forumsec.org.fj. Photographs of Nauru scenery may be republished and must be attributed to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.