Met services in Pacific islands region to be reviewed
PRESS STATEMENT (25/08)
28th March 2008
REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY OF MET SERVICES IN PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION
The Pacific Plan’s emphasis on regional integration of services within the region could soon extend to the meteorological services being provided by several different agencies at the moment.
“Weather and climate information is regularly used by people from all walks of life. Safety in aviation and shipping industries depends on actions taken in response to weather conditions. It is also of relevance to the agriculture and fisheries industries, not to mention availability of water for human consumption. More recently there is increased attention on sustainable meteorological services from the perspective of climate change and natural disasters,” says Feleti Teo, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
“The region relies on some regional and international services, which is need of strengthening. Following a decision last October by Leaders of the Pacific’s Smaller Island States (SIS) in Tonga, a review is to be undertaken on the sustainable delivery of meteorological services in the region,” says Mr Teo
The SIS Leaders at their Summit urgently called for the immediate strengthening of regional and national institutions and services for monitoring and communicating weather, climate and extreme events to support basic livelihood, wellbeing and security of the Pacific peoples, build resilience to natural disasters and to maintain hard-won social and economic gains.
They also urged Forum Members countries, CROP agencies and development partners to support the strengthening of regional and national services for monitoring and communicating weather, climate and extreme events, including institutional and human capacity development.
In response to this directive, a Technical Working Group (TWG) has been formed under the auspices of PIFS. It comprises representatives of SPREP, SOPAC, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), and two representatives of Regional Meteorological Services Directors (RMSD) (Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service/Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in Nadi, and current Chair of the RMSD).
“The Group has developed a roadmap towards the implementation of the SIS Leaders directive and core to this will be the undertaking of this Consultancy, which is aimed at providing a review of the current arrangements and a detailed analysis of practical and sustainable options for strengthening delivery of weather, climate and related extreme events related services in the Pacific region,” says Mr Teo.
The review is expected to start early April with the final report expected at the end of May. SIS Leaders are expected to discuss the report at their next summit in Niue in August.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact, Dr Padma Lal, the Forum’s Sustainable Development Adviser on phone (679) 331 2600 or email padmal@forumsec.org.fj
28th March 2008
REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE DELIVERY OF MET SERVICES IN PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION
The Pacific Plan’s emphasis on regional integration of services within the region could soon extend to the meteorological services being provided by several different agencies at the moment.
“Weather and climate information is regularly used by people from all walks of life. Safety in aviation and shipping industries depends on actions taken in response to weather conditions. It is also of relevance to the agriculture and fisheries industries, not to mention availability of water for human consumption. More recently there is increased attention on sustainable meteorological services from the perspective of climate change and natural disasters,” says Feleti Teo, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat
“The region relies on some regional and international services, which is need of strengthening. Following a decision last October by Leaders of the Pacific’s Smaller Island States (SIS) in Tonga, a review is to be undertaken on the sustainable delivery of meteorological services in the region,” says Mr Teo
The SIS Leaders at their Summit urgently called for the immediate strengthening of regional and national institutions and services for monitoring and communicating weather, climate and extreme events to support basic livelihood, wellbeing and security of the Pacific peoples, build resilience to natural disasters and to maintain hard-won social and economic gains.
They also urged Forum Members countries, CROP agencies and development partners to support the strengthening of regional and national services for monitoring and communicating weather, climate and extreme events, including institutional and human capacity development.
In response to this directive, a Technical Working Group (TWG) has been formed under the auspices of PIFS. It comprises representatives of SPREP, SOPAC, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), and two representatives of Regional Meteorological Services Directors (RMSD) (Director of the Fiji Meteorological Service/Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in Nadi, and current Chair of the RMSD).
“The Group has developed a roadmap towards the implementation of the SIS Leaders directive and core to this will be the undertaking of this Consultancy, which is aimed at providing a review of the current arrangements and a detailed analysis of practical and sustainable options for strengthening delivery of weather, climate and related extreme events related services in the Pacific region,” says Mr Teo.
The review is expected to start early April with the final report expected at the end of May. SIS Leaders are expected to discuss the report at their next summit in Niue in August.
ENDS.
For more information, please contact, Dr Padma Lal, the Forum’s Sustainable Development Adviser on phone (679) 331 2600 or email padmal@forumsec.org.fj
