Minister for Natural Resources Hon. Mona Ainuu is leading Niue’s delegation to the world conference on climate change, COP 27 currently underway in Egypt.
In a move by the Pacific leaders, through the Pacific Islands Forum, Niue’s Minister for Natural Resources, Hon. Ainuu was appointed as the first Pacific Region’s Political Champion for Gender and Social Inclusion for COP27.
Just before departing the island on Friday, Minister Ainuu was on the News of the weekly radio programme, saying what an honour it is for her, that the leaders of the Pacific have shown their confidence in her as a champion and the voice for women and the vulnerable citizens of the Pacific.
She said that it is a role she holds in high regard because she is the champion for Pacific peoples whose voices are perhaps not well represented or heard enough at these large conferences.
Minister Ainuu is one of a few Pacific women who are in ministerial positions and said that she is humbled and honoured to champion the women and the people of the Pacific islands at COP 27, the world’s premier conference on climate change.
Upon arrival at the conference Hon. Mona Ainuu delivered two keynote addresses. Firstly she delivered a statement at the Asian Development Bank side event on Climate Adaptation for resident coastal development and Blue economy, sharing Niue’s perspective and leadership on ocean-climate action. She spoke about Niue’s innovative and progressive move in introducing ocean conservation credits in a world first to help finance the protection of the island’s marine conservation efforts.
She also presented at the Pacific Island Climate Action Network’s COP27 side event yesterday on gender, climate justice, disaster risk reduction, biodiversity protection and the right to a healthy and sustainable environment and climate.
During the course of the conference, she will deliver a statement at the Gender day side event hosted by the Regional Gender Technical Working group and deliver the opening remarks at the Pacific Disability Forum.
As the Head of the Niue delegation, one of her final engagements will be to deliver Niue’s national statement at a high-level segment.
Minister Ainuu leads the Niue delegation which includes the Director of Met Services, Rossy Mitiepo, the director of PMCU Felicia Talagi, Climate Change Officer Taveli Pavihi from the Environment Dept, Maritime Officer Lynsey Talagi, Avi Rubin from Tofia Niue and the Private Sector and Claudia Viliamu from the Ministry of Infrastructure.