10th August, 2017 Director of Meteorology under MEIDECC also the Vice President of the World Meteorological Organization and Regional Association V in the South West Pacific Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu opened a Steering Committee Meeting on CREWS-Canada and Canada Projects in the Pacific, at Heritage Park Hotel, Honiara, in August 9th 2017.
CREWS-Canada and Canada Projects in the Pacific aims to “Strengthen Hydro-Meteorological and Early Warning Services in the Pacific” and Build Resilience to High-Impact Hydro-meteorological Events through Strengthening Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and South East Asia (SEA).
In his remarks Mr. Fa’anunu said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss and agree on the Project’s work plan for 2017/2018, and a way forward for implementing the project in general.
He stressed that Hydro-meteorological disasters have significant impacts, comprising socio-economic development and growth, particularly in countries with least resources including the Pacific Small Island Developing States.
“The extent of the losses resulting from these hydro-meteorological events in part is attributed to a lack of understanding of the impacts of the hazards and a lack of preparedness and inappropriate actions relevant to the warnings.”
“With focus on people-centered and risk-informed, Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems with the implementation of the “Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Early warning Services in the Pacific” and Building Resilience to high-impact hydro-meteorological events through strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems in small island developing states (SIDS) AND South-East Asia (SEA)” contributes strongly towards the goals of the climate risk and early warning systems initiative (CREWS).”
Fa’anunu added that the project contributes to the implementation of regional priorities for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation including the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific , an integrated approach to address climate change and disaster risk management, the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy and the Pacific Roadmap for strengthening climate services.
The project is funded under the CREWS initiative which was launched in Paris in December 2015 during the United Nations Conference on Climate Change 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21). The main purpose of CREWS initiative are to strengthen the work of the international community in supporting Early Warning System in vulnerable countries and to mobilize additional financing to enhance actions to full cover the global population exposed to extreme climate events by 2020, as agreed in the Sendai Framework for DRR.
The CREWS initiative is supported by three international organizations: WMO, the United Nations Office for DRR (UNISDR), and the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (WB GFDRR).
The project also supports our new WMO programme for SIDS and Member Island Territories (MITs) approved at Cg-17 in 2015 which has not yet made it into the main WMO budget stream
Mr. ‘Ofa Fa’anunu is joined by three other journalists Ms. Viola Ulakai from TBC, Ms. Linny Folau from Matangitonga and Ms. ‘Ana Uili from MEIDECC’s Information Department. These Journalists are currently attending a week training in preparing for the Pacific Meteorology Ministerial Meeting and Pacific Meteorology Council which will be started next week in Honiara, Solomon Is.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for Meteorology Hon. Siaosi Sovaleni will be attending the Ministerial Meeting next week.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications.