SPC Geoscience Division

Home News & Media Releases
News

What is the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management?

Tuesday, 10 June 2014 09:24 administrator
E-mail Print PDF

The 6th Session of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management, was recently co-convened by the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) from 2nd - 4th June at the Novotel Hotel in Suva, Fiji.

This important meeting was seeking to gain support for the draft Strategy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development in the Pacific (SRDP) and the development of the Post- 2015 Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction which is to be endorsed at the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Reduction (3WCDRR) in Sendai, Japan in March 2015. Watch here for a 2-minute summary of key stakeholder views on the success of the Platform.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 June 2014 15:44 Read more...
 

6th Session of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management Opens in Suva

Monday, 02 June 2014 10:53 administrator
E-mail Print PDF

Monday 2nd June 2014, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) – Suva, Fiji - Co-convened by the Secretariat of Pacific Community (SPC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), the 6th Session of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management officially opened today, Monday 2nd June at Hotel Novotel in Lami Bay, Fiji.

Opened by Lieutenant Colonel Inia Seruiratu, Fiji's Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management, and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests – the 6th Pacific Platform provides the region with a pivotal opportunity to shape disaster risk and climate change efforts for the next 20 years and beyond.

It will seek to gain support for the draft Strategy for Climate and Disaster Resilient Development in the Pacific (SRDP) and the development of the Post - 2015 Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.

With the development of the SRDP, the Pacific is globally leading the way as the first region in the world to develop a regional strategy that integrates climate change and disaster risk management, while also nesting these priorities within the context of resilient development.  

Last Updated on Monday, 02 June 2014 10:59 Read more...
 

Australia and SPC support Pacific Climate and Oceans Awareness

Tuesday, 27 May 2014 15:05 administrator
E-mail Print PDF

Friday 23 May 2014, Nadi, Fiji - 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 are all 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 Geoscience Division (GSD), have been providing products, training, and services to assist government agencies to apply climate and ocean research to national planning and decision-making.

Last Updated on Thursday, 19 March 2015 13:23 Read more...
 

SPC Raises Water and Energy Awareness In Pacific Island Schools

Monday, 26 May 2014 11:13 administrator
E-mail Print PDF

Friday 23 May 2014, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Suva, Fiji - The Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s Economic Development Division (EDD) and Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (AGTD) 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.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 May 2014 14:13 Read more...
 

European Union supports achievements in national resilience planning

Thursday, 15 May 2014 12:58 administrator
E-mail Print PDF

15 May 2014, Secretariat of Pacific Community, Suva Fiji - The Cook Islands, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) have achieved key national governance and resilience planning milestones. This achievement affords these countries a strategic perspective on priorities to address disaster-related risks under the European Union-funded project EDF 10 ACP EU: Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific.

‘Cook Islands, Palau and FSM are the first Pacific Island countries to achieve agreement on their country priorities for Year 1. This is important for improving safety and resilience of their communities on the ground. We envisage that the other Pacific ACP States supported by the project will complete this step by August 2014,’ stated Taito Nakalevu, SPC Project Manager for the EDF 10 ACP EU project.

Cook Islands, Palau and FSM have finalised their National Steering Committees and key documents that set a framework for coordinated national resilience action, including endorsed Country Implementation Plans and Year 1 Work Plans.

Last Updated on Thursday, 15 May 2014 13:03 Read more...
 
More Articles...


Page 12 of 74

Newsflash

Suva, 22 March 2013: The Pacific joins the rest of the world today in celebrating World Water Day 2013 in a spirit of cooperation and partnership. This occasion provides a moment to reflect on our precious water resources and on our role in their management and protection.

World Water Day is celebrated on 22 March each year to help focus the world’s attention on water and sanitation. This year is also the International Year of Water Cooperation –the global theme for World Water Day this year. This theme has enormous significance for the Pacific, a region where water management is a critical development issue with profound implications for economic growth, human rights, public health and the environment. To put the scale of the issue in context, it has been estimated by UNICEF and WHO that little more than half the population of our region has access to improved drinking water and sanitation.

The Pacific theme for World Water Day is Building Water Partnerships for the Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Water issues and concerns, such as the inequitable distribution and unsustainable use of water resources, cross many boundaries, communities and levels of governance. Furthermore, resource management in the Pacific also needs to account for traditional and cultural approaches often tied closely to land and nearshore coastal area management. These approaches also extend to the management of water and sanitation. Navigating through all this can be challenging and achieving any lasting success requires effective cooperation between multiple actors across many levels.

Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), said that cooperation is crucial not only to ensure the sustainable and equitable distribution of water but also to foster and maintain peaceful relations within and among communities. He further reinforced the need to strengthen water partnerships already in place across the region to help secure safe water and sanitation for all.