Met data vital for success of Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Projects

By Halitesh Datt, Fiji TV

5 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - Having correct and up to date meteorological data is crucial in decision making, particularly here in the region, where many climate change related projects are underway.

Representatives of the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) are in Nadi this week attending the Pacific Meteorological Council, where the importance of meteorological data to their work has been highlighted. (More on PACC below)

PACC Coordinator, Taito Nakalevu says climate data is crucial for any climate change project in the region.

Taito Nakalevu, PACC,  Project Coordinator

The PACC project in the Cook Islands has also found the importance of meteorological data for its project assessments.

Its pilot project on the island of Mangaia aims to build the resilience of the coastal community, including infrastructure.

Paul Maoate, PACC, Cook Islands

 For another small atoll island, Niue, maintaining water supply is crucial.

And that is one area that PACC is working on for the island of 2000.

PACC's water resource management program in Niue is focussing on developing rain water collection.

PACC is providing water tanks to each household.

Hadan Talagi, PACC, Niue

 Niue is also looking at weather data dating 50 years back to establish forthcoming weather trends in the country.

Hadan Talagi, PACC, Niue

In Vanuatu the PACC project is engaging communities to identify solutions for environmental challenges.

PACC Vanuatu’s coordinator says this has been done through extensive consultations.

Ian Iercet, PACC, Vanuatu

The Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Australian Government (AusAID), with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as its implementing agency and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) as implementing partner. The project is from 2009 to 2013. 

The PACC project covers 14 participating countries and helps develop three key areas that build resilience to climate change in Pacific communities: Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands focus on Food Production and Food Security; Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Samoa, Tokelau and Vanuatu are developing Coastal Management capacity; and Nauru, Niue, Republic of Marshall Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu are looking to strengthen their water resource management. 

Climate Change portal seeks meteorological partnership

By Evan Wasuka, Pacific regional freelance journalist
3 July 2013 Nadi, Fiji - National meteorological services in the region have been encouraged to join the Pacific Climate Change Portal (www.pacificclimatechange.net/) as a way of getting meteorological information out to the public.

Launched in September 2012 by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, SPREP, the portal has been developed into a hub for climate change information in the region.

Presenting at the 2nd Pacific Meteorological Council, in Nadi, Fiji, Makelesi Gonelevu of SPREP says the addition of meteorological data on the portal would be of great benefit to users.

“Climate science is at the heart of climate change. National met services have the relevant scientific data and they have access to the latest information. Their input on the portal would mean better scientific information for the public.”

Since its launch, the portal has registered 100,000 hits up to March 2013.The portal is a clearing house for climate change information, containing an events calendar, experts directory, documents library, country profiles and a projects database.

Gonelevu says the project database has information on over 100 Climate Change projects in SPREP member countries.

“The portal is useful for donors, to see what climate change activities are taking place in different countries.”

Although the portal has over 600 documents on site, building content continues to be the portal’s biggest challenge. To counter this SPREP has issued a call to member countries for information and content. The plan is for country information on the portal to be updated by country editors, who are nominated by governments. 

“Before information is updated on the portal, it goes through a flow of approval by the national governments. Once it is approved then it will be updated.”

The Pacific Climate Change portal is administered by two committees. The first consists of an advisory committee made up of officials from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, University of the South Pacific, GIZ and SPREP. The second committee is a technical group from the same organisations. SPREP has conducted portal training for 10 PICTs in Fiji and the Federated States of Micronesia, to work with country editors. 

During the 2nd PMC, Palau requested to be included in future training's. Three countries, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga have started development of their own national portals, which will be integrated into the regional portal.

Weather station plans for Fiji's North

By Halitesh Datt, Fiji TV

4 July, 2013, Nadi, Fiji - The Fiji Meteorological Service is planning to open up a weather station in the Northern division.

FMS already has a hydrology unit based in Labasa and intends to supplement this service with a new weather station.

Given the role that it plays not only in Fiji but in the region as well, the Fiji Meteorological Service plans to further strengthen its operations this year.

To begin this, the met service is already installing automatic weather stations around the country to collect important weather related data.

