Page 35 - IB AUG 2017

Photo: C.Iacovino

Pacifi c Conversation: Meteorology across the Pacifi c region

From August 14 – 18, two crucial events will be taking place in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The 4th Pacific
Meteorological Council from 13 – 17 August, and the Pacific Minister’s Meeting on Meteorology 18 August,
2017. The theme is sustainable weather, climate, ocean and hydrology services for a resilient Pacific.
This Pacific Conversation raises awareness about why we need the Meteorological and Hydrological Services in
the Pacific islands, helping to protect us and our environment.

What is the Pacific Meteorological Council 5. Coordinated support for the National Meteorological
(PMC)? and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), PMC and the Pacific
Meteorological Desk Partnership (PMDP).
It’s a biannual meeting of all meteorological directors What is the Pacific Meteorological
from throughout the Pacific region, along with the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO), SPREP, partners and Desk Partnership?
stakeholders. 2017 is the 4th PMC formerly called the Regional The Apia-based Meteorological team within SPREP and
Meteorological Service Directors Meeting which began in 1993, WMO Office for the South-West Pacific make up the PMDP
right up to RSMD14 in 2011 before being renamed as the PMC. providing secretariat services for the PMC. It also helps to lead
In 2013, the PMC introduced a new component – the Pacific coordination of regional efforts to provide Pacific islands with
Minister’s Meeting on Meteorology to strengthen coordination weather forecasts, climate, hydrology and oceans services like
with political policy makers.
seasonal outlooks. It helps strengthen Pacific island capacity,
What is the goal of the PMC? enables with support for infrastructure and monitors the Pacific
Islands Meteorological Strategy in action.
It facilitates the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy
(PIMS) which sets out development and strategic priorities to For more information please visit:
strengthen national meteorological and hydrological services
and their contribution to sustainable development and the www.pacificmet.net
protection and well-being of our communities. Join the Pacific Conversation

Why do we need the PMC? #PacificMet #4PacIslands
User-friendly weather, climate, ocean and hydrology services
are vital to increase the resilience of Pacific region to extreme
weather such as tropical cyclones, drought and flooding which
disrupt the economy and our way of life. Natural hazards related
to El Niño and La Niña events are well known to Pacific islanders.
But increasingly we need to prepare for the impacts of climate
change, associated sea level rise, coastal inundation and impacts
on our precious marine ecosystems and coral reefs. The PMC
helps us face up to these challenges.
Our Vision
Under the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy, there are A resilient Pacific environment sustaining our livelihoods
five priority areas for action to grow Pacific services: and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures.
1. Improved weather services PO Box 240, Apia, Samoa
2. Disaster risk reduction Tel: +685 21929 | Fax: +685 20231
3. Improved climate and hydrological services Email: sprep@sprep.org
4. Integrated observing and communication systems Web: sprep.org