Thursday, 18 July 2013

Tongan Leading Climate Change drive in the Region

By Sini Latu, Tonga Broadcasting Commission: http://www.tonga-broadcasting.net

 
11 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - Dr Netatua Pelesikoti is a familiar climate change figure throughout the Pacific region and a leading climate change campaigner.

Meet the Director of Climate Change Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme Dr Netatua Pelesikoti who has been presenting, talking and sharing key relevant ideas on climate change  at the Joint Meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable.

Dr Pelesikoti worked in Tonga for over 20 years in the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Natural Resources and Environment.

In 2004 she joined SOPAC in Fiji where she worked for six years. In 2010 she joined SPREP.

Dr Pelesikoti, known to many as Neta – not only works in the region but at the international level.

She was involved in the formation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). The AR5 provide scientific reports on Climate Change, cyclones, storms, sea level rise, and many more.

These scientific reports, says Dr Pelesikoti are proof that climate change is already happening in the region.

She is encouraging Tonga and other Pacific countries and territories to make use of these scientific reports to be able to develop a more resilient future in terms of climate change.

Despite her heavy workload, she is still willing to get involved in more regional work to help Tonga and other Pacific islands in any way she can.

Her eagerness is only limited by time, her major challenge at work.


SPREPs Director for Climate Change says people need to get serious and start thinking of climate change when it comes to developments.

As a Tongan campaigning on climate change Dr Netatua Pelesikoti called on related sectors in Tonga to work more closely together, get involved and see how they can share information and resources amongst themselves to better inform and assist people.

The collaboration does not end there – says Dr Pelesikoti, but they need to work together with the media – as the media will help them deliver the information to the communities and rest of the people.

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