New COSPPac website to strengthen Pacific resilience through improved access to climate and ocean information.

The Pacific hydrometeorological community marked an important milestone in Koror, Palau, with the launching of the new Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac) website which will improve access to vital climate and ocean data, tools, and products, thus supporting Pacific Island stakeholders to use climate and ocean information to enable Pacific peoples to remain resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters so they are able to lead safe, secure and properous lives.

Attended by Pacific NMHS Directors and representatives, representatives of Pacific Land and Surveying Departments, and COSPPac partner agencies, the launch was held at the conclusion of the first day of the 2026 COSPPac Annual Meeting. 

COSPPac has been supporting Pacific NMHSs since 2012 to develop the data, tools, and products needed to strengthen the region’s climate and ocean services. After 24 years of support in the Pacific, COSPPac has launched its first whole-of-programme website. 

The website was designed and developed in response to difficulties identified by Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in navigating the many existing platforms and monitoring reach of COSPPac products.

Ms. Celine Becker, COSPPac Programme Manager, remarked that     the launch represented much more than simply a new website, but rather reflects the maturity of the COSPPac partnerships, the trust and collaboration between implementing agencies, and the shared commitment to making climate and ocean information easier to access, navigate, and use for Pacific partners and decision-makers. 

“Historically, COSPPac content has been hosted across multiple partner organization websites, including those of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Earth Sciences New Zealand, and Geoscience Australia,” Ms. Becker said. 

“While these sties continue to play an essential role, information has been fragmented or siloed, making it difficult for NMHSs, stakeholders, donors, and community users to navigate across the many systems and platforms,” she added. 

The development of the new website was a true demonstration of inter-agency partnership and collaboration, with multiple COSPPac agencies playing a role in getting the website off the ground and ready to be launched at the COSPPac Annual Meeting. 

Earth Sciences New Zealand led the coordination of the website development, including engaging the web designers and helping to bring together the initial contributions from the partners, and SPC provided the guidance and creative input which helped shape the website into more than just a technical information platform. The website will be managed and supported by SPREP moving forward, ensuring the platform can be sustainably maintained with the Pacific itself, and is Pacific-led and Pacific-owned. 

Vice-Chair of the Pacific Meteorological Council, and Director of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Weather Service Office, Mr. Reginald White, congratulated COSPPac on this milestone, and expressed his appreciation for the programme’s continued support to the region.

“Over the years, COSPPac has equipped us with the tools and information needed to strengthen the resilience of our communities to climate and ocean-related events across the Pacific. The support and expertise provided through the partnership of the implementing agencies have been truly invaluable,” he said.

“Today, we are especially pleased to see the launch of a dedicated one-stop platform where these resources and services can be accessed in one place. We thank COSPPac for their steadfast support, and commitment to providing for the needs of Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services. We are proud to join you all in celebrating this important milestone.”

In addition to housing all the climate and ocean data, tools, and resources, the website also includes the latest news and updates from the programme’s activities across the region, a calendar of events highlighting major activities and important dates, as well as a Contact form should anyone require any assistance directly from the programme. 

The COSPPac website is now live and can be accessed at www.cosppac.org. 

About COSPPac 
The Climate and Oceans Support Programme in the Pacific Phase 3 (COSPPac 3) project is a four-year project funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Government of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), which aims to support Pacific National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to deliver useful and usable climate and ocean information services to enable all Pacific peoples to remain resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters. It is jointly implemented by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology,  Earth Sciences New Zealand, Geoscience Australia, the Pacific Community, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.