Background

“Achieving resilience and prosperity through transformational innovation and collective action”

Exposure to natural hazards, extreme weather events, and sea level rise threatens the resilience, security, and survival of Pacific island countries. Extremely land-constrained and isolated, these countries rely heavily on imported fuel and food and are exposed to external price shocks and global supply chain issues. Meanwhile, the world’s oceans account for at least half of the oxygen in the atmosphere and are the single largest global heat and carbon sink. The Pacific Ocean alone covers about 15% of the globe, and ADB’s Pacific member countries account for 14% of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zones. The region has enormous untapped reserves of renewable energy and food, which can be monetized in a regenerative manner to grow natural capital; and the scale-up potential which is far greater than of any other region of the world. The world therefore needs to change its perception of the Pacific region as vulnerable and fragile, but rather a major and scalable source of life’s essentials and a champion of resilience!

Collective action is needed. Now. The Pacific region’s multiple development challenges require multi-pronged holistic approaches to be transformational: Sustainable development of clean indigenous energy sources, anchored on climate resilience and economic growth through productive uses beyond electricity. The session will feature expert views and panel discussions highlighting opportunities and practical applications for holistic cross-sectoral interventions, advanced technologies, innovative financing instruments, and appropriate policy and regulatory frameworks for the Pacific energy landscape’s transition from fragility to prosperity.

Objectives

The session aims to provoke a radical change in the global mindset and reverse the perception that the Pacific Region is fragile and needs saving. The panel of experts and visionaries will show that harnessing the region’s vast resources through transformative and innovative cross-sectoral integrated solutions can enable the Pacific to supply the world with what it needs the most: oxygen, water, and food.

Agenda

Time (Manila) Activities
10:30 - 10:35 a.m. Introduction

  • Mr. Teymoor Nabili, CEO and Publisher at Tech For Impact Asia
10:35 - 10:40 a.m. Scene-setting and Welcome Remarks

  • Dr. Paula Vivili, Deputy Director General for Science and Capability, Pacific Community
10:40 - 10:42 a.m. Poll Question: Can the Pacific save the world? Yes/No?
10:42 - 10:47 a.m. Call to Action

  • H.E. Mr. Ronald Jumeau, Ambassador and former Permanent Representative of the Republic of Seychelles to the UN, former Chair of the Executive Council of SIDS DOCK & SIDS DOCK Roving Ambassador for Oceans
10:47 - 11:27 a.m. Panel: Energy +++ Transformative Solutions for Securing the Three Threes

    Barriers and opportunities – the case of Tonga

  • Ms. Rosamond Carter Bing, CEO, Ministry of Land and Natural Resources, Kingdom of Tonga
    Marine renewable energy, productive uses, and solutions providers

  • Mr. Dan Millison, Manager, Transcendergy, LLC
    Seaweed farming / “seaforestation”

  • Mr. Jian Peng, Technical Advisor, KZO Seafarms
    Digital reefs

  • Dr.Will Bateman, CEO, Ccell
    Norway: Floating solar plus aquaculture/alternative fuels production

  • Mr. Børge Bjørneklett, CEO, Ocean Sun, Mobile
    Financing marine and blue ocean initiatives

  • Ms. Carine Sophie Donges, Investment Specialist, PSOD
11:27 - 11:47 a.m. Q&A (20 minutes); repeat poll question

  • Moderator
11:47 - 11:52 a.m. Response and CLosing Remarks

  • Dr. Paula Vivili, Deputy Director General for Science and Capability, Pacific Community
11:52 - 11:56 a.m. Closing remarks

  • Pacific Community
11:56 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Summary and Wrap up

  • Moderator

About the Organizer

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. It assists its members and partners by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development.

Point of Contact

Cindy Cisneros Tiangco
Asian Development Bank
Email