By the Pacific Meteorological Council -Pacific Islands Climate Services (PICS) Panel

Variation in climate has the potential to significantly affect agriculture production and food security in the Pacific region. El Niño and La Niña events can lead to increased risk of drought, floods and heightened tropical cyclone risk, compromising commercial and subsistence food production, impacting gross domestic product and leading to impacts on human health.

“Science to services for a resilient Pacific” is the theme of the Fifth Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-5) opening this week in Apia, Samoa. The meeting will bring together Pacific Met Directors, partners and stakeholders to strengthen climate and weather services in the Pacific region.

In the effort to build a resilient Pacific island region, countries and partners across the region are dealing with a need for new analysis and guidance for climate projections. These tools will help them better deal with climatic disruptions and events. 

To grapple with these issues and build on lessons learned from the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning (PACCSAP) is the ‘Next Generation Climate Projections for the Pacific.’ (Next Gen)