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Pacific peoples are the custodians of the world’s largest, most peaceful and abundant ocean, its many islands and its rich diversity of cultures. We celebrate and draw strength from the culture and traditions, language, social values, and religious freedoms and beliefs that bind citizens and communities together, providing sustenance, social stability, and resilience. We acknowledge our shared responsibility for our significant terrestrial and oceanic resources, which provide livelihoods and opportunities for sustainable development.

The Pacific Climate Change Finance Assessment Framework (PCCFAF) has been developed in response to the need to approach climate change financing in an informed way, commensurate with the specific circumstances and challenges of FICs. While existing global approaches are being developed and trialled, they do not always consider aspects that are particularly relevant to the situation of small island developing states. Rather than developing a parallel framework the PCCFAFblends Pacific relevant aspects, especially climate change sources and capacity, into existing assessment approaches. This approach has emanated from, and has been piloted and refined through a case study of Nauru.

Funding to support developing countries take action on climate change is projected to increase dramatically in the coming years. However, this increase in opportunities is being matched by an equally dramatic increase in complexity. This range of sources, each with their own set of rules and regulations, is often difficult to navigate, confusing and requires significant investment of a country’s limited resources to access and manage. The purpose of this national climate change finance assessment (the Nauru Case Study) is to assist the Government of Nauru (GoN) make informed decisions on measures to improve access to and management of climate change resources. It has been undertaken in response to a request from the GoN, following recent decisions made by Leaders and Economic Ministers on climate change financing.

The 2010 Pacific Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Tracking Report recognises that the MDGs were intended as global targets; therefore they do not need to be, nor are they necessarily expected to be achieved in each and every country. This is especially true perhaps amongst many of the Pacific Islands Countries (PICs) which already had MDG and related human development indicators above the benchmark global averages set for 1990. Further, countries were encouraged to “localize” the global indicators to suit local circumstances and priorities. In the Pacific Papua New Guinea (PNG), which was well below global averages for many indicators at the time the MDGs were agreed, has set itself more meaningful targets for many of the Goals. It has thus given itself a realistic chance of achieving substantial improvements in human development, even if they fall somewhat short of the global targets. Other countries have added their own Goals, notably Cook Islands and Niue which have identified specific additional Goals on governance and sustainable population respectively; still others have localized the goals where some indicators have not been relevant, e.g. those PICs in which malaria is not endemic have focused on reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) instead.

The Marine Sector Working group (MSWG) dates back to the late 1990s, when its primary focus was on the development of the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy (PIROP), which was finally institutionalised in 2004-2005. Unfortunately, the PIROP has not had the impact that was expected at the time of its development, and has lost some visibility in recent years.

This report provides PPAC with an update of progress made in implementing the Pacific Plan over 2009. It builds on the information provided in the 2009 six month report tabled at the 31 March – 1 April Pacific Plan Action Committee (PPAC) meeting. As with previous years, this report provides a higher strategic level assessment for Forum Leaders’ consideration through the PPAC and more specifically highlights key achievements and issues of note requiring attention and action.