Acting Director for Fiji Met Service, Aminiasi Tuidraki

FMS is also awaiting a $5.7 million dollar grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to install a new early warning system.

Capital projects for the met service this year are pegged at FJD$5 million dollars.

The Acting Director for Fiji’s Met Service, Aminiasi Tuidraki says this is an effort to increase its network in Fiji and the region.

The Fiji met service is also hoping to carry out a public awareness programs regarding its operations.

Pacific Meteorological Council comes of age

By Sini Latu, Tonga Broadcasting Commission

2 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji - Pacific meteorological directors have met regularly over the past 20 years but it was only in 2011 that the Pacific Meteorological Council was established.

The PMC, which has convened for its second meeting in Nadi from July 1-5, originated out of the 2011 Pacific Regional Meteorological Services forum (PRMSD).  The PRMSD first met 20 years ago in 1993 in Port Vila, Vanuatu to discuss how the National Met services can be best supported to effectively contribute to strengthening the resilience and security of Pacific communities.

In 2011 three key milestones took place – the establishment of the Pacific Meteorological Council; the endorsement of the Pacific Islands Meteorology Strategy and; the establishment of the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership.
The World Meteorological Organization’s Representative for the Pacific, Henry Taiki says the change in name was necessary to give the PRMSD forum a more formal arrangement.

Taiki says the change in name not only improved met services but it has also brought about a new sense of confidence. 

For Regional Met directors, the changeover to the PMC has meant different things.

“It brings a sense of togetherness amongst Pacific Nation countries in terms of meteorology, not only that we’re looking into the more high level stuff, it also brings how things impact on the ground – from the forecasting side of things into some of the presentations on the tropical cyclone effects. It’s in this kind of forums that we have the expertise and it’s a very good idea. It is a meeting that brings about the various elements that are involved in the pacific”. - Misaeli Funak   Fiji, Manager Forecasting Services

“At first RMSD which was the regional met service director meeting was just a meeting. PMC is a subsidiary body of SPREP so it’s got a more decent meetings”. - Reginald White  Director – Marshall Islands National Weather Service Office

Tonga Met Services call on support from Tongan communities

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

Right - 'Ofa Fa'anunu, Director, Tonga Met Service 

2 July 2013, Nadi, Fiji  One of the many challenges that the Tonga Meteorological Services is a lack of resources and qualified staff.

The Director for the Tonga Meteorological Service, Ofa Fa’anunu says the Met Service only comes to people’s attention when there is a cyclone or a natural disaster.

Fa’anunu who is the vice-president for World Meteorological Organization Regional Association Five says they need to get their services and weather related information out to the public.

He called on related sectors namely the media, communication companies and Non-Government Organisations for their help, while stressing the need for the dissemination of accurate information.

Tonga Meteorological Services has 26 staff – including Fa’anunu.
They operate and issue weather information in Tonga’s Met offices located at the airport zones of Tongatapu, Vava’u, Ha’apai and the 2 Niua’s.

Fiji Met Service working on new law

By Halitesh Datt, Fiji TV

The Fiji Meteorological Service is working on draft legislation to give it legal authority for its work.

The Acting Director of Fiji’s Meteorological Service, Aminisasi Tuidraki says work on putting together the bill has been done with the met service waiting endorsement from Fiji’s cabinet.

Meanwhile the Fiji Met Service is also looking to set up legal agreements with the organisations and bodies that it provides weather information to.

FMS Acting Director, Aminiasi Tuidraki says such agreements would give the service legal backing for its arrangement with stakeholders.

Pacific met services look for funding opportunities

By Asenati Taugasolo Semu, Press Secretariat of the Government of Samoa: http://www.savalinews.com 

2 July Nadi, Fiji - The 2^nd Meeting of the Pacific Meteorological Council in Nadi, Fiji this week provides a window of funding opportunities for Pacific Island countries, including Samoa.

This is the view of the head of Samoa’s Meteorological Office, Mulipola Ausetalia Titimaea.

He says the meeting opens the door for discussions with donors.

“This is a window of funding for donors to help our met services offices,” said Mulipola.

