pace-sd newsletter - issue 01

Newsletter

Weaving together science and traditional knowledge

Pacific Centre for Environment & Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD)

Welcome to the first edition of the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development’s bi-monthly newsletter. This first edition contains updates of major activities that were undertaken by the Centre through its projects.

Students Attend COP Negotiations

P a C E - S D N e w s l e t t e r 01

Seven enthusiastic students from the Cen-tre tarvelled to Warsaw in Poland to attend the COP19 climate change negotiations meeting.

Six students went as part of the Nauru delegation to support the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) delegation while one student travelled with the Solomon Islands delegation.

Supported by the AusAID Future Climate Leaders and the USP-EU GCCA projects, this is the second time students enrolled in the Postgraduate and Master’s Courses have been sent to international negotiation meetings and its preparatory meetings as

well, the last being the COP 18 negotia-tions in Doha, Qatar last year.

Through this experience, the students are expected to be able to apply what they have learnt from the programme to help support their own countries when they get back.

A few of the students shared their expecta-tions and personal aspirations they have for this particular trip. All four of these students are sponsored by the USP-EU GCCA project to pursue postgraduate and Master’s qualifications in climate change.

Name: Sharon TohaimaeAge: 26Programme: MSc in Climate Change Country: Solomon Islands

Expectations: I want to experience what it is like at these COP meetings and learn as much as I can about how these international negotiations work.

I would also like to build my capacity in learning about the current issues in climate change and how our world leaders are trying to address this global issue – climate change.

This would also be a great avenue to expand my network with those work-ing in the climate change field.

Name: Fetalai GagaeoloAge: 28Programme: MSc Climate ChangeCountry: Samoa

Expectations: Academically, to build up my skills, in listening, writing, communicating.

To allow me to go beyond my comfort zone, get to meet diplomats and del-egates not only from around the world but the Pacific as well. Also expecting good outcomes and solutions espe-cially for the Pacific Islands, and that our delegates representing us will be able to stand up for our people during the negotiates.

Lastly to boost and empower myself to be skillful and equipped enough to represent my country and the region in future negotiations whenever and wherever required, would love to see my leadership skills developed as well.

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Students Attend COP Negotiations

Age: 27Programme: PG Dip Climate ChangeCountry: Nauru

Expectations: My expectation for the COP 19 is not much since this meeting is in prepara-tion for the big event in 2015, where agreement and decisions will be made.

However, at a personal level, I expect a lot since this will be my first time at-tending a COP meeting. I am a person who observes a lot and learns from my surrounding; therefore I will be expect-ing to do this a lot.

Name: Andra whitesideAge: 23Programme: MSc in Climate ChangeCountry: Fiji

Expectations:To gain a better understanding of how these COP meetings work and how negotiations take place.

To see whether there is more discus-sion placed on adaptation measures and what sort of action can/will be done to increase resilience in the Pa-cific Islands.

To see more action or to set the tone for climate action for future COP nego-tiations

To learn as much as I can and see the different roles the Pacific Islands and youth can play in these negotiations


Students of Uluinakorovatu Primary School in Beqa were introduced to concepts of climate change and the need to keep their environment clean through various art forms and techniques.

Through the USP-EU GCCA and the ECOPAS project, a group of students and artists from the USP’s Oceania Centre for Arts, Culture, and Pacific Studies took students through a series of activities that highlighted the need to keep the environment clean and various aspects of a basic climate system and how it affects life on earth.

Called the Beqa Eco Artists Workshop the activity served dual purposes. While the children learnt about climate change and the need to conserve their environment, the group of 13 artists also used this opportunity to build on their skill in communicating ideas through various art forms.

EcoArts – Weaving art and science to communicate climate change


USP-EU Global Climate Change Alliance Project Sites selected

The site selection guidelines for each of the countries covered under the USP-EU GCCA project has been finalised and have been sent out to all In Country Coordinators.

The National Project Advisory Committee (NPACS), which is a committee made up of representatives from government and partner organisations have selected potential final sites in 14 countries. These countries have since held community awareness workshops in their various project sites.


