22 May 2019, Rarotonga, Cook Islands - The Government of New Zealand were commended today for its support towards climate and ocean science work in the Pacific islands through the Climate and Ocean Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac2).

This was announced at the opening of the Annual Program Performance Review and Planning Meeting of COSPPac2 in the Cook Islands today.

The program works with Pacific island stakeholders to analyse and interpret climate, oceans and tidal data to produce valuable services for island communities.  This information helps Pacific island communities to prepare for, and mitigate the impacts of severe climate, tidal and oceanographic events.

COSPPac2 is funded at AUD 23.3 million by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia (DFAT) with New Zealand having committed NZD 3 million with a letter of agreement signed on Monday.

“This program provides opportunities for you to work with partners that you may not have worked in the past so they are all climate, and riskinformed,” said Mr Ray Bojczuk of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia (DFAT).

“We welcome the support of the Government of New Zealand for providing additional funding for COSPPac2, another partner who shares the vision about where we want to take this program into the future.”

COSPPac2 works with many partners and agencies for delivery including DFAT, Geoscience Australia, the Pacific Community and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).  It follows on from the first COSPPac from 2012 – 2018 with a continued project from 2018 – 2021 and new and additional support from New Zealand.

Today marked the start of a three day meeting which brings together the National Meteorological Service Directors and Representatives from 14 Pacific, three Pacific Geospatial Council Members as well as partners and key stakeholders and collaborators from across the Pacific.

“Having really good data and information to inform decisions on climate change is very important, the role and work you do is becoming increasingly important for your countries,” said Ms Shirley McGill, Development Manager, Climate Change and Environment Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand.

“This program is embraced as a key component of the Pacific Meteorological Desk Partnership that supports the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and the Pacific Met Council,” said Ms Tagaloa Cooper Halo, the Director of Climate Change Resilience of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

“It brings many partners together by providing a platform for the implementation of priorities as articulated in the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy to help build the resilience of our Pacific communities through strengthened national Meteorological services.”

To learn more about the COSPPac2 please visit: http://cosppac.bom.gov.au/

The Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific Phase 2 Annual Program Performance Review and Planning Meeting and Steering Committee Meeting is held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 22 – 24 May, 2019.

It brings together the National Meteorological Service Directors and Representatives from 14 Pacific islands as well as partners and key stakeholders and collaborators from across the Pacific.