17th September, 2019 The Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology of the Solomon Islands, Dr. Culwick Togamana opened the Impact Based and Warning Services Workshop for the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the World Meteorological Organization Regional Association V. This workshop takes place here in Honiara from the 16th – 20th September 2019.
The President of the WMO RA V and Director of the Tonga Meteorological and Coast Radio Services stressed the importance and the urgent need to improve our Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, the essence of our presence in this workshop.
Given the current rate of natural hazards and extreme weather and climate events affecting our communities and the projected increase in climate related extreme events and hazards under a warmer climate regime, the provision of accurate weather and climate forecasts and warnings is extremely important. Majority of our populations rely heavily on weather forecasts and warnings provided by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Authorities. The role of national authorities in providing early warning and their partners in ensuring that sectors and communities are prepared has also become more important now with the changes in the weather and climate variability. Extreme weather records continue to be broken every year in terms of intensities, droughts are becoming more severe and the projections are for these conditions to get worst in the future.
“We are here this week to learn and discuss how we can improve the provision of forecasts and warnings by incorporating the impacts of different hazards into the information that we give to the general public and to our development sectors.” Mr. Fa’anunu added during his remarks in the opening ceremony of this workshop. To present the information in a more actionable and understood manner is also another important aspect of impact-based forecasting and services. It is the taking of the scientific predictions, figuring out the likely impact on the community or the sector or a person and conveying that information and how to react to those impacts.
So Early warning is no longer just the responsibility of the MET Service, Disaster Management Office and Geological Services. These arms of Government may be responsible for producing warnings, disseminating them and coordinating responses but everyone has a role to play and every citizen has a role in the early warning system. “Good policy and legislation is also required to ensure the machinery for delivery of a good multi-hazard early warning system is in place”, Mr. Fa’anunu also added during his remarks.
One of the objectives of this workshop is learning that the collection, validation, organization and storage of data is extremely import for impact based forecasting. Particularly impact data. Most Meteorological Centers have excellent meteorological high quality and long records. The difficulty is often the corresponding impact data which is not available to be able to make meaningful comparisons.
It is anticipated that we will learn on how we can improve service delivery through this impact forecasting mechanisms. We are also here to share knowledge and to learn from each other. “I believe there is a wealth of impact data that is available in many communities in the form of traditional knowledge that we need to collect now to assist us with our impact forecasting”. Mr. Fa’anunu said to stress the importance of traditional knowledges.
The journey we are embarking on today will change the way forecasts and warnings will be made and delivered to our various users. Our work here this week in the Solomon Islands is extremely important for building back the Resilience of Tonga to Natural Hazards and Disasters.
During the Opening Statement of the Guest of Honor, the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Honorable Dr. Culwick Togamana paid his respects and expressed the condolences of the Solomon Island Government for the passing of Tonga’s Prime Minister, Honorable Samiuela Akilisi Pohiva. A moment of silence was observed to remember Honorable Pohiva’s contribution to Meteorology in the Pacific and all those that lost their lives in recent natural disasters around the world.
The Team attending in this workshop is being led by the Director of Tonga Meteorological Services, Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, Mr. Laitia Fifita (Chief Meteorologist, Tonga MET Services), Mrs. Moana Kioa (Principal Assistant Secretary, NEMO), Mr. Rennie Vaiomo’unga (Senior Geologist, Geology Tonga) and Mrs. ‘Anaseini Iotebatu (Disaster Management Coordinator, Tonga Red Cross). Their participation in this workshop is strategically being set up to output an integrated approach towards implementing Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems and Services in Tonga.
Acknowledgement is also given to the funding support received from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Bank (PREP) project for our participation in this very important workshop amongst other delegations from all the other 15 pacific island islands (Cook Islands, FSM, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu).
ENDS
For further information please contact the Meteorology Division on 35355 or metstaff@met.gov.to. More information is also available at www.met.gov.to