19 May 2025, Honiara, Solomon Islands – Australia is honouring its commitment to the Weather Ready Pacific Programme, a Pacific-led initiative that looks to build the resilience of Pacific communities to hazards and extreme weather events, with the signing of an agreement that sees the injection of AUD 27 million in funds to support the Programme’s planned activities over the next 4 years.
The signing took place in Apia on 27 March 2025, and was announced during the official opening of the Weather Ready Pacific Programme’s Second Planning and Steering Committee meeting held in Honiara today and tomorrow.
The Government of Australia, in 2023, announced an AUD 30 million funding support for the Weather Ready Pacific. An initial AUD 3 million was disbursed to SPREP to set up the Programme Management Unit (PMU) and recruit staff. The signing in March makes good on the Government of Australia’s commitment to the Programme by releasing the remaining AUD 27 million support earmarked for the Programme and the implementation of its activities.
Speaking at the opening of the Weather Ready Pacific Steering Committee meeting, Ms. Nicole Smith, Counsellor Governance and Stability with the Australian High Commission in Honiara, stated that the funding reaffirms Australia’s commitment to the Weather Ready Pacific Programme, and to building the resilience of Pacific communities in the face of climate extreme events.
“Australia recognises that climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods and wellbeing of people in the Pacific. Weather Ready is a terrific example of a Pacific-led solution to a complex problem and we are proud to support it,” Ms. Smith said.
“Weather Ready has the endorsement of PIF leaders and is already strengthening the region’s resilience and assisting nations in adapting to the impacts of climate change particularly severe weather, water, and ocean events.”
Ms. Smith recognised the importance of collaboration to address the challenges brought on by climate change, stating that “none of us can achieve the future we want alone. We are stronger together, and in that spirit, we are pleased to join our colleagues from Japan, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as early partners in this important work.”
The announcement was well received by the members of the Weather Ready Pacific Steering Committee, which includes Directors of Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and representatives from the National Disaster Management Offices.
The recently released State of the Global Climate report revealed that tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, and other hazards in 2024 led to the highest number of new displacements in the past 16 years, contributed to worsening food crises, and caused massive economic losses. It also highlighted the vital role of early warnings and climate services to protect communities and economies.
Mr. Salesa Nihmei, Officer-in-Charge of SPREP's Climate Science and Information Programme, under which the Weather Ready Pacific Programme sits, expressed his gratitude to Australia for the funding support to the Weather Ready Programme.
“Australia is a long standing partner in the Pacific in the fight against the effects of climate change and extreme events and were the first country to come on board and support this initiative that was established by the Forum Leaders to ensure we build the resilience of the Pacific island Countries to extreme events that are happening now." said Mr. Nihmei.
"Having a decadal response will ensure more sustainable capacity development is established,” he added.
Mr. 'Ofa Fa'anunu, Weather Ready Programme Manager, explained that the funding will go into supporting activities in Governance, Forecasting and Warning Productions, Communications and Service Delivery, and Infrastructure and Capacity Development.
“This will help national meteorological and hydrological services and agencies supporting multi hazard early warning systems in the Pacific island countries and territories over the next 5 years,” Mr. Fa'anunu added.