The very first Pacific Environment Forum opened in Samoa today, drawing upon the expertise and experience of Pacific environment workers to discuss three vital issues of importance for our region. Today panelists made presentations on: a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, environmental governance in the Pacific and, adapting to climate change.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe in the Pacific are fortunate that we still maintain to a large extent our traditions and practices that govern the way we manage and use our natural resources. We have also developed modern and contemporary systems,\u201d said the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Government of Samoa, Hon. Fa\u2019amoetauloa Lealaiauloto Taito Ulaitino Dr F. Tumaali\u2019I. He opened today\u2019s forum with an address that also reflected upon Pacific ownership of our environment. <\/p>\n
The Pacific Environment Forum is an initiative from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). It has come about from requests from SPREP members to allow for discussions on key environment issues to the region, outside of the annual SPREP Meeting agenda topics. <\/p>\n
Alphonse Kambu, the Programme Officer, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also spoke at today\u2019s opening ceremony calling upon partnerships to help bring about a thriving green economy. <\/p>\n
\u201cEnvironmental, economic and social crises the world is experiencing today demand governments, international development agencies, and civil society groups to form partnerships and explore innovative and integrated solutions aimed at greening the world economy. These solutions will require investment in clean technologies and building the green economy which creates jobs and opportunities.\u201d <\/p>\n
Participants at the Pacific Environment Forum divided into three different working groups in the afternoon to discuss how their topic area can feed into the final outcomes document to be presented at the end of the day.<\/p>\n