Status, progress and challenges in application

of space technology and GIS for disaster risk

reduction in the Pacific

Mr. Sunny Seuseu

Climate Prediction Services Coordinator

Outline

1. What is SPREP? 2. Global and Regional Frameworks 3. Pacific Meteorological Council and Ministerial

Meetings 4. Nukualofa Declaration and MHEWS 5. Space Technology (status, use, challenges) 6. GIS Technology (status, use and challenges) 7. SPREP Regional Geo-portals 8. Pacific Climate Change Centre

VITAL STATISTICS

Established 1993

Based in Samoa

26 Pacific island

members

4 metropolitan

country members

Over 100 staff

MANDATE

To promote cooperation in the Pacific islands region and to provide assistance in

order to protect and improve the environment and to ensure sustainable

development for present and future generations

Programme Areas

Strategic Priorities

Climate Change Programme

Climate Change

Environment Monitoring and Governance

Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management

Waste Management and Pollution Control

Policy & Science

Adaptation

Mitigation

Meteorology (proposed)

Pacific Climate Change Centre (new)

Regional Implementing Entity to Green Climate Fund

Global and Regional Frameworks

Fram

ewo

rk f

or

Res

ilien

t D

evel

op

men

t in

th

e Pa

cifi

c –

Inte

grat

ed A

pp

roac

h t

o a

dd

ress

Clim

ate

Ch

ange

&D

RR

1. The Pacific

Meteorological Council

(PMC)

0

20

40

60

80

100

PMC-1 PMC-2 PMC-3

Number of Participants to the PMC

Majuro-2011

Nadi-2013

Nuku’alofa-2015

Pacific Meteorological Council and the

Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology

• First Pacific Ministerial Meeting

on Meteorology (PMMM-1) held

in Tonga in July 2015.

• Endorsement of the Nuku’alofa

Ministerial Declaration on

sustainable weather and

climate services for a resilient

Pacific

Regional Ministerial

Meeting

PMC-3 + Partners

Pacific Met Desk Partnership

Nukualofa Ministerial Declaration Item 6: ENCOURAGE our governments, regional organizations and development partners to establish and support the implementation of impact-based multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) and Multi-Hazard Information Systems (MHIS);

Item 9: EXPRESS CONCERN about inadequate infrastructure and limited human resources of PICTs’ NMHSs as factors that limit the effective uptake of scientific and technological advances to improve services of NMHSs;

Item 16: COMMEND the establishment and support from development partners to the PMC as a subsidiary body of the SPREP Meeting and the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership hosted and managed by SPREP. WE URGE development partners and SPREP member countries and territories to continue their support to PMC and PMDP;

SPREP Meeting

Meteorology Ministerial Meeting

Pacific Meteorological

Council

Pacific Islands Climate Services

Panel

Pacific Islands Aviation Weather

Services Panel

Pacific Islands Marine and Ocean

Services Panel

Pacific Islands Education, Research and Training Panel

Pacific Islands Communications

and Infrastructure Panel

Multi hazard Early Warning System

Regional Mechanisms

EW Multi-timescales

Climate variability

Climate change

Rain storm

Tropical cyclone

Wet season & dry season

El Niño - Southern

Oscillation (ENSO)

Pacific Decadal Oscillation

(PDO) Global warming &

ocean acidification

Weather

hours days months decades years centuries

http://www.bom.gov.au/

Space Technology Applications

http://www.usno.navy.mil/

Challenges

• Access - Cost - Technology - Technical know-how - Relevant applications / demand for services • Capacity in Pacific islands (low capacity vs high capacity) • Training, Research and capacity requirements • Absence of a “Regional Toolbox”- one-stop-shop

• Process to mainstream Space Technology into DRR • Data availability, data sharing sensitivities, site specific data • Cost recovery and data policies • National geo-portals in the region (Cook Islands and Fiji)

http://swfddp.metservice.com/

HIMAWARI-8 SATELLITE

High Resolution Updated every 10 minutes

Satellite vs GIS Applications

Satellite data (30-day rain)

Satellite data (60-day rain)

Satellite data (90-day rain)

Space Technology Applications - SPREP

Examples/Country

1. Shipping analysis using Automatic Identification system (AIS) data from satellites

33 million sq kilometres, 21 nations, including areas beyond national jurisdiction

