The Regional Pacific Nationally Determined Contribution Hub is pleased to announce the appointment of Debra Sungi from Papua New Guinea representing Melanesia as the new Chairperson of the NDC Hub Steering Committee.
Sungi is the Manager of the Measuring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) and National Communication (NC) Division at the Climate Change and Development Authority in Papua New Guinea. She is supported by an all-female Steering Committee, which consists of Ranjila Singh from the Fiji Government (Host country), Joana Latasi from the Tuvalu Government, and Natasha Nakasone from the Federated States of Micronesia Government.
The Hub’s Steering Committee monitors the progress of the Hub and provides guidance and direction on its work in the region. The Chair, along with the SC needs to bring the overall perspective on what we need to do for the NDC Hub. Sungi, along with the Committee members was elected during the Steering Committee Meeting on August 30th, 2022 in Suva Fiji.
Sungi said her main agenda as the new Chair was to “drive coordinate with members to ensure there are greater efforts and support in the mobilization of resources to ensure NDCs targets are being archived.”
“Climate change is a global challenge - and collective challenges require a collective response as; PNG is ready to lead with the support of all members in driving all our climate actions within the region.,” says Sungi.
In sharing her experience working with the Pacific NDC Hub, Sungi said the Pacific NDC Hub “had been very effective in providing the necessary coordination of technical support to the members.”
“The strategic set up of the hub provides and prioritized support for all members for implementation, and while my role is challenging, I believe that effective collaboration and partnership by all members will ensure progress on implementation of the NDCs of the Pacific region,” she said.
Sungi also thanked Tutti Chilton, outgoing Chair of the Hub for his contributions and vowed to work with the new committee members in promoting the interests of the region.
In welcoming Sungi to the NDC Hub family, Hub’s Project Manager, Iris Cordelia Rotzoll said the Hub was excited to have her lead the Hub’s strategic guidance body.
“The structure of the NDC hub is such that it is truly Pacific-driven and consists of representatives from the three sub-regions in the Pacific as well as Fiji as the host country who are nominated by the countries of their sub-region, who then select the Chair,” she said.
“We warmly welcome Debra Sungi and all the three Steering Committee members to the NDC family who have been selected by our respective member countries and are excited to work together with the Committee in navigating phase 3 of the project to make it a success,” said Rotzoll.
With a country-driven approach, the NDC Hub plays a significant role in providing support to 14 Pacific Island Countries in reviewing, enhancing, and implementing their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.