For more than 40 years, members of a settle-ment in Vanua Levu on Fiji’s second biggest island have not been able to access clean and safe drinking water - until now.

Through the USP-EU Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) project, 28 homes with the occupancy of more than 100 people will now be able to enjoy the comforts of accessing water from the comfort of their own homes.

The installation of the 10,000 litre water tank with its proper piping system means that water from the catchment is distributed evenly among every household.“We are so thankful for this gift that we have waited on for so many years,” said the Turaga ni Yavusa of Namoli at the official opening of the project.

“Especially, since we didn’t have to give any money towards this project. For that, we are deeply grateful that it is now being set up for us”

The Head of Natural Resources and Infrastruc-ture for the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Mr. Jesús Lavina commended the proactive efforts made by the community members to improve their standard of living.

And he also stressed the importance of taking ownership of the community project. “In the end

it will be your project and you will be responsi-ble for that.”

Encapsulating the EU’s assistance to the region, Head of the Political Section, Mr Adam Janssen echoed the insistence of the European people to assist least developed countries despite their own challenges.

“The motto of our delegation is: the European Union partner of the Pacific and that’s what we intend to be – partners in development by help-ing to build better livelihood and a better stand-ard of living,” Mr Janssen said.

“It is a part of our global efforts that we try to reach partnerships in the fight against climate change which this project in its small way is a part of.

The Korolevu water project is one of three adaptation sites in the Northern division under-taken by the USP-EU GCCA project while Fiji is one of the 15 countries in the Pacific ACP that is currently in the implementation phase of the project.

The main purpose of the project is to develop and strengthen the Pacific ACP countries’ capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Community Receives Water Supply after Decades


Effective collaboration important in addressing climate change effects for the region

In delivering his keynote address at the October USP-EU GCCA stakeholders meeting, the Hon-ourable Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards, Environment, Energy and Disaster Management, Mr. Thomas Laken, reminded participants that they cannot work in isolation from one another.

“With the release of the recent climate change assessment report (AR5), the science is clear – climate change is unequivocal and is caused by human activity,” Mr. Laken said.

“The time for action is now. Whether it is at the community, national, regional or the global level - activities undertaken by the USP-EU GCCA project highlight that we cannot work in isolation of one another.”

Drawing experiences from the Vanuatu approach, Mr. Laken said; “the Vanuatu government has set up a Ministry of Climate Change devoted specifi-cally to address national climate change priorities

and activities.” “This way, it enables the govern-ment to work more closely with its partners,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pro-vice Chancellor Research and International, for the University of the South Pacific (USP) Professor John Bythel highlighted the need for building the capacity of pacific islanders in climate research.

“There is a need for Pacific island countries to move beyond foreign aid and develop the local capacity.”

“Through the USP-EU GCCA project, it is able to facilitate the capacity building component for the students through its post-grad, Masters and PhD level courses and community members through its various awareness training sessions in the region.”

“The project has provided an important learning ground to develop skills and expertise among communities and their leaders to take up the

challenges that the next years will serve out to them in the form of their island homes and climate change,” Professor Bythel said.

He also went on to share the project experience in Cook Islands where it has afforded the relevant agencies the opportunity to see first-hand some of the tested methodologies for encouraging com-munity participation in their own efforts to adapt and mitigate the onslaught of climate change. “On the ground, the community leaders that have been exposed to the lessons of other island neighbors and that have been fortunate to hear it being told at their level of understanding what the climate sciences and changes are all about, have come back convinced that the first line of defense is themselves and their people.”

The USP-EU GCCA project is one of the most comprehensive climate change adaptation pro-jects for the Pacific region as it is implemented across 15 Pacific ACP countries in more than 40 communities.


A first ever regional climate change quiz for sec-ondary school students initiated last year by the Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) and the PaCE-SD will now has a spin off in Vanuatu.

