Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and FIFA put climate partnership into action
WEBWIRE – Tuesday, August 9, 2022
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PIFS and FIFA signed two-year Memorandum of Understanding in April
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In July Pacific Islands Forum Leaders declared a climate change emergency in the Pacific
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Partnership focus on climate change action and climate-proofing football infrastructure
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and FIFA have jointly launched a 12-month plan to implement the climate change partnership they signed in April and turn commitment into concrete climate action. Key activities will include employing FIFA Legends to raise climate change awareness and adapting existing infrastructure in one of the worlds most vulnerable regions to make it more climate proof. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and the PIF Secretary General Henry Puna signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to combat climate change during the FIFA Congress in Doha, Qatar, in April. The MOU focuses on using football diplomacy to educate and raise awareness on climate change and disaster resilience. It also aims to enhance climate-proofed infrastructure, focus on climate resilient football development and mobilise finance for resilience building in the region, including support for the Pacific Resilience Facility fund.
According to Secretary General Puna, the implementation plan is a demonstration to the people and communities in the Pacific that both FIFA and PIFS are serious about addressing the climate emergency facing the region and building the resilience of vulnerable communities. The Pacific region recognises that 2022 is a defining year for urgent and strong climate action where pledges and commitments need to be translated into action, SG Puna said. This is the key message that the Pacific will take to the international community leading up to COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in November. COP 27 must deliver on implementation. In their meeting in July, Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers supported new ways of elevating regional climate change priorities to the international community, including through sports diplomacy such as the recent MOU on Climate Change with FIFA, he added. This marks the entire regions recognition and support for the MOU as an innovative approach to climate advocacy, leveraging on the global influence of football.
FIFA and Pacific Islands Forum to combat climate change
Gianni Infantino said: Football is certainly not immune to climate change and is affected at all levels, from grassroots and amateur to elite, with the Oceania region facing a particularly high risk of climate and disaster impacts. At FIFA, we also have a duty to wider society: helping to draw attention to climate change and taking action against it in one of the worlds most vulnerable regions, is one of the best ways we can use footballs power and popularity to have a positive impact. Key activities include:
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Creating a climate change literacy program for schools, and training to support climate change awareness by FIFA Legends;
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Joint communications and advocacy plan leading up to COP 27 and the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup in Australia and New Zealand;
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Support climate proofing and retrofitting of football infrastructure in the Pacific;
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Convening a regional workshop on resilient football infrastructure development;
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Undertaking a regional football infrastructure audit; and
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Exploring collaboration with the Pacific Resilience Facility within the framework of the FIFA Climate Strategy.
Iris Holdings Group has announced that their affordable Belmont Daniel Apartments project in Staten Island, NY has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® certification for superior energy performance. “Improving the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings is critical to protecting our environment,” said Jean Lupinacci, Chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. “From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification.” ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants are verified to perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide, based on weather-normalized source energy use that takes into account occupancy, hours of operation, and other key metrics. ENERGY STAR is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States that is based on actual, verified energy performance. “We’re honored to earn the ENERGY STAR certification for superior energy performance at Belmont Daniel and appreciate Greystone’s partnership in guiding us through the process as part of the financing journey,” said Chayim Kirschenbaum, managing partner of Iris Holdings Group. “Saving energy is just one of the ways we show our community we care, and that we’re committed to doing our part to protect the environment and public health, both today and for future generations.” Kirschenbaum credits this success to their multi-million dollar capital improvement campaign, which included a new boiler, roof insulation, LED and motion sensor lighting in common areas throughout the building, as well as new refrigerators and plumbing fixtures in all of the apartments. On average, ENERGY STAR certified buildings and plants use 35 percent less energy, cause 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are less expensive to operate than their peers—all without sacrifices in performance or comfort. To date, tens of thousands of buildings and plants across all fifty states have earned the ENERGY STAR certification. For more information about ENERGY STAR for Buildings and Plants, visit www.energystar.gov/buildings. “Achieving energy efficiency is just one of many ways Greystone helps its clients navigate the complex landscape of affordable multifamily development,” said Miryam Reinitz-Kops of Greystone.Staten Island’s Belmont Daniel Property Earns ENERGY STAR Certification; Outperforms Similar U.S. Buildings on Measure of Energy Efficiency
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Hong Kong – Islands District DHC Express officially opens (with photos)
Islands District DHC Express officially opens (with photos)
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The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, officiated at the opening ceremony of the Islands District Health Centre (DHC) Express today (December 18), which is operated by the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council (NAAC).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Professor Chan said, “I have always been actively promoting the development of primary healthcare service in Hong Kong, of which DHCs and DHC Expresses are the key components. Fully funded by the Government, they are operated by non-governmental organisations under a ‘district-based, public-private partnership, medical-social collaboration’ service model to make the best use of the local network and resources to flexibly promote primary health services that meet community needs.
“The NAAC is experienced in serving the residents of the Islands District over the years. In view of the relatively dispersed population of the Islands District, the DHC Express plans to strengthen its outreach services by providing services based on local needs at different places such as Lamma Island regularly. Moreover, one of the service points of the DHC Express is located at the Tung Chung Masjid Ismail to extend its reach to more ethnic minorities in the district, thus enabling citizens of different races to establish a healthy lifestyle. With the establishment of the Islands DHC Express, I expect the residents in the district will be provided with services that better suit their needs.”
In addition to core services, the Islands DHC Express also offers services covering quality sleeping enhancement, weight management, sarcopenia assessment and training. In an endeavour to preventing unnecessary readmission of discharged patients, the Islands DHC Express works closely with the Kowloon West Cluster of the Hospital Authority, especially the North Lantau Hospital, to organise different activities and provide necessary primary healthcare services.
Since its soft launch in mid-October to the end of November, the Islands DHC Express has recruited nearly 200 members. Most of them have completed the health risk factors assessment.
The Islands DHC Express consists of a core centre and nine service points. The core centre is located at Block B, Lot 2536, Ha Ling Pei, Tung Chung, Lantau. The nine service points are set up at the Hong Kong PHAB Association Peng Chau Neighbourhood Elderly cum Children/Youth Centre, the Cheung Chau Rural Committee, the Masjid Ismail, the Tai O Rural Committee, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Tung Chung Integrated Services and the Pok Oi Hospital Chan Shi Sau Memorial Social Service Centre as well as the Tung Chung Integrated Services Centre, Tai O sub-office and Discovery Bay sub-office of the NAAC.
For more information on the Islands DHC Express, please visit www.dhc.gov.hk or call the Islands DHC Express hotline at 2556 5338.
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