Koror, PW—January 20, 2017— Climate Change is real and remote small islands in the Pacific are the first to experience the impacts. We cannot stop climate change but we can adapt to the changes that we are facing. The sooner we begin planning and taking actions to prepare for these changes; the more we will be able to withstand them and maintain our culture, livelihoods, and safety.
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To begin helping communities prepare for these changes, the Hatohobei Organization for People and Environment (HOPE)in collaboration with several partners will conduct a Climate Change Video Toolkit Development Workshop beginning Monday, January 23, 2017 and ending Friday, January 27, 2016 to be held at the PCC Tourism Building Classroom.
The workshop is funded through a grant received by HOPE in July 2016 titled “Improving Community Climate Resilience in Micronesia”supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Pacific-American Climate Fund.
The project is made possible by the generous support of the American people Other funding comes fromThe Nature Conservancy (TNC), Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT), and the Pacific Islands Marine Protected Area Community (PIMPAC).
The Workshop aims to develop outlines for a video toolkit that supports (1) communicating climate change impacts and understanding potential impacts to local communities, and 2) identifying early actions that communities can take to build resilience of natural and social systems (e.g. livelihoods, food security, water security, culture, health and safety,) to these changes. It also aims to develop outlines for two inspiring local case studies (i.e. Helen Reefand Nimpal Marine Conservation Area)of communities who have taken action to manage local resources and build resilience of their communities and natural resources.
The Climate Change Video Toolkit will complement existing Climate Change booklets already developed and used in Micronesian islands, including the Republic of Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, and many other Pacific Islands. The collaboration of partners will
ensure that video products will include: 1) messages that resonate with remote communities’ concerns and have the best chance of catalyzing actions to improve resilience (e.g. food and water security), 2) sound science, 3) ecosystem based approaches, and 4) women’s perspectives.
Upon completion of this workshop, the Climate Change Video Toolkit will be developed and launched in August 2017 with pilot communities in Palau and Yap with support from HOPE, Yap Community Action Program, Nimpal Marine Conservation Area, OneReef, and The Nature Conservancy. Learning together, Palau and Yap, will further Micronesia and Pacific communities at a regional scale to find innovative ways to support remote communities to understand and adapt to climate change. Palau and Yap communities have had strong ties culturally and this project will utilize their links and explore ways to foster community empowerment and resilience to the adverse effects of climate change that are true and real in our low-lying communities. [/restrict]