The Vanuatu national quiz is supported by the SPC GIZ, Vanuatu Ministry of Education and the PaCE-SD. Building on the success of last year’s climate zone quiz the Vanuatu competition is open to all of Vanuatu’s secondary schools but focuses only on students in Year 11.

Vanuatu’s competition will be held in two parts. The first part was completed in July where all participating schools sat a written test. The second part which commenced in November will have the highest ranked schools, based on a written test, go up against each other in a

face- to-face competition.

The 2012 regional quiz was supported by the AusAID FCLP and the USP-EU GCCA projects; the main aim of the quiz was to increase the level of awareness on climate change issues in secondary schools in the Pacific, and broadcast on national television in each country, further increasing its reach.

Five countries in Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu took part.

Each country conducted national competitions and the winning school represented their re-spective countries to the regional finals that was held in Fiji with the host country taking out the top honour.

Regional Secondary School Quiz Spin-offs in Vanuatu Spin Off

Fiji National Climate Change Summit

With support from the EU GCCA and AusAID FCLP projects, the Centre assisted the Fiji Climate Change Unit and its partners in the second national climate change summit held in August at Narewa Village in Nadi.

More than 200 community representatives, environmental non-governmental organisations, Government reps, donors, development part-ners and institutions were a part of the summit signifying the importance of an inclusive and participatory process in the climate change adaptation efforts.

The summit also provided an opportunity for the Fiji ICC for the EU GCCA project to integrate his national training as part of the projects deliverables.


New Climate Change Factsheets for Students

A series of factsheets targeting high school students have been produced by the Cen-tre with assistance from its partners. These factsheets contain information on the different sectors that are influenced by the effects of climate change.

The new factsheets were produced as part of a series of educational materials produced for high school students funded by the AusAID FCLP and the USP-EU GCCA project and it aims to provide information on topics ranging from the climate system, human health, gender, sea level rise, disaster risk reduction, adapta-tion, mitigation to food security, fisheries, coral reefs and traditional knowledge.

The factsheets are a good source of basic information on climate change effects and are a good source of supplementary information for students.

To download the factsheets please click HERE


Ten years ago in the Pacific, if someone brought up an idea about adding particles in the atmos-phere to induce rain or to be able to make ocean temperatures warmer or cooler he or she would have been laughed at.

A first ever open discussion workshop on climate engineering for the Pacific was jointly organised by the German Institute for Advanced Sustainabil-ity Studies (IASS) and the University of the South Pacific’s (USP) Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD) in August.

The main objective of the workshop was to create an open space for frank discussions on the differ-

ent perspectives on the possible role of climate engineering when addressing the challenges of climate change effects in the region.This first ever open dialogue was intended to create a forum for the exchange on the science, uncertainties, risks, ethics and current govern-ance of climate engineering.

During, and as an outcome of the workshop, participants agreed that: (1) Intense international mitigation efforts must be the first priority. Mitiga-tion is clearly the safest option, but global emis-sions of Carbon dioxide continue to rise year after year with the greatest increases coming from China and India; (2) More research, awareness

and transparent debate about climate engineer-ing is needed; (3) Climate engineering technolo-gies should not be implemented until they can be scientifically proven to be a sufficiently safe option for all potentially affected; and (4) Regulatory and enforceable governance structures are needed before any significant field testing and implemen-tation.

Participants at the four day discussion included representatives from regional governments, inter-national development partners, USP representa-tives and local and international NGOs and faith based organisations.

More Research and Consultation Needed for Climate Engineering


PaCE-SD Scientific Seminar Series

A weekly scientific seminar series organised by the Centre is slowly building momentum with in-creased interest from scientists in the USP’s facul-ties, visiting scientists as well as project managers from partner organisations and CROP agencies.

The main aim of the seminar is to promote scien-tific research.

This is well aligned with USP’s research mission to conduct theoretical, applied and comparative research to assist Pacific Island peoples meet their needs and aspirations and, at the same time, achieve international recognition in those areas that reflect the University’s unique geographical location and multicultural contexts.

