2005-IGM-SPG 10.pdf - Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change ...

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IGM/10/10
SPG/10/10
15-26 June, 2004. (APN CAPaBLE Programme) Pacific Island Training
Institute on Climate and Extreme Events
This joint training institute was convened by USP’s Pacific Centre for Environment
and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD), the East-West Center (EWC), Hawaii, and
the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), New Zealand, at
the USP campus, Suva. The training institute was coodinated by Prof. Koshy, Ms.
Eileen O’Shea (EWC) and Dr. Jim Salinger (NIWA). The APN’s CAPaBLE programme,
and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were the major
sponsors with additional contributions from USP, EWC and NIWA. Small Islands
Developing States (SIDS), such as those in the Pacific region, are considered among
the most vulnerable to the consequences of climate variability and change and
associated extreme weather events. The training institute is expected to assist in the
development of a regional network of scientists, forecasters, disaster management
officials and resource managers, skilled in the development and the use of climate
information to increase the resilience of Pacific Island nations in the face of climaterelated
extreme events. The institute was comprised of an intensive programme of
lectures, small group discussions, training sessions, in a computer lab, and
collaborative research activities. About 35 participants, including resource people,
participated in the Training. Mosmi Bhim also participated in this training.
28-30 June 2004. Pacific Regional Stakeholders Planning Workshop
The South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) hosted the Regional
Stakeholders Planning Workshop to develop a Pacific Regional Strategic Disaster
Risk Reduction Action Plan, to assist the Pacific Island region’s preparations for the
2 nd World Conference on Disaster Reduction which was held in Kobe, Japan,18-22
January, 2005. To ensure that the interests of the Pacific region were represented in
Kobe, over 40 participants representing 16 countries, as well as regional and
national organisations, attended the regional planning workshop. The workshop was
designed to provide a platform through which participants could contribute ideas
towards regional policies that would support disaster risk reduction decision-making;
to reduce the vulnerability of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and
strengthen their national sustainable development planning. Ms. Mosmi Bhim
attended this meeting and gave a presentation on APN and START activities in the
region related to the workshop theme.
1-3 July 2004. South Pacific Tsunami Awareness Workshop Forum
Secretariat. Suva, Fiji
The workshop was organised by the South Pacific Applied Geosciences Commission
(SOPAC), the International Tsunami Information Centre and the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission. Following the presentations, group sessions were held
to prepare a draft document titled ‘Strategic Recommendations for Addressing
Tsunami Risks’. SOPAC is expected to consider these recommendations in relation to
the development of the Pacific Regional Strategic Action Plan for Disaster Reduction.
Presentations were made by experts and country reports were also presented by the
National Disaster Management Officers (NDMO), of various countries. At the end of
this workshop, a Draft Strategic Recommendation for Addressing Tsunami Risks was
prepared. This draft document set out a framework whereby Pacific countries’
capacity could be enhanced to aid tsunami risk identification, preparedness and
reduction. Ms. Mosmi Bhim, the APN liaison officer, attended this workshop.
8-10 November 2004. The 2nd APN Global Change Coastal Zone
Management Synthesis Workshop. Kobe, Japan
This project is led by Prof. Nick Harvey of the University of Adelaide, Australia. Prof.
Harvey is also the Chair of the START-Oceania Regional Committee. Prof. Kanayathu