Funding Needed for a Sustainable Economic Development

Host: So for Pacific Island countries, on the one hand, you have to maintain a sustainable economic development; and also you have to address climate change. My question is what are the major obstacles to overcome in regard to the economic development?

Sam Savou: I think there is a big challenge because island countries are small in itself, so the economies are limited and small. And so there is a challenge about addressing climate change and being able to support your countries. And as the president of Kiribati said is they need funding from international agencies, so they can plan for adaptation for their economies. But if that funding is not forthcoming, then they will have to divert the money was supposed to be for the economy to help their people. So these are the dilemmas that are facing the countries now. I think with what’s happening in Durban now, about the what they called the Green Fund, that is supposed be funding available to the developing countries for the adaptation for climate change. I think that has to be forthcoming, the mechanisms are making that happened. I think for the Pacific Island countries, that’s one of the key things that they are looking for as an outcome out of the Durban meeting.