Presentation by: Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat 31
October, 2012 MSG Leaders Declaration on Environment & Climate
Change Slide 2 Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) At a Glance
Established in 1988 Members: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu and the Kanaks of New Caledonia Purpose
inter-membership trade exchange of Melanesian cultures, traditions
and values Sovereign equality economic and technical cooperation
amongst members Alignment of policies in order to further MSG
members shared goals of economic growth, sustainable development,
good governance and security 2 Country Population (Estimated
Figure) Land Area (sqkm) Total GDP 2010 (US$b) GDP Growth Rate
(2011) PNG 6,732,000 (2009)452,8609.88.9% Solomon Is 530,669
(2010)27,9900.679.3% Fiji 837,271 (2007)18,2703.22.1% Vanuatu
234,023 (2009)12,1900.684.3% Slide 3 Key Melanesia Environment
Challenges 3 Threats to the loss of species and bio-diversity, and
invasion of species; Harvesting and exploitation of natural
resources (forestry, fishery, mining etc.) without suitable
environmental and conservation safeguards; Soil erosion and
degradation of coastal marine ecosystems; Loss of terrestrial
ecosystem and resultant loss of vital water supply, food and
traditional medicine, and employment and income; and Impact of
climate change across all sectors of society, and in particular on
and around the low lying islands, which will exacerbate the impacts
of current unsustainable resource use and poor environmental
management Slide 4 MSG Leaders signed the MSG Leaders Declaration
on Environment and Climate Change Declaration on 30 March 2012. 1.
Recognise the critical importance of a healthy environment for the
long term livelihoods of our people and the need for us to take
significant steps to ensure the management and conservation of our
unique ecosystems and biodiversity including our tropical forests,
river systems, mountain and coastal ecosystems and marine
resources; 2. Realize the global importance and contribution of our
Melanesian marine and terrestrial biodiversity to Global
Biodiversity and the need for urgent and significant action to
conserve and manage these resources; 3. Highlight that climate
change adds to the existing challenges of growing populations and
socio- economic development threatening the status of our natural
environment, and the role of healthy ecosystems as essential
natural infrastructure in mitigating and protecting us from the
impacts of climate change; MSG Leaders Declaration on Environment
& Climate Change 4 Slide 5 1) Endorse the adoption of a
Framework for Green Growth as the basis for all development and
note the significance of existing regional initiatives such as the
Pacific Mangroves Initiative, Coral Triangle Initiative and other
related initiatives supported by donors and partners; and 2) Call
for a Melanesia Blue Carbon Initiative 3) Announce the
establishment of a Melanesia Terrestrial Commitment 4) Call for the
development of a Melanesia Green Climate Fund 5) Commit to a
significant MSG role in Environment and Climate Change issues by
formalizing an MSG Environment and Climate Change Ministers
meeting, an MSG Environmental and Climate Change Technical Advisory
Group and an Environment and Climate Change Unit in the MSG
Secretariat Declaration 5 Slide 6 MSG Green Growth Framework
Overall objective: Enhancing economic growth and development
through the avoidance of loss of biodiversity and unsustainable use
of natural resources, and the prevention of environmental
degradation with a view to improving societys welfare 6 Slide 7
Potential areas of focus national green growth at the national
level Integration of green growth opportunities into national
planning Better integration of national sustainable development
policies, including climate change mitigation and adaptation (and
others such as DRR, social development, poverty reduction,
infrastructure) Promote innovative financing mechanisms Fiscal and
budgetary reforms to promote more sustainable production and
consumption, and to finance a green growth transition Promote best
available technology transfer Promote eco-efficiency in the
productive sector such as SMEs Traditional governance for resource
conservation Public outreach 7 Slide 8 Key sectors of a Green
economy Mining Forest management Fisheries Energy Agriculture
Manufacturing Infrastructure and transport Tourism Important role
for government is to create an enabling environment for private
sector led green growth. 8 Slide 9 Dual Consultative modality 9
Slide 10 Melanesia Blue Carbon Initiative Call for a Melanesia Blue
Carbon Initiative that recognizes the significant role of
mangroves, wetlands, coastal swamps and sea grass beds in
sequestering carbon as well as other inherent benefits such as
coastal protection and food security. This initiative will inform
decision makers in Melanesia on the scale and value of these
important areas as well as a strategy to conserve and manage these
resources. 10 Slide 11 Draft Proposals Proposal 1: Identification
of the contribution of Melanesian blue carbon in the global carbon
storage and fluxes. Proposal 2: Awareness raising on the role of
blue carbon in carbon sequestration in relation to climate change.
Proposal 3: Identify funding opportunities to support the
protection and management of mangroves, seagrass and other coastal
ecosystems as a contribution to global mitigation efforts. Proposal
4: Monitoring and evaluation of the change of the extent and value
of blue carbon resources 11 Slide 12 Melanesia Terrestrial
Commitment Commitment to Conserve and Manage Forests Major water
catchments and river systems Mountain and coastal ecosystems
Sustainable Land use practices Agriculture Development Engage and
Support traditional landowners Manage and conserve their
environment 12 Slide 13 Recognizing communities role with the
environment - Communities are owners or caretakers of environment
goods - Development and conservation partnerships - Commit
communities to management of natural resources - Support governance
structures - Long term engagement - Spreads benefits of development
or resource boom beyond resource owners 13 Slide 14 Melanesia Green
Fund Development of a Melanesia Green Climate Fund and matching
national funding mechanisms to be resourced by climate change
mitigation and adaptation funding and other innovative mechanisms
including investments from the mining and extraction industries and
private sector, that will support the implementation of the
Melanesia Terrestrial Initiative and related marine activities to
undertake climate mitigation and adaptation action Establishiment
Seed funding Contribution by other development partners 14 Slide 15
Conceptual thoughts on Climate Fund Sub-regional entry point
National pool Community input Regional partnerships Cross country
focus Supporting National environment development focus Access into
communities Partnership in Green Growth process Pacific Islands
Regional Multi-Country Coordinating Mechanism proposal 15 Slide 16
Useful Lessons 16 All of the Countries in the MSG have developed
National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA). Many adaptation
programmes at community level Vanuatu Community Pilots, Tegua
Relocation & Paama Rainwater Harvesting projects PNG focus on 6
priority area s - Coastal flooding, sea-level rise, Inland
flooding, Landslides, Malaria and vector-borne diseases,
Agriculture yield and damage to coral reef. Fiji - AusAid Building
Resilience Project Ba and Macuata Province - to protect and improve
coastal ecosystem services and support long term food security,
livelihoods and the well being of the Fiji an communities through
activities that reduce community vulnerability to the effects of
climate change. Slide 17 Challenges 17 High cost of travel to outer
islands will be a deterrent to spreading projects Enhance public
education and awareness raising on climate change. Strengthening
institutional mechanisms within members to coordinate CC issues
Harmonization of climate change-related programmes, projects and
initiatives. Coordination of stakeholders and their activities at
the donor- government level and down to the planning and
implementation of cc related programmes Slide 18 Way ForwardMSG 18
Establishment of Environment and Climate Change function within the
Secretariat Initial 2 years support from the German Government
though GIZ National Consultations undertaken on the Draft
Frameworks and working with key Partners UNESCAP, IUCN, GIZ, SPC
Endorsement by MSG Environment and Climate Change Ministers Meeting
Endorsement by MSG Leaders 2013
