Conroy has climate change talk with Minister Mahaga

BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Hon. Pat Conroy Minister for International Development and the Pacific said he had a fruitful conversation with Environment Minister Trevor Magaha during his recent visit to the country.

“I had a good conversation with the climate change minister,’’ said Minister Conroy.

“Climate change is the number one existential threat to the Pacific including Australia and we are proud that we’re taking strong climate action in Australia and supporting strong climate action in the Pacific,’’ he said.

Speaking to local media at the SINU Panatina campus last week, Conroy said that Australia is supporting the rollout of Renewable energy in SI and is the main backer of the Tina Hydro project.

“we’re supporting the rollout of renewable energy in the Solomon Islands including being a big backer of the Tina River Hydropower project that will provide 70% of the power to Honiara.

He further stated that Australia supports four off-grid renewable energy partnerships with 5.4 million Solomon Island dollars and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

“Importantly, we’re also helping the Solomon Islands access international climate finance, global climate finance, but that’s taking too long and the Pacific is not getting its fair share. So, we’re also investing in Pacific climate funds. So, we’ve announced a 550 million Solomon dollars investment in the Pacific Climate Resilient Fund, Pacific Resilient Fund,’’ said Conroy.

He said that the PRF is about small climate projects for the Pacific that are being funded and run by the Pacific.

“So, you don’t have to worry about the big bureaucracy around the world. It can be the Pacific driving this agenda and we’re proud to be the biggest contributor to it and providing 550 million Solomon Island dollars. So, we’re a strong climate partner with the Solomon Islands,’’ he said.

He stated that Australia will continue to advocate for strong climate action and match their rhetoric with action on the ground.