14 Pacific Islanders depart for the US to explore emerging climate change policies

Fourteen Pacific Islanders involved in climate change adaptation and mitigation in their respective countries departed Saturday 24 July for a comprehensive three-week program in the United States to explore emerging policies to address climate change using advances in renewable energy sources, markets, research and innovation.
Representing government departments, regional organizations, civil society and conservation groups from 13 Pacific Island Countries, the participants will be part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Arranged by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the program will offer the participants insight into activities that are leading to diversification and reliance on alternative energy in the United States at the local, state and federal levels.
The details of participants are as follows:
Cook Islands
Ms. Teresa Miimetua MATAMAKI
Second National Communications Project Coordinator
Cook Islands National Environment Service
East Timor
Mr. Marcos DOS SANTOS
Director-General for Energy Policies
Fiji
Ms. Monifa Ravai FIU
Program Officer,
Climate Change Adaptation, World Wildlife Foundation (WWF)
Kiribati
Mr. Kautoa TONGANIBEIA
Senior Environment Inspector
Marshall Islands
Mr. Tregar Albons ISHODA
Executive Director, Marshall Islands Conservation Society
Micronesia
Mr. Patterson K. SHED
Executive Director, Conservation Society of Pohnpei
Nauru
Mr. Cecil GODWIN
Mitigation Officer
Palau
Mr. Porfirio YALAP
Education Programs Coordinator, Palau Conservation Society
Papua New Guinea
Mr. Maino VIROBO
Executive Manager, Department of Environment and Conservation, Policy Coordination and Evaluation Wing, Environmental Information and Science Division
Samoa
Ms. Anne Irene RASMUSSEN
Principal Climate Change Officer and Project Manager for Climate Change (NAPA) Project, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)
Tonga
Mrs. Keasi Konilia PONGI
Program Manager, Civil Society Forum of Tonga
Solomon Islands
Mr. Douglas Kiu Ting Ming YEE
Division Director, Climate Change Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Meteorology
Tuvalu
Mr. Mataio TEKINENE
Director, Department of Environment
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Mr. Rupeni Taukave MARIO
Senior Energy Adviser, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
Dr. Norman Barth, the Regional Environmental Officer for the Pacific based at the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji Islands says the Department of State is delighted to provide an opportunity to the islanders to visit the United States on a climate change study tour.
“The tour will give them an up-close and detailed view of how the United States is confronting this complex topic and its challenges at all levels: federal, state, and local,” said Dr. Barth. “The tour is also an opportunity for these Pacific islanders to bring their stories to the United States, and we look forward to valuable people-to-people interactions as well, which will be of great benefit to America,” he added.
Participants will travel to distinct areas and key environmental sites of the United States to broaden their understanding of the differing levels of influence and responsibility at the national, state and local levels, and how the environmental decisions formulated at the national level affect local, as well as international, interests. These include:
• The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the world’s third largest barrier coral reef system. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials will introduce federal-state government partnership efforts to protect the reef and the ocean’s ecosystem,
• The Florida Everglades National Park, the largest designated sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the North American continent,
• The State of Hawaii, which is using innovative techniques and programs to address its energy needs, including a new wind farm in Oahu, a unique community that will operate with zero imported energy and a social investment program that funds sustainable, renewable efforts while boosting the state’s economy.

- USA Embassy in Fiji
Media Release

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