SPC Geoscience Division

Latest

Regional Institutional Framework (RIF) Reform transfers SOPAC functions into SPC and SPREP

E-mail Print PDF

PRESS RELEASE

Regional Institutional Framework (RIF) Reform transfers SOPAC functions into SPC and SPREP

30 March 2010: Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director-General of SPC, Mr David Sheppard, Director of SPREP and Dr Russell Howorth, Director, Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC),will at the SOPAC Secretariat at 3 pm on Wednesday, 31st March 2010 sign three Letters of Agreement which together comprise full implementation of substantive elements of the Regional Institutional Framework (RIF) Reform agreed to by Pacific Island Leaders at recent Forum Meetings (Annex D of the 2009 Cairns Forum Communiqué refers).

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 14:39 Read more...
 

Pacific Island water quality in the spotlight this World Water Day

E-mail Print PDF
Suva, Monday 22 March, 2010: Today the world focuses its attention on water, the natural resource most vital to life. World Water Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, is used as an opportunity to highlight critical water issues facing the planet. This year’s theme, “Clean Water for a Healthy World”, aims to raise global awareness on the importance of water quality for human health and the environment.

The impacts of recent natural disasters on water quality, outbreaks of typhoid in Fiji and Samoa, and a cholera epidemic in Papua New Guinea show that access to clean, safe water continues to be a major issue in the Pacific.

Last Updated on Monday, 19 April 2010 16:17 Read more...
 

Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management 2009

E-mail Print PDF
The first meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management was held in Nadi, Fiji from 7 - 15th of May 2009. The Pacific Platform is comprised of a series of Pacific regional meetings of national focal points for disaster risk management; regional development partners and key decision makers of Pacific governments; CEOs responsible for Finance and Planning and Disaster Management.

The Pacific Platform concept has its origins in the UN Secretary-General’s? report A/60/180 which points out the intention of a strengthened UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) system to support regional networks for advocacy for disaster risk reduction and cooperation at regional and sub-regional levels in support to national initiatives and platforms.
Read more...
 

Using ICT for Effective Disaster Management Pacific Forum 2009

E-mail Print PDF
UN APCICT Press Release, 7 July 2009

Forum brings together managers and policymakers from ICT and disaster risk reduction sectors to address challenges in making communities safer in the Pacific Islands.

Representatives of 12 Pacfic Island Countries attended the Forum which was from 7-9 July 2009 in Apia, Samoa.


The Forum was followed by a joint SOPAC/APCICT Academy workshop on the 10th July covering linkages between ICT and MDGs, ICT for Development Policy, process and governance.
Last Updated on Monday, 29 March 2010 15:49 Read more...
 

ACP/EU Natural Disaster Facility

E-mail Print PDF

The European Union and ACP Secretariat concluded a Contribution Agreement with SOPAC in May 2009 which will facilitate the mobilisation of funding and technical support under the ACP/EU Natural Disaster Facility of the 9th European Development Fund.

Last Updated on Monday, 29 March 2010 15:46 Read more...
 


Page 73 of 74

Newsflash

From 8 to 12 March, representatives of the French Pacific territories* met to discuss one of the most significant natural hazards for their territories, i.e. the tsunami risk.

This work, which was made possible with the support of European funding, was conducted in collaboration with scientists from the French Institute of Research for Development (IRD), the Geophysics Laboratory (CEA) and the French Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOM) under the guidance of SPC’s Applied Geoscience and Technology Division. A delegate from the French Polynesian Corporation for the Promotion of Municipal Districts and a representative of the French Ministry of Overseas Departments and Territories (délégation générale à l’outre-mer) also took part in the meeting.

The participants exchanged and shared scientific knowledge on the tsunami risk, the lessons learnt and the wide range of responses used to protect communities, e.g. educational measures,   communication materials, alarms, signs.

The conclusions of this week long working sessions are part of the efforts underway in this area and will be further developed during the 2013 edition of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management, which SPC will be hosting in July.