Brussels, 16/12/2010 (Agence Europe) - In the immediate aftermath of the Cancun climate conference, a joint EU-Pacific initiative on climate change was launched at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 15 December. The initiative seeks to ensure that a fair share of international climate change funding goes to the small islands states of the Pacific, which are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Development Commissioner Andris Piebalgs and Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Tuiloma Neroni Slade signed a memorandum of understanding, the first step towards a joint integrated strategy to address climate change in the Pacific. The European Commission and the Forum Secretariat will work together with their respective institutions, civil society and private sector, on a joint action plan, which will also embrace the Overseas Countries and Territories. The joint plan will be submitted to a Regional High Level Climate Change Conference, during Commissioner Piebalgs' visit to the Pacific in 2011. Currently, funding of €90 million from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) has been set aside for 2008-2013 to help the Pacific states adapt to climate change. (A.N./transl.rt)