The
Pacific Islands Forum is an intergovernmental regional organisation which aims to enhance cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean and represent their interests. The current members are Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Its Pacific Plan (2005) is 'a regional
response to the challenges that Pacific
Island countries face', based on four 'pillars'—economic
growth; sustainable development; good governance;
and security. Sustainable development
incorporates 'integrated resource and environment
management', including 'fisheries, land,
waste management, biodiversity convention,
energy, climate change, and disaster risk
management'.
Climate change-related priorities for
2008 include implementing the
Pacific Islands Framework for Action on
Climate Change, the Disaster Risk Reduction
and Disaster Management Framework for Action,
and 'strengthening national level planning
and response'. Climate change was
the main theme of the 39th Pacific
Islands Forum Leaders Summit (Niue, 19–21 August
2008).
Under the Global Environment Facility
Pacific Alliance Strategy, the Global Environment
Facility will provide US$100 million
in grants over three years, to help improve
'access to international funding sources
for environmental benefits that will have
both a global and local impact'.
The PNG–Australia Forest Carbon
Partnership was established in March 2008
to reduce 'greenhouse gas emissions in PNG
from deforestation and forest degradation,
improve the livelihoods of forest-dependent
communities, and promote the protection
of Papua New Guinea's biodiversity'.
This includes 'a policy dialogue on climate
change issues', and might involve 'a private
carbon market scheme'.