Between 2 and 4 March 2011, European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, and Pacific Islands partners will welcome a joint Action Plan on Climate Change during a High-Level Regional Conference on Climate Change in the Pacific in Vanuatu. Commissioner Piebalgs will call for an increase of international support for the Small Islands, notably to Pacific Islands, an will also launch projects worth 50.4 million euro and will announce new ones for 39 million euro for adaptation to climate change effects and poverty.

The European Commission is amongst the Pacific's leading partners in the struggle against climate change and fighting poverty in a region which is an alarming case of the adverse effects of this problem where rising sea levels have an impact upon every aspect of citizens' lives and hamper the economic development. Building on the Cancun Climate Change Conference, the event in Vanuatu addresses the specific development and climate change challenges in the Pacific. In particular, it will study the way to increase the effort for a more effective cooperation of all donors to address the large scope of problems in this part of the world.

Following the launch of the Joint Pacific-EU Initiative on Climate Change in Strasbourg 2010, the leaders will set the course for the implementation and plan for future actions. The guiding objectives of ongoing EU-Pacific cooperation are to build a stronger political dialogue on climate change, to make cooperation on climate change more effective, and to mobilise international efforts on climate change around the Pacific.

Programmes launched during the visit:

During his visit, Commissioner Piebalgs will launch and announce new programmes aiming at fighting poverty and the consequences of climate change amounting to 89.4 million euro.

• Strengthening Pacific economic integration through Trade (30 million euro)
• The programme to support climate change capacity development for the population of the Pacific islands.

It will implement adaptation projects such as mangrove replanting, reforestation of watershed areas, rainwater harvesting and water conservation, introduction of drought/salt resistant cultivars, soil retention measures, reduced-impact harvesting, raising infrastructures, etc (total of 8 million euro)

• 20 million euro for the Pacific Regional Programme on the reduction of risks from natural disasters, which aims at improved resilience of countries to the impact of natural disasters and better preparedness of the population in disaster-prone areas.
• 12 million euro programme for the Overseas Countries and Territories, aiming at the reinforcement of integrated management of coastal, terrestrial and marine environments;
• 4.3 million euro – humanitarian assistance for the region's Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction.