Climate Change Resilience
By Repeka Nasiko of Fiji Times

14 August, 2017, Honiara, Solomon Islands, PMC-4- Members of the Pacific Meteorological Council have been encouraged to focus on the hydrological component of their national meteorological services by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

WMO development and regional activities director Mary Power said there was not enough focus on the hydrology services by meteorological services. Hydrology services include flood warnings and alerts.  

“I know that this week there has been a particular focus placed in the area of hydrology which is underemphasised in a lot of our programs to date,” she said. 

“Perhaps there needs to be a lot more emphasis on operations of the hydrology side of things.”

She said there would be new a program introduced in the region by implementing bodies like the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP) and the Pacific Community (SPC). 

Mary Power DG Minister
Mary Power of WMO, DG Kosi Latu and Hon. Samuel Manetoali

“I am aware that SPREP and SPC are placing this as a critical focus for the coming years and WMO would like to see that happen, said Ms Power.

“We would be very willing to support any initiative that is in the area.

“We could start improving the hydrological capacity in the region because the work of the hydrological department and the meteorological services are not under the same departments.”

She added WMO would continue to work with regional and national meteorological services in the Pacific to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals that has been laid out for the global community under Agenda 2030. 

According to WMO, the global body assists national meteorological and hydrological services especially of those developing and least developed countries in their efforts to contribute in the most effective manner to the national development and to become full partners in global collaborative efforts. – #PMC4 #PacificMet

The Fourth Pacific Meteorological Council is being held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from the 14 – 17 August co-hosted by the government of Solomon Islands, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This will followed by the Second Pacific Meteorological Ministers Meeting (PMMM) on the 18 of August.

The PMC and PMMM is supported by the Government of Solomon Islands, SPREP, WMO, Government of Australia through the Climate and Oceans Support Programme (COSPPac) and Pacific Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning Programme (PACCSAP), Government of Finland, National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United Nations Development Programme through the Resilience in the Pacific (SIDS) project.

The PMC consists of members of the Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services supported by its technical partners, regional organisations, non-government organisations and private sectors.

This article was developed by a Pacific Media Team of Reporters currently providing coverage on the Fourth Pacific Meteorological Council in Solomon Islands. This activity coordinated by SPREP is supported by a partnership between the Government of Solomon Islands, SPREP, Australia funded project (Climate and Oceans Support Program (COSPPac) and UNDP Disaster for Pacific SIDS (RESPAC) project.