United Kingdom Supports Financial Aid for Climate Action in the Pacific Region
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the UK have joined forces in a significant partnership aimed at supporting Pacific resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change. This collaboration, which will last for two years with a potential second phase, pursues a low carbon future in line with National Adaptation Plans and NDC commitments.
The UK's Small Island Developing States Capacity and Resilience Programme (SIDAR) supports this initiative. The UK's investment, managed by GGGI, is focused on implementing renewable energy and climate resilience projects, particularly emphasized through initiatives such as the REnew Pacific fund.
Co-financed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the REnew Pacific fund supports climate finance and low carbon development by enabling rural communities in Pacific Island countries (PICs) to access renewable energy solutions like solar photovoltaic systems for water pumping, schools, and health centers.
One example of this support is the "Empowering Rural Communities of Vanuatu through Renewable Energy Solutions" project, which focuses on installing solar water pump systems and standalone solar PV systems to serve rural water, education, and health needs, embedding social inclusion principles throughout the project.
GGGI has been actively operating in the Pacific since 2014, supporting the transition towards low carbon, climate-resilient, and socially inclusive economies. As of 2025, GGGI runs 32 active projects in the Pacific region and plans staff growth, reflecting its ongoing and expanding commitment to green growth and climate finance activities.
The partnership's strategic feasibility studies will strengthen climate finance implementation and knowledge sharing, while strengthening access and ability to deliver impactful climate finance can unlock low carbon development. This partnership aligns with the UK's top international priority of tackling climate change, environmental damage, and biodiversity loss, and its belief that climate action and sustainability are linked to economic growth.
GGGI's Pacific Regional Director, Katerina Syngellakis, is enthusiastic about partnering with the UK to continue advocating for and building capacity for climate finance in the Pacific. The British High Commission Suva can be contacted for media queries regarding this partnership, with Kashmita Rao being the contact for media inquiries.
[1] GGGI (2021). GGGI's Pacific Regional Programme. Retrieved from https://www.gggi.org/pacific/
[2] UK Government (2021). UK and Australia announce major climate finance support for Pacific Island countries. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-australia-announce-major-climate-finance-support-for-pacific-island-countries
[3] GGGI (2021). GGGI's Global Work. Retrieved from https://www.gggi.org/our-work/
[4] GGGI (2021). GGGI's Climate Finance Work. Retrieved from https://www.gggi.org/climate-finance/
The UK's Small Island Developing States Capacity and Resilience Programme supports the collaboration between the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the UK, focusing on implementing renewable energy and climate resilience projects, such as the REnew Pacific fund. This fund, co-financed by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), supports climate finance and low carbon development.
GGGI's Pacific Regional Director, Katerina Syngellakis, is enthusiastic about partnering with the UK to continue advocating for and building capacity for climate finance in the Pacific, aligning with the UK's top international priority of tackling climate change and its commitment to environmental science and finance.
