A high-level dialogue has been held for Government ministry workers on climate change and the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

The dialogue, which was held on Wednesday at the Pacific Climate Change Centre at Vailima, revolved around the theme "advancing a human rights-based approach to climate actions" and is the first of its kind to be hosted by the Office of the Ombudsman as the National Human Rights Institution.

According to a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the dialogue was the result of collaboration between partners Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), (and is funded by) European Union, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme's Pacific Climate Change Centre, and Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institutions.

The dialogue targeting the Government ministries workers was initiated from a blended learning course hosted by Asia Pacific Forum for NHRIs to strengthen the links between them and regional intergovernmental mechanisms on the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment and climate change. 

The Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Toesulusulu Cedric Shuster delivered the keynote address and emphasised the need for climate action from a human rights perspective.

“It is noticed that during ongoing deliberations on climate change actions, there is a lack of discussion on the impact of climate change on human lives and how we can address climate change actions using a human rights-based approach whether it be an activity, a policy, or negotiations regionally and internationally," Toesulusulu told the participants.

He concluded his remarks by encouraging more collective collaborations in Samoa as such to address climate change taking into consideration a human rights lens.

SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra thanked the Ombudsman Office as the National Human Rights Institution and partners for collaborating with SPREP on this important initiative. 

"We all need to respect, promote and consider our human rights obligations when taking climate action…climate actions cannot exist without a human rights-based view," Mr. Nawadra said.

The dialogue's overall purpose was to raise awareness amongst relevant Government ministries of the UN resolution on the right to a clean, safe, and healthy environment, linkages between human rights and climate change as well as share on the impact of climate change on rights and vulnerable groups. 

It was also a platform to strengthen collaboration between NHRI and leaders, government agencies, and intergovernmental agencies in safeguarding the rights of the people of Samoa from the impacts of climate change.

The lineup of speakers included the UN Special Rapporteur Dr Ian Fry, Galumalemana Ann Rasmussen of the MNRE, heads of non-government organisations, Ombudsman Young People Working Group representative Audrey Lee Hang, and the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, Dr. Mema Motusaga. 

The discussions will inform an outcome statement on the next steps. The dialogue will be followed by a two-day workshop for the officer-level staff of the same Ministries who were involved in the high-level Dialogue.