The meeting is coordinated by Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) with support from the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIICSRTE), Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

 Mulipola said the PMC meeting greatly benefits Samoa as it strives to achieve the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy (PIMS) 2012-2021.

He said these strategies include the public, marine and aviation areas with projects and activities the PMC hope to achieve within the strategy timeframe, and that council member countries have implemented their own projects.

“Samoa has just implemented an upgrade project for its Meteorological Service Office with assistance from the Government of Japan.”

Tokelau

Over the years Samoa’s weather forecasts have been accessible to people in Tokelau, thanks to the strength of the Samoa radio broadcast. 

Although there was no formal agreement for this, Mulipola, says things may change with Tokelau planning to set up its own met office. 

Menny Tavuto, Environment Manager, Tokelau

Tokelau’s representative at the PMC, Environment Manager, Menny Tavuto said a new office should be opened by the end of the year.

Tokelau, like other Pacific islands, is also eyeing this meeting as an opportunity to access donor funding.

“I am here to plead for funds and training to get our new office going. This is the first time Tokelau has been represented at these meetings,” he said.

“We are still at the drafting stage process for a Meteorological Service Office, and at the moment we have recruited only one staff member.

Fiji commended for its support to regional met services

By Asenati Taugasolo Semu, Government of Samoa Office of the Press Secretariat, member of the Pacific Media Team

1 July 2013, Nadi Fiji - Fiji has been praised for its continued support in providing essential meteorological services to countries in the region. 

The Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, Kosi Latu, commended Fiji for providing meteorological services to its Pacific neigbours since its establishment in 1975.

Speaking at the opening of the 2nd Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting in Nadi, Fiji, Latu highlighted the services of the Fiji Meteorological Service.

“The Fiji Meteorological Service continues to provide critical meteorological services including warnings to the Pacific Island Countries and Territories, in its capacity as the World Meteorological Organization designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in Nadi – Tropical Cyclone Centre, and as the International Civil Aviation Organization designated Tropical Cyclones Advisory Center and Meteorological Watch Office.

“The Government of Fiji meets all operation costs for the regional weather forecasting service and continues to provide services beyond that of the normal functions of a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center, a Tropical Cyclone Advisory Center and a Meteorological Watch Office for the region.”

Fiji’s Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Timoci Lesi Natuva, in delivering the keynote address said Fiji would continue to support regional countries.

He said Fiji takes its responsibilities as the Tropical Cyclone-Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (TC RSMC) very seriously and reaffirmed to the region and partners his country’s commitment to sustain this service.

The PMC meeting continues until Friday and will feature presentations and discussions by heads of meteorological services in the regions and supporting partners.

SPREP’s Deputy Director said the PMC’s milestones since its establishment in 2011, include the set up of the PMC and the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership and the endorsement of the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy 2012-2021.

Representatives from American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated State of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the Solomon Islands made presentations today.

Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting opens in Fiji - News from Fiji TV

By Halitesh Datt, Reporter, Fiji TV News a member of the Pacific Media Team

1 July, 2013, Nadi Fiji - Fiji will continue to play a critical role in providing the region with weather forecasting data and warning systems.

Speaking at the opening of the Pacific Meteorological Council meeting in Nadi today, Minister for Public Utilities, Timoci Natuva says Fiji will play its part and assist neighboring countries in disseminating crucial weather related information.

Our reporter Halitesh Datt is in Nadi and filed this report.

(Voice over by Halitesh Datt)

"Fiji has since 1975 been engaged in providing the region with weather forecasting data and warning systems.

The Fiji Government this morning reaffirmed that it will continue its role in the region."

Capt. Timoci Lesi Natuva, Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Government of Fiji

"However Natuva says there needs to be a concerted effort by Pacific Island countries to find a long term solutions to weather, water and climate related issues."

Capt. Timoci Lesi Natuva, Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Government of Fiji

"And that’s exactly what these meteorological experts from the region are here to do this week- to look at and address some common issues faced by each country.

One of these issues is the lack of skilled personnel in this field of work."

Mr. Reginald White, Director. National Weather Service Office, Republic of Marshall Islands

"The council is hoping that tertiary institutions in the region will offer courses in meteorological studies and address this growing concern."