World Bank official impressed with Samoa’s progress

By Sapeer Mayron 19 October 2018, 12:00AM

World Bank Vice President (Sustainable Development), Laura Tuck, is leaving Samoa impressed with the progress made in projects to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Ms. Tuck made the point on Thursday night during a meeting with women working to mitigate the effects of climate change, commending them for driving real change.

During a visit to Samoa with a delegation of the World Bank, Ms. Tuck made time to dine with the Women in Climate Change (W.I.C.C.) network, an organisation established this year to connect like-minded women in Samoa.

Ms. Tuck said her work in sustainable development needs local organisations like the ones represented in W.I.C.C. to ensure changes happen.

“A lot of the policy we do goes nowhere without the work of communities who understand that will that requires us to take care of our planet,” she said.

Furthermore, the work done between the organisations to cooperate and teach each other did not go unnoticed by Ms. Tuck.

“The importance of sharing information cannot be underestimated,” she said.

Ms. Tuck said she wanted to visit Samoa, where action against climate change is already making waves.

“First I wanted to visit the Solomon Islands because it’s really a challenging situation and you can really feel how difficult things are and how they are still learning how they can move forward.

“And then I wanted to come here because there has been so much progress, and we really feel you have taken the initiative with your partners to move an agenda and really start implementing some of these programmes.”

Examples of those successful programmes were shared with the room from guest speakers, Su’a Julia Wallwork, Tuigamala Marina Keil, Christina Leutu Tuioti Mariner and Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai who told the visiting delegation how they were mitigating climate change through education, waste management, carbon offsetting and corporate social responsibility.

“I wanted to actually see your programmes,” said Ms. Tuck.

“There is nothing like seeing it and feeling not only the challenges, but also the successes of the commitments here.

“I hope to take back to Washington what we can do with you and for you as we develop these projects to go forward.”

By Sapeer Mayron 19 October 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>