This learning platform has placed its primary focus on the need
to improve knowledge to increase resilience to climate change and manage risks
at the community level in the Pacific. One may equate that with learning solely
about the impacts of climate change, but that would be a mistake. Being
resilient, as we have noted on many occasions, is about improving resilience in
all sectors, be it economy, education or communications.
However, the global aid discussion figures around the impacts
of climate change. What with El Niño and the hottest six months ever recorded,
it is no wonder. In vulnerable countries like the Pacific islands, development
discussions - with donors, development partners and within government itself -
have been targeting climate change adaptation. And we get that, because time is
of the essence.
But many countries in the Pacific are still classified as least
developed countries (LDCs) and need a lot of development finance to ensure that
issues like education, healthcare and a sustainable economy are meeting the
needs of the population - with or without climate change in mind.
