SMALL States of the Pacific, and indeed much of the rest of the world, need new research capabilities on a scale never seen before to step up its efforts in raising the floor of climate finance, and climate adaptation and resilience initiatives.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Prof Biman Prasad said across any area, research and evidence was needed to intensify ambitions and actions against climate change.
“We need research to connect with policy. We need research to disrupt and challenge our conventional approaches,” Mr Prasad said while officially closing the Global Development Conference 2024 at the University of the South Pacific in Suva on Thursday.
“We live in uncertain times. The foundation of your science and knowledge are shaken by disruptions and by a rise in anti-science. These are amplified through new technologies.”
Mr Prasad told the delegates that the demands on their expertise had never been higher.
“We have to work together to restore the primacy of evidence, of good research and of science.
“This cannot be through declarations here that your evidence and research is solid. This has to be through how you communicate your research and your art to a public that is becoming more disillusioned.”
Mr Prasad said that had to be an important challenge for the Global Development Network (GDN) community to take forward.
He said the impacts of climate change were no where as pronounced as they are in the Pacific.
“I hope more of your research will focus on the ocean, on building sustainable blue economy and on allowing the ocean to continue to provide its lifer giving services to humanity.”
He said building resilience was a necessity and not an option extra, and added the increasing burden on public funding to address multiple competing priorities impacted on debt levels.