2. Biodiversity analysis from Satellite Imagery

Tavenui, Fiji +

3. Asbestos Location mapping using GPS FSM, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, Solomons, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands

4. By catch data analysis using GPS

Regional

5. Turtle tracking database using GPS

Regional

6. Bilateral conferences (UN PremComm1 etc)

International

7. Seek funding and partnership on Space Technology (upon requests)

Regional

8. Coordinate training and capacity building for NMHSs in specific area

Regional / International (with WMO and others)

GIS Applications

EWS GIS Applications

Alert Category Response by Villages (at minimum)

LOW

Operate normally Open fires are to be monitored Conserve water as much as possible, unlimited usage

MEDIUM Operate with caution Open fires when necessary Intensify water storage and management

HIGH Ban in open burning Strict monitoring by village council Water rationing in place Water for fire fighting [DMO activate national response plan]

EXTREME Ban in open burning Strict monitoring by village council Water rationing, sea-water for fire fighting [DMO activate national response plan]

Link to community EWS &

Response

Forest fire warning network

Source: http://www.samet.gov.ws/climate/fire.html

DRR and Climate Adaptation

Sector specific applications

“Hot spot” indentification

Post disaster assessments

New partnership with Korea on Seasonal Climate Prediction

• To strengthen the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to climate risks at the seasonal timescale.

• To develop region specific tailored forecast system based on multi-model global forecasts and build capacity of NMHS to operate it

PURPOSE

DURATION 2014 - 2017

BUDGET USD 1.5 Million (ROK-PIF Co-Fund)

• New Online Climate Prediction System (CLIK℗) installed at SPREP http://clikp.sprep.org

• Up to 12 Dynamical Models data available on CLIK℗ to provide advanced 3-6monthly outlooks

• To reduce damages from extreme climate events through disaster risk management,

• Improved monitoring and prediction of severe weather for coastal communities

• Better data management and infrastructure to facilitate data collection

• Improving the quality of products delivered to end-users

• Develop early warning communication strategies for National Met Services.

SPREP Activities – GIS Examples/Country 1. Protected Area Portal Online GIS

portal through BIOPAMA project

21 nations

2. State of Environment reporting

Marshall islands, Fiji, Cook Islands

3. Bilaterally conferences (UN PremComm1 etc)

International

4. Shipping analysis using Automatic Identification system (AIS) data from satellites

33 million sq kilometres, 21 nations, including areas beyond national jurisdiction

5. Biodiversity analysis from Satellite Imagery

Tavenui, Fiji +

6. Asbestos Location mapping using GPS though PACWASTE project

FSM, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, Solomons, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands

7. By catch data analysis using GPS

Regional

8. Seasonal Climate Prediction maps (3-monthly rainfall forecasts)

Regional (Republic of Korea-Pacific Islands Climate Prediction Project)

Pacific Islands Protected Area Portal

Embedded within the PIPAP is the BIOPAMA-supported Regional Reference Information System (RRIS), the online data and information platform that brings together relevant information to support decision-making for planning, designating and managing protected/managed areas in the Pacific region.

SPREP Regional Geo-spatial portal

• Partnership between SPREP,

Governments of Samoa, Japan

and its 26 Member countries

• In 2013 the PCCC concept was

endorsed by the Pacific Leaders

Meeting in RMI.

• In 2014 Japan approved SPREP's

application through Samoa and set

in train the process for assessing

the requirements for the PCCC

• May 2015 – PALM 7 Meeting –

Pacific Leaders and Government

of Japan endorsed the

development of the PCCC

Pacific Climate Change Center

(PCCC)

TARGET AUDIENCE

• PICT Governments (21 of 26 SPREP Members)

• Schools, research and academic institutions

• Researchers/Scientists/experts

• Civil society

• Private sector

• Development partners

Pacific Climate Change Center

(PCCC)

Pacific Climate Change Center

(PCCC)

Regional Climate Hub/Centre of Excellence • Climate Hub – catalyst for enhancing support for Pacific Islands

on Meteorology, Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS),

Climate and Climate Change Science; Climate Finance;

Mitigation (Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficiency); and

Climate Change Adaptation.

