A bilateral Agreement on climate change cooperation was signed yesterday on November 11, 2021 between Vanuatu and Switzerland on the side of the COP26 climate conference.

The signing was done virtually via Zoom between the Hon. Minister of Climate Change, Energy, Environment Protection and Conservation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management, Bruno Lengkone Tao and Member of the Swiss Federal Council, Her Excellency Simonetta Sommaruga.

For the first time on October 25, 2021, Vanuatu hosted a two-day Pre-COP event in Port Vila, starting with a High-Level Ministerial Segment that involved the Honourable Prime Minister, Bob Loughman Weibur and the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Rt. Honourable Broness Patricia Scotland.

The purpose of the Pre-COP event was to provide a setting to discuss and exchange views on some key political aspects of the negotiations and offer political guidance for subsequent negotiations.

A one-day media workshop for Vanuatu media Officers, communication officers in Government sector and also Non-Government Organizations on October 21 in preparation for the COP-26 Session.

The Training aimed at enhancing and providing the right information to all media officers and communication officers about what COP-26 is all about.

The International Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Day was commemorated October 13 in Luganville, Santo in both sun and rain.

Despite the downpour, it did not dampen the spirit of resilience for students and members of the public, as well as organisers of the event as they shouted the slogan of ‘Tugeta Yumi Redi, Tugeta Yumi Daonem Risk Blong Disasta’.

The Department of Energy is currently carrying out consultations on a proposed new legislation for Vanuatu that will standardize and regulate safety in electrical works through issuances of licenses and related matters.

In the second week of September, 2021, the Bill For The Electrical Works Safety Act No. of 2021 went through the scrutiny of electrical contractors and electricians in Port Vila.

On September 20, consultations moved to Santo for electricians and electrical contractors in Luganville.

The World Clean Up Day and World Ozone Day were commemorated in Port Vila on September 16, 2021 at Saralana Park.

Activities involved joint awareness campaign by departments under the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation (MoCCA), to the people of Penama Province during the Penama Day Celebration in Port Vila.

A group of 19 trainees from Toga, Loh and Hiu in Torres islands as well as Emae island in the Shepherds group and Pele island near Efate have completed a one-week training for local solar operators that started on September 7, 2021.

The training is the result of a partnership between the Department of Energy (DoE) and the Pacific Centre of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (PCREEE).