3 May 2019: Over 300 participants shared their experiences in collaborating to promote resilient development at the inaugural Pacific Resilience Meeting. The meeting focused on the theme, ‘Youth Futures in a Resilient Pacific,’ in recognition of the energy and contribution of youth in strengthening and enhancing resilience building in the Pacific.

The Pacific Community (SPC), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and other members of the Pacific Resilience Partnership (PRP), with Pacific island countries, convened the Pacific Resilience Meeting with support from the US Agency for International Development’s ISACC project and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Pacific iCLIM project. The meeting convened in Suva, Fiji, from 1-3 May 2019.

A ‘Low Carbon’ session during the event highlighted the benefits of transitioning to low-carbon economies through Low Carbon Developments (LCD), which is one of the three goals of the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific. SPREP Climate Change Advisor Espen Ronneberg highlighted the economic, social and environmental benefits of LCD, explaining that LCD is “essentially about sustainable development and building resilience of our societies.” He stressed that such development is particularly critical for Pacific communities that are “much more at the mercy of fossil fuel prices in their spending,” which can dramatically affect their livelihoods. Ronneberg concluded that LCD will reduce households’ fossil fuel bills, help them gain greater energy independence and free up resources for other climate action and social benefits. Participants said such a transition would put the Pacific at the “forefront of the fight against climate change” while also increasing employment opportunities and reducing pollution.

The meeting also discussed the role of early warning systems in preventing and minimizing disasters. The Director of the Tuvalu Meteorological Service, Tauala Katea, described the development of an offshore wave forecasting model software that has allowed his country to predict wave heights from its nine islands. The software provides Tuvalu with a three-to-five-day advance notice of major wave events, which allows local authorities and communities to prepare for events and evacuate particular areas to prevent loss of life and property. The Director of Vanuatu’s Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department, Esline Garaebiti, shared her country’s investments in multi-hazard early warning and seismic monitoring, which have helped Vanuatu to detect earthquakes and tsunamis faster and better prepare for natural disasters. The Department merged with a similar department in New Caledonia to enable resource and data sharing through a joint monitoring network. This network has since expanded to other Pacific island countries, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga, resulting in the formation of the Oceania Regional Seismic Network (ORSNET).

How information and knowledge are shared and managed is critical to the success of building a resilient Pacific.

Participants considered opportunities to bridge gaps between youth and climate science during a side event on the Australia Pacific Climate Partnership (APCP). The Partnership brings together several programmes that connect climate science data with decision makers for climate- and disaster-resilient development, and aims to increase the effectiveness of support for climate action and disaster resilience in the Pacific. In Kiribati, APCP has provided support for developing a climate-informed curriculum, and provided teacher training and vocational skills courses on climate change. Other efforts in the region include a “climate change skills audit” which examined what climate change skills companies and organizations need and then shared this information with youth seeking employment.

The meeting also discussed ways to meaningfully engage young people in climate action, including through ensuring the participation of at least one youth representative in all climate- and resilience-related meetings, panels and workshops at national, regional and international levels to ensure a youth perspective. Participants recommended training young people on negotiations and leadership to prepare them to be able to represent the Pacific in the future.

A side event on the role of information and knowledge management in advancing climate change and disaster resilience discussed current work across the region, and considered opportunities for stronger cooperation and integration. The Pacific Data Hub is a platform for Pacific countries to use and share data. SPREP Climate Change Resilience Director Tagaloa Cooper highlighted the role of information and knowledge in engaging people, informing decision making and promoting behavior change. Cooper said how information and knowledge are “shared and managed is critical to the success of building a resilient Pacific.” The event discussed the importance of an enabling environment in addressing issues such as capacity development and resourcing, copyright, backup systems and information sharing among ministries.

The meeting concluded with participants reaffirming their commitment to continue collaboration and learning from each other to strengthen integrated adaptation and risk reduction to enhance climate and disaster resilience and promote LCD. Youth representatives underscored the role of young people as agents of change in building a resilient Pacific community. [SPREP Press Release on Opening] [SPREP Press Release on Closing] [SPREP Press Release on LCD Panel] [SPREP Press Release on LCD Panel Moderator] [SPREP Press Release on Tuvalu Early Warning System] [SPREP Press Release on ORSNET] [SPREP Press Release on APCP] [SPREP Press Release on Youth Participation] [SPREP Press Release on Knowledge Management] [Pacific Resilience Meeting 2019 Website]