BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
New Zealand strongly supports Australia and the Pacific to lead the agenda for the pre-Conference of the Parties (COP31st) meetings to be held in the Pacific.
Marnie Gilberts, New Zealand High Commission’s First Secretary, made the remark at the Climate Change dialogue on Tuesday at the national museum auditorium.
“New Zealand is particularly excited and strongly supports the arrangements for Australia, together with the Pacific, to lead the agenda for pre-COP31st meetings to be held in the Pacific. I acknowledge Australia for the major efforts to bring these conversations closer to home.
“This creates a really powerful opportunity to ensure Pacific perspectives, Pacific science, and Pacific community experiences are visible on the global stage,” she said.
Ms Gilberts said that it allows for greater focus on the realities facing communities across the region, including the Solomon Islands.
“From our position, we’re committed to working with Australia and the Pacific, including Solomon Islands, to help ensure COP31st, including all the pre-COP31st meetings, is successful and delivers meaningful progress,” she said.
She adds that another area where global cooperation is really essential is around climate finance.
“New Zealand is committed to delivering our obligations around climate finance. We deliver our climate finance through what we call the International Development Cooperation Program. It is all grant-based, and it’s partner-led. So that means recognising Pacific priorities, and well over half of that goes towards adaptation efforts,” she said.
She said that over half of New Zealand’s international development cooperation is directed to the Pacific.
“For us, impact is key, whether through improved early warning systems, better climate science, stronger community resilience, or sustainable livelihoods,” Gilberts said.
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