Category 2

Our Pacific Journey to UNFCCC COP23, Message from SPREP Director General, Mr Kosi Latu.

The Director General of SPREP attended the African Caribbean Pacific (ACP) Pacific and European Union joint parliamentary session this week in Port Vila Vanuatu. Mr Latu presented a perspective on the 'Need for Accelerated Climate Change Action' at the 14th Regional Meeting (Pacific Region) of the ACP-EU Parliamentary Assembly, 19 – 21 July, Vanuatu. Calling for support to be scaled up in the Pacific, this was his message.

Preparations are well underway for the upcoming Fourth Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-4) and Second Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology (PMMM-2) to be held in Honiara, Solomon Islands from 14-18 August 2017.

The PMC will bring together over 100 Pacific Met Directors, partners and stakeholders to strengthen the path ahead for Pacific Meteorology under the theme, "Sustainable Water, Climate, Ocean and Hydrology Services for a resilient Pacific."

The Government of Tonga's approach in combining climate change and disaster risk considerations into overall development planning is a proactive step in not only accessing financial mechanisms with the overall aim of building the resilience of communities.

Referred to as the Joint National Action Plan (JNAP) on climate change adaptation and disaster risk management the five-year action plan outlines not only the aspirations but also concrete steps to ensure Tonga's resilient development.