Samoa hosts U.N’s newest office

Samoa has become the home of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (U.N.E.P) sub-regional office.

Located at Vailima inside the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (S.P.R.E.P) complex, the office will strengthen the organisation’s regional presence to assist countries deal with environment challenges.

Last night, Prime Minister and the President of the S.I.D.S conference, Tuilaepa Sa’ilele Malielegaoi, officially opened the office in the presence of the Executive Director of the U.N.E.P, Achim Steiner and many S.I.D.S delegates.

The Prime Minister also signed the host country agreement.

Tuilaepa and Mr. Steiner were both delighted about the arrangement noting that the Office is one of the results from the decisions agreed by Member States during the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20.

For the Pacific, the opening of the U.N.E.P Office comes at a critical time as they confront the multiple challenges brought by climate change and rising sea levels.

The Director of S.P.R.E.P, David Sheppard, who also addressed the gathering, was well aware of these challenges.

“Since the early days, S.P.R.E.P has grown - but so have the challenges facing our Pacific environment - from climate change, to loss of biodiversity, to the increasing problems of solid and hazardous waste,” Mr. Sheppard said.

“In dealing with these issues, we have always been happy - and at times relieved - to have U.N.E.P as a partner, as a strong supporter and, more importantly as a friend, to work together to help Pacific countries deal with the challenges of environmental management and sustainable development.”

The office will be geared to support the Pacific countries prepare for the post 2015 period and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.