The objectives of the seminar are to:

• Share current research with others and get feedback on current work

• Collaborate with others who may not be aware of similar research to theirs• Share data if possible/necessary

• Promote a research-oriented atmosphere in addition to the teaching-learning domain

• Let students, who are strongly encouraged to attend, know which area of research the staff are interested in (it is also a way to motivate students)

To date, more than 25 scientific seminars have been hosted at the Marine Studies Programme (MSP) lecture theater with presenters ranging from USP’s own academics, the Centre’s partner organi-sations, as well as project managers from CROP agencies and visting scientists and academics from around the world.


Building Regional Capacity through Formal Education

Through the support of the AusAID Future Climate Leaders Project (FCLP) and the USP-EU GCCA project a total of 65 Pacific Island students graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Climate Change while 9 graduated with a Master of Climate Change as of the September 2013 graduation ceremony.

In addition to sponsoring students, the two projects have also been funding teaching positions within the Centre.

As the number of graduates increased since the year the project was implemented, the PaCE-SD has received an increasing interest from Pacific Island Countries and its governments. This interest has culminated in the increase in number of 2013 enrol-ments to 110 for PGDip CC, 32 for MSc CC and 7 PhD CC.

These enrolment figures have also placed the PACE-SD as a Centre of the university with the largest num-ber of PGDip students enrolled in a single semester across all of the university faculties and campuses.

As such, PaCE-SD is now recognised as a fully fledged faculty.


New Courses Respond to Pacific Need

As an answer to the increase in interest from Pacific Island Countries for the climate change courses offered by the University through the PaCE-SD, an additional three new courses have been developed with support from the USP-EU GCCA project.

These courses include Disaster Risk Manage-ment (EV 424), Pacific Ecology in Relation to Climate Change (EV 426) and Special Studies in Quantitative Analysis of Climate Models for the Pacific Island Region (MA 420). All three courses are taught by a project funded Course Coordinator

However, as the demand for formal qualifica-tions in climate change increase additional courses have also been created such as the WMO approved Tropical Meteorology course, among others.

The development of these new courses has seen a 100% achievement in the new courses developed deliverable of the EU GCCA project.

Locally Trained Climate Ambassadors to Support National Initiatives

The training of the trainers (ToT) workshops conducted by the USP EU GCCA and AusAID FCLP Projects has seen a steady increase of locally trained climate ambassadors.

Two regional trainings were undertaken first with the involvement of the EU GCCA in-coun-try coordinators (ICC’s) which were represent-atives from the 15 Pacific ACP countries.

As a follow up to this, five sub-regional trainings were undertaken in Tonga, Cook

Islands, Palau, Fiji and Vanuatu. The sub-regional trainings included representatives from communities, government departments, NGO’s, CSOs and faith based organisations.

Participants at these sub-regional trainings were able to use the learnings from the trainings to implement capacity building programmes in their own countries.


IRD - USP Collaborative Scientific Workshop on Climate Change

Researchers and students from both the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development and the International Research Development (IRD) based in Noumea, New Caledonia met in August at a workshop that aimed to kick start further collaboration between the two institutes.

Supported by the Centre’s AusAID Future Climate Lead-ers Project (FCLP), the event allowed the participants to get acquainted with each other’s respective research

areas, current regional projects, interests and scientific methods.

7 researchers from IRD were invited to Fiji for the work-shop. The themes covered were under the umbrella of Climate Change include Physical Oceanography, Ocean Color and Remote Sensing, Reef Health, Transmissible Diseases (Dengue), and Anthropology.


Pacific Emerging Environmental Leaders (PEEL)

Select students of the Centre participated in a leadership programme to build on their aca-demic skills. With support from the AusAID Future Climate Leaders Project, the weeklong training was organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

The Pacific Emerging Environmental Leaders’ (PEEL) network was formed in 2011 during a symposium organised by SPREP. It currently has 21 early career professions selected on merit from the Pacific region.

The participation of the Centre’s 12 students allowed the PEEL network to grow. However, as part of the admission process to the network, the students undergo a six month probationary period where they undertake activities which support the PEEL network’s aspirations.

