30 July 2025, Tarawa, Kiribati– The European Union-funded Climate Services and Related Applications (Intra-ACP ClimSA) Programme is currently doing a stocktake of the implementation of activities in the Pacific region during its annual Project Steering Committee Meeting.
As part of its commitment to increasing the effectiveness of Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to provide essential and advanced climate services to end users, the European Union-funded ClimSA Programme, implemented by SPREP, aims to strengthen climate information services, enhance early warning systems, and empower decision-making across key sectors through tailored, actionable climate products.
A statement by the European Union delivered during the Steering Committee Meeting said: “Our work is crucial not only for the advancement of climate services but also for fostering sustainable development. Through efforts to prevent desertification, preserve ecological biodiversity and promote sustainable water management in ACP countries, we are actively contributing to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals – particularly, SDG 13 on climate action, SDG 2 on zero hunger, and SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, among others.
We remain committed to bridging the gap between climate services stakeholders and users in climate-sensitive sectors, ensuring alignment with the Global Framework for Climate Services. In that spirit, we are pleased to announce the extension of Intra-ACP ClimSA Programme until 30 November 2027.”
Priority sectors supported under Intra-ACP ClimSA Pacific are agriculture, fisheries and disaster risk reduction. The initiatives and activities to improve the delivery of climate services for these sectors are currently piloted in Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Tonga.
“With the support from the European Union, Intra-ACP ClimSA Pacific has been able to support greater regional learning, visibility, and collaboration through participation in international climate forums, training workshops, and the development of a regional scholarship program that will support young Pacific professionals in climate science and applied sectors,” said Mr. Salesa Nihmei, Director Climate Science and Information Programme at the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
One of the key deliverables of Intra-ACP ClimSA Pacific is to achieve designation status for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) RA-V Pacific Regional Climate Centre (Pacific RCC) Network, which is currently in demonstration phase. The Pacific RCC is a virtual Centre of Excellence that assists NMHSs in the Pacific Islands region to deliver better climate services and products and to strengthen their capacity to meet national climate information and service delivery needs.
“I encourage the steering committee to reflect on the successes and lessons learned, but more importantly, to explore ways to maximise ClimSA's legacy in Kiribati plus other targeted countries and the region. Kiribati on behalf of the beneficially countries sincerely acknowledge and thank the European Union for approving the extension of the Intra-ACP ClimSA project. This timely decision will certainly enhance the relevance of this upcoming Steering Committee meeting here in Kiribati, making it meaningful for the beneficiary countries and the region,” said Dr. Naomi Biribo, Secretary to Cabinet of the Republic of Kiribati.
Intra-ACP ClimSA Pacific has completed several climate services-related assessments since inception in 2022 and has developed a compendium of User Interface Platform recommendations for sectors in the Pacific, which outline best practices for improving the delivery of climate services in the Pacific and scaling up user engagement.
Other key achievements of Intra-ACP ClimSA Pacific include the successful delivery of Pacific Islands Climate Outlook Forums (PICOFs) since 2023, mainstreaming of sector participation into National Climate Outlook Forums (NCOFs) in Kiribati and Samoa, the development of tailored climate products and platforms, including a mobile app for Samoa and Oceania sign language on common meteorological hazards in the Pacific, significant investments in observation networks, customisation of the climate station for the Pacific, data digitisation, and the launch and endorsement of the Pacific Regional Strategy for Climate Services (PRSCS) 2026–2035 by the Pacific Meteorological Council.
About ClimSA Pacific:
The Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) Programme in the Pacific is a transformative initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by SPREP in partnership with the ACP Secretariat. ClimSA Pacific aims to strengthen climate information services, enhance early warning systems, and empower decision-making across key sectors through tailored, actionable climate products. By supporting National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and regional coordination, ClimSA Pacific is building a more resilient and climate-informed Pacific community