SPC Geoscience Division

Milestone report on “Sanitation, Drinking water and Health in Pacific Island countries” reveals troubling information

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Suva, 16 June 2016

A regional report entitled “Sanitation, Drinking-water and Health in Pacific Island Countries: 2015 update and future outlook” has found that almost 70% of people living in the Pacific are without access to improved sanitation, and almost 50% lack access to improved drinking water supplies.

Heads of agencies were quick to share their sentiments when the report was launched.  Dr Liu Yunguo, WHO Representative for the South Pacific based in Suva said “We are very pleased to launch this milestone report in collaboration with other UN agencies and the Pacific Community.”

“The report is a highly significant contribution to guide the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation in the Pacific,” said Dr Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 June 2016 11:40 Read more...
 

Pacific climate change project to feature at European Development Days in Brussels

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Suva, 14 June 2016
GCCAA climate change project implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) is being featured among the displays during the European Development Days taking place in Brussels, Belgium, this week.

The “Helping communities adapt to climate change” display at the European Development Days village on 15-16 June will showcase the work of the Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Islands States (GCCA:PSIS) project in nine countries: Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia , Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Tonga and Tuvalu.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 June 2016 11:39 Read more...
 

Support for emergency response capacity in Vanuatu

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Vanuatu’s ability to respond more effectively to disasters has been bolstered today with the handing over of three emergency boats, two vehicles and a flatbed truck.

The timely gesture to support response and relief following disasters, like Cyclone Pam, has been made possible through the European Union’s EUR 19.37 million Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Project (BSRP), implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC).

European Union Ambassador to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, H.E. Leonidas Tezapsidis, presented the heavy haulage flatbed truck, boats and vehicles to Lieutenant Colonel Acting Commander, Terry Tulang, of the Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), the Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Shadrack Welegtabit, and the Director-General of the Ministry of Climate Change, Jesse Benjamin, in the capital, Port Vila.

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Advancing Pacific Ocean data networks and applications

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Ocean science experts from the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) are among those convening in Noumea this week to build understanding of ocean processes, ocean observations and data applications, and advance the design of a Pacific Islands ocean observation network.

The Pacific Islands Training Workshop on Ocean Observations and Data Applications, being held at the IRD offices, will contribute to increasing the capability within the Pacific region to collect, analyse, and communicate oceanographic data across a number of sectors, such as meteorology and climate services, fisheries, marine trade and tourism.

The workshop is organised by the Joint World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) in coordination with IRD, SPC and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP).

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EU will provide FJ$10 million through SPC towards recovery and rehabilitation after Cyclone Winston

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colin and eu

The European Union (EU) will provide an initial FJ$ 10 million through the Pacific Community (SPC) to complement the Fijian Government's efforts in relief, recovery and rehabilitation following the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The funds will immediately be made available from EU-SPC projects for communities and businesses in the most severely affected regions of Fiji.

"The FJ$10M is a direct, practical short term response to the needs of Fijian citizens in the affected areas", says EU Ambassador for the Pacific Andrew Jacobs. "The EU and SPC have joined forces to identify other resources, whether it is through an existing joint programme or a new source that could be expedited and channelled towards re-building peoples' lives".

Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 March 2016 14:33 Read more...
 

Fiji hosts the Pacific’s own science and technology conference

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6 June 2016

Nadi, Fiji –  Geoscience and ocean experts from around the Pacific convene in Nadi from June 6-8 to share knowledge and practices, present original research, and advance regional collaboration at the 31st Science, Technology, and Resources (STAR) Conference, hosted by the Government of Fiji. The theme of this year’s conference is Geosciences, Geo-engineering and the Ocean in the Pacific Region.

“Fiji is pleased to host the region’s first STAR conference after a three year hiatus,” said Permanent Secretary for the Fiji Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources and current STAR Network chair, Mr. Malakai Finau. “Pacific delegates have missed this conference, as it provides a unique platform for showcasing regional research methods and findings, as well as networking and discussion.”

Last Updated on Tuesday, 28 June 2016 14:19 Read more...
 

Lessons learned from Winston

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30 May 2016, Labasa

TC-WinstonThe devastation Tropical Cyclone Winston unleashed on Fiji is still a reality for many across the country.

To explore how Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) responded, and what could be improved upon for next time, a series of Lessons Learned Workshops will be held over the next four weeks, beginning in the Northern Division of Fiji today.

Parts of the Northern Division of the country were badly affected, with many communities in the direct path of Cyclone Winston, the strongest recorded cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere struck land on 20 February.

The Lessons Learned Workshops are funded by the €19.37 million (FJD 45 million) ACP-European Union Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Project implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC).

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 June 2016 16:31 Read more...
 

Cyclone Winston survey sets new baseline for damage data

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1 April 2016, Suva

Coastal hazard experts from the Pacific Community (SPC) have surveyed wind and wave damage from tropical cyclone Winston in more than 40 communities across the provinces of Bua, Cakaudrove, and Lomaiviti in Fiji last week, producing detailed data that will have immediate and long-term benefits for Fiji and the region.

As part of SPC’s assistance to the Government of Fiji following the devastating category 5 cyclone, two teams of oceanographers and damage assessment specialists designed and carried out simultaneous surveys, covering roughly 250 km of coastline over five days.

Planned in collaboration with Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and Mineral Resource Department and with support from the World Bank, the surveys assessed building damage, the status of water and sanitation, and the extent of coastal inundation on the island of Ovalau and the southern coast of Vanua Levu.

Last Updated on Friday, 01 April 2016 11:49 Read more...
 

‘Pacific Community’ name adopted

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1 February 2016, Noumea

Expect to see and hear a lot more about the Pacific Community.

This follows the decision that the ‘Secretariat of the Pacific Community’ should be known simply by its formal name, the ‘Pacific Community’.

“By adopting the ‘Pacific Community’ as our public name we’re essentially going back to the future, as this was the legal name chosen by our members back in 1997, replacing the ‘South Pacific Commission’ title,” the Pacific Community Director-General, Dr Colin Tukuitonga, said.

“Reverting to our organisation’s formal name reflects the Pacific Community’s inclusive mandate and broad Pacific region coverage, and promotes greater ownership by our 26 country and territory members, beyond the secretariat.

Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2016 12:23 Read more...
 


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Newsflash

Tuesday 15 October 2013, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), Rarotonga, Cook Islands - The Office of the Prime Minister in Cook Islands called a special meeting of the National Platform for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management on Friday 4 October, 2013. The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate stakeholder input in Cook Islands for the proposed new regional strategy for disaster and climate resilient development in the Pacific (SRDP).

The development of the SRDP, referred to as 'the roadmap process’, is led by Pacific Island countries and territories. Stakeholder engagement is being sought throughout the Pacific region in a variety of forums. During the Cook Islands meeting participants had the opportunity to learn about the roadmap process and provide their suggestions concerning its development.

Teina Mackenzie is an Executive Board Member for the Te Ipukarea Society, an environmental NGO in Cook Islands. She says, ‘The most encouraging aspect of the recent meeting is that it seeks true engagement of stakeholders and the community at the outset of the proposed strategy.’