The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has released the April 2013 edition of its Climate Change Matters newsletter, which features articles on: the Pacific Energy Summit; tide and sea level forecasting in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); World Water Day Celebrations; the importance of addressing loss and damage; and Fiji's climate change awareness raising efforts.
10 April 2013: The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) has released the April 2013 edition of its Climate Change Matters newsletter, which features articles on: the Pacific Energy Summit; tide and sea level forecasting in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM); World Water Day Celebrations; the importance of addressing loss and damage; and Fiji’s climate change awareness raising efforts.
The newsletter reports that the island of Kosrae in FSM has recently installed tide and sea level forecasting equipment under the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change (PACC) Project. The tide data is analyzed by the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA) in New Zealand, where tide tables are produced. The tables are then publically distributed and broadcasted on the radio twice a day.
On loss and damage due to climate change, the newsletter notes the importance of this issue to the Pacific region. It highlights SPREP’s efforts to work towards insurance schemes, which it says were discussed with Pacific, Caribbean and developed country parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at a recent meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The newsletter also highlights the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs Climate Change Unit’s efforts to build the capacity of the media to educate Fijians on climate change issues. [Publication: Climate Change Matters April 2012 Newsletter] [SPREP Press Release]