Construction of Pacific Climate centre begins in Apia

The Pacific island region is only 13 months away from having its' very own Pacific Climate Change Centre hosted at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme in Samoa.

The ground breaking ceremony signified the start of construction of the PCCC funded by the Government of Japan through grant aid to the Government of Samoa. The PCCC will be the regional centre of excellence for climate change information, research and innovation.

"The construction of the Pacific Climate Change Centre is now open!" said the Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Dr Sailele Malielegaoi at the special event.

It is planned that construction of the Pacific Climate Change Centre will end in July, 2019.

A Steering Committee drawn from a wide range of key stakeholders including SPREP Member countries, partners, donors, agencies of the Council of the Region Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) and the Government of Japan is currently consulting with a view to finalise the details of the role and functions of the PCCC, as well as its governance structure and budget.

"The PCCC will be a major asset in SPREP's contribution to the Pacific region in terms of effective climate action and most importantly, in meeting the expectations of Members that such action will progress national efforts to achieve their climate change priorities," said Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Mr Kosi Latu.

The cost of the construction of the PCCC is estimated at just under USD 8 Million dollars. The construction will be undertaken by the Japanese construction company, Konoike Company Ltd.

The building itself will be constructed according to green guidelines which includes 50% of the energy to be driven by solar panels with the hope that it will be powered 100% by renewable energy in the future. It is intended to be a showcase of sustainable building technology in the Pacific...