• Promote extensive collaboration and cooperation between

SPREP, other regional agencies and Japan in terms of technical

support, capacity building, and information and knowledge

sharing.

• The PCCC will become a WMO Regional Climate Centre (RCC)

for the Pacific Region.

Pacific Climate Change Center

(PCCC)

PCCC Delivery Approaches • Capacity Building • Communications and Knowledge Management • Building and Strengthening Partnerships

• Importance of Space Technology and GIS is realised in the region

• Cost, technology, access to and capacity are challenges

• Socio-economical data to be available (country support)

• Regional mechanisms (eg PMC, PMMM and Technical Panels) exist

to support MHEWS and link to DRR

• Harmonise and strengthen regional collaboration on space and

GIS applications

• Ongoing Capacity building required (sustainability) – PMC Panel

on Education, Training and Research, and PCCC (joint delivery)

• Outcomes of this work shall be made available through country

mandated pathways (National and Regional Geo-portals)

Summary

Fa’afetai!

7. Partnership with WMO/Environment Canada

• Establishment of the Pacific Islands Climate Outlook Forum (PI-COF)

• Improved capacity at the national level to produce and disseminate standard climate information

• Drought management policies are initiated

• WMO Support to Climate Services : USD 470,000 from July 2015-Mar 2017

• WMO Support to the PMDP: USD 25,000 per Annum from 2016-2018

To enhance resilience in social, economic and environmental system to climate variability and climate change through the development of effective and sustainable Regional and National Climate Services

8. Supporting the Global Upper Air Network

• Technical Support provided by the NZ MetService

• SPREP manages the supply of accessories and operations of the 3 upper air stations

Supporting the upper air operations of Tarawa, Funafuti and Rarotonga Financial Support provided by the UK Met Office (UKMO) from 2014-2019

Building climate and disaster ready communities through

improved National Meteorological Services

• Implemented by SPREP in collaboration with the

Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and partners:

• 14 Pacific island countries

• World Meteorological Organization

• International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent

Societies (IFRC)

• Australian Bureau of Meteorology

• Other Partners

3. Finnish-Pacific Project on Reduced vulnerability of Pacific island country’s villagers’ livelihoods to the effects of climate change

2013-2016

Finland-Pacific Project on Reduced vulnerability of Pacific island country’s villagers’

livelihoods to the effects of climate change

Direct support to NMSs…

• Capacity building through technical trainings for NMSs

• Introduction of the SmartMet weather forecasting system to 6 NMSs (Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and

Vanuatu)

• Introduction of the SmartAlert warning visualization software

• Rehabilitation of silent Regional Basic Synoptic Stations

Communication and Partnerships to reach Communities

National Meteorological

Services

Gov.. Sectors

Community Mobilsers

Media Others

Communities (USERS)

60-80% of the Pacific Population

Face to face

Building stronger partnerships

between Met Services and

Media to reach the last mile

through…

• Media and Communications

Trainings for Met Services and

Media

• Development of Media Plans for

the Met Services

• Improved flow of warning and

information at national level

• Building stronger partnerships between Met

Services and community mobilisers such as

National Red Cross Societies

Linking the Met Services and Communities…

• Consulting communities to improve access to,

understanding and use of weather, climate and early

warning information

• Planning and setting up people-focused Community

Based Early Warning Systems

• Support small-scale pilot projects

• Development of Community Climate and Disaster

Resilience Plans

4. New Zealand Pacific Partnership on Ocean

Acidification

• Follows the NZ/US supported “International Workshop on Ocean

Acidification: State of the Science Considerations for Small Island

Developing States” workshop at the 3rd UN SIDS Conference

• NZD$ 1.8 million in support over 4 years, with additional support

from the Principality of Monaco

• Long-Term Goal: Pacific Islands and Territories are resilient to

Ocean Acidification impacts with adaptation measures in place

• Led by SPREP in partnership with SPC and USP

The NZ PPOA has completed a regional ocean acidification vulnerability assessment. This report highlights the key vulnerabilities of coastal communities and ecosystems in the Pacific islands to ocean acidification, and will hopefully serve as a guide for future action. Next up is the establishment of resilience building activities in Fiji, Kiribati, Tokelau, and Vanuatu