I'm very excited for this role and acknowledge the critical responsibility that comes with it. My new role encompasses prioritizing climate goals and needs of all our member Pacific Island Countries and Territories - Mr. Tutii Chilton, Chair of the Regional Pacific NDC Hub Steering Committee
The Regional Pacific Nationally Determined Contribution Hub is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Tutii Chilton, representing Micronesia as the new Chair of the NDC Hub Steering Committee.
Mr. Chilton from Palau is supported by his fellow representatives, Mr. Hudson Kauhiona (Solomon Islands) representing all member countries from Melanesia, Ms. Lu’isa Tu’i’afitu-Malolo (Tonga) representing the member countries from Polynesia and Ms. Jeanette Mani representing Fiji as the host country as new Steering Committee members. Mr. Chilton brings a wealth of experience with him as the Executive Director for the Palau Energy Administration at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, and Industries & Commerce for Palau and has been the representative to the NDC Hub as Palau’s Focal Point.
“I’m very excited for this role and acknowledge the critical responsibility that comes with it. My new role encompasses prioritizing climate goals and needs of all our member Pacific Island Countries and Territories other than only focusing on Palau,” said Mr. Chilton.
“We [PICTs] are committed to leading climate action through the ambitious targets in our NDCs despite not being big greenhouse gas emitters, and we have every intention to keep this momentum going to create sustainable livelihoods for our people who are severely affected by climate change, he said firmly. With a country driven approach, the NDC Hub plays a significant role in providing support to 15 Pacific Island Countries and Territories in helping enhance and implement their nationally determined contributions, in other words, their climate commitments.
Mr. Chilton has already started thinking ahead of solidifying the goals of the NDC Hub. He has highlighted climate financing, private and public partnerships and capacity building as three interest areas he is keen on discussing with member countries to determine if they share the same perspective, and if there are other areas of interest they’d like the Hub to explore and use as building blocks.
“In my experience as focal point for Palau, working with the NDC Hub has always been seamless. I’ve always envisioned the NDC Hub as an expertise Hub, a one-stop-shop for our needs, whether its finance, consultation, capacity building – everything that a country would need when it comes to the enhancement or implementation of their NDCs and addressing climate change,” shared Mr. Chilton. The NDC Hub’s Project Manager, Ms. Friederike Eppen, said the Hub is excited to have Mr. Chilton onboard the Hub’s strategic guidance body and emphasizes the importance of the countries’ ownership of the NDC Hub.
“Tutii has been an enthusiastic and one of the most engaging country focal points and we’re really looking forward to the ideas he and his committee have in mind to strengthen the Hub's work in our member countries,” said Ms. Eppen.
All committee members are nominated by the countries of their sub-region, who then select the Chair. The NDC Hub’s Steering Committee monitors the progress of the Hub and provides guidance and direction on its work in the region. It consists of representatives from the three sub-regions in the Pacific as well as Fiji as the host country.