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April - June 2014
SPC Raises Water and Energy Awareness In Pacific Island
Schools
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s
Economic Development Division (EDD)
and Applied Geoscience and Technology
Division (SOPAC) recently collaborated to
coordinate a regional poster competition as
a way to raise awareness about water and
energy.
The theme of the competition was ‘Save
Water, Save Energy for the Pacific’, and
invitations were sent out to all water and
energy focal points in the Pacific region.
An overwhelming 200 entries were
received, with Sipili Samisoni from Jai
Narayan College, Fiji winning the first prize
of USD 500. The second prize (USD 300)
went to Kelera Yabakivou and John Sito of
Lautoka Primary School, Fiji, and the third
prize (USD 250) was awarded to Flornie
Romblon Malinao from Niue High School.
An ecstatic Sipili, who did not expect to
win, said he was encouraged to take part
by his mother, someone he says has been
his source of inspiration and strength.
The 15 year-old Suva student said, ‘Water
is something that is very important, we
save water, we save energy. I think all
Pacific Islanders should start thinking
about conserving water since it’s a valuable
resource.’
The competition was organised as one of
many activities to commemorate World
Water Day, 22 March. This year’s theme
was ‘Water and Energy’. Aside from the
competition, SOPAC‘s Water and Sanitation
Programme also developed posters and
stickers that were sent out to all Pacific
Island countries and territories. National
events were celebrated in some countries,
including Fiji, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Niue
and Cook Islands.
Water and energy are closely interlinked,
energy generation and transmission
requires utilisation of water resources.
Energy is needed to pump, treat and
distribute water to Pacific households;
water is also an important energy source in
several Pacific Island countries, where the
energy of rivers and streams is harnessed
by hydro-electric facilities at the municipal,
village and even household scale.
The prizes were sponsored by EDD’s
Energy Programme through funding from
the Australian Government.
Australia and SPC support Pacific Climate and Oceans
Awareness
Many Pacific Islands have excellent weather
records that can be used to understand and
predict events that affect our communities
such as droughts, El Niño, La Niña, and sea
level changes. Making this information more
available and user-friendly is the critical next
step that countries face.
Representatives from 11 Pacific Island
meteorology services and land survey
departments met in Nadi from 19 to 21
May to discuss this issue. The countries
represented were all the participants in
the Australian-funded Climate and Oceans
Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac).
According to Programme Manager Janita
Pahalad of the Australian Bureau of
Meteorology, ‘COSPPac aims to support
Pacific Islands’ ability to understand
and apply scientific research on climate
variability to national development plans.’
COSPPac’s
implementing
partners,
the Australian Bureau of Meteorology,
Geoscience Australia and the Secretariat of
the Pacific Community through its Applied
Geoscience and Technology Division
(SOPAC), have been providing products,
training, and services to assist government
agencies to apply climate and ocean
research to national planning and decision-
making.
Attention to climate is particularly relevant
this year, as regional meteorology services
have forecasted that El Niño conditions are
likely to develop in the next few months.
The changes in sea level, ocean and
air temperature, and the frequency and
intensity of storms associated with El Niño
can have a big impact on Pacific agriculture,
health, fisheries, and tourism, among other
sectors.
The participants reflected on their progress
to date and laid down plans for the next two
years.
‘I’ve really appreciated the flexibility of the
COSPPac project,’ said Tonga’s Director of
Meteorology, ‘Ofa Fa’anunu. ‘How we do
things in Tonga or Niue or Samoa is totally
different. One of the biggest successes of
COSPPac is the way the capacity building
has been done. The project team has
been able to come to us and sit with us to
understand our priorities.’
COSPPac will continue to support Pacific
national met services and other sectors
with climate and oceans services and
capacity development through 2016.
Competition winner Sipili Samisoni
with the Director of the SOPAC Division, SPC,
Michael Petterson
Participants at the COSPPac Planning and Steering Committee Meeting, May 2014