These activities range from organising clean up campaigns, development of awareness and advocacy materials and its distribution as well as participating at national and regional meet-ings and conferences.

The forum was supported by FCLP, SPREP and the Pacific Leadership Program (PLP). FCLP and PLP are initiatives of the Australian AID program.


First Climate Services Forum for the Pacific


In one of the firsts for the region, a Pacific Islands Climate Services Forum that attracted more than 200 participants from around the world was held in Suva, Fiji on the second week of January with the primary objective to bridge the information gap between various climate actors and the com-munities in the Pacific.

The forum saw climate and weather experts en-gaging in dialogue and sharing information with resource and disaster risk managers, community planners and other decision makers, EU GCCA country coordinators, meteorological service representatives, postgraduate students and the greater climate services community, as well as representatives of government ministries and other programme managers and policy makers.The Chief of the World Climate Applications and Services Division for the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Dr Rupa Kumar Kolli was

also in attendance and presented an overview of how the global framework for climate services operates.

This provided some context to Pacific climate and weather specialists on how the structures and functions at the regional level can support that of the WMO’s Global Framework for Climate Ser-vices (GFCS). This was important in considering user requirements and user feedback in order to minimise gaps and overlaps and to align climate service activities that already exist in the region.In opening the four day long forum, the then Min-ister for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment, Colonel Samuela Sau-matua, echoed sentiments on the need for more collaboration between governments and develop-ment partners in adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

“It is from forums such as this, that Government can rely on to improve its position in as far as climate change and disasters are concerned. In-creasing our resilience to a changing climate and environment requires the sort of global interna-tional partnership represented by those gathered here,”

Meanwhile, the Acting USP Vice-Chancellor, Dr Esther Williams stressed the need to know and have more information about what needs to be done to ensure island communities become more resilient to the changing climate.

The Forum also saw Pacific Island Country (PIC) representatives sharing experiences and raising awareness of available climate data, weather ser-vices products and giving a snapshot of the status of climate science, impacts and adaptation.

Pacific Science Inter-congress

With support from the USP-EU GCCA project and partners, the University of the South Pacific hosted the 12th Pacific Science Inter Congress (PSIC).

The conference is a key initiative of the Pacific Science Association (PSA), established in 1920, as a platform for discussion between academ-ics, scientists and scholars from around the world.

The President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said, the theme of the conference, “Science for Hu-man Security and Sustainable Development of the Pacific Islands and Rim”, indicates that the concerns of the organisers of the Inter-Congress mirror the concerns of everyone else, especially in the Pacific region.

“One of the major purposes, and values of Pa-cific Science Congresses and Inter-Congresses like this one, is to encourage greater cross-dis-ciplinary interaction, which is essential to ad-vancing scientific understanding of critical and complex issues,” His Excellency said.

He requested the participants of the Inter-Congress and the PSA to “not only discuss the advancements in science, technology and engineering, but more importantly to also ensure that these advancements are used to address the real issues facing the region”.

His Excellency encouraged the participants to explore solutions and be results-oriented and to translate the meeting outcomes into easily un-derstood messages that can be used by people in the Pacific to improve their everyday lives now and in the future.

“I also encourage you to form greater and stronger partnerships with governments in the region so that your findings can be translated into policies that can have real and tangible impacts on our people,” he added.

“It goes without saying that you need to col-laborate fully to develop and implement realistic and practical solutions to the threats against a backdrop of sustainable development including: biodiversity, ecosystem services, and resilient societies; information and communication tech-nologies; food, water, energy and health; soci-ety, culture and gender; governance, economic development and public policy; climate change, impacts and climate science; and oceans, among other,” he said.

Main supporters of the conference include the European Union Global Climate Change Alli-ance Project, the Government of Fiji, Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways, Holiday Inn, UNESCO, CTA, Coca Cola, Aquasafe, Fiji Water, Westpac, Fiji Times, Vodafone, Na Draki and Motibhai.


pace-sd newsletter - issue 01

Documents

climate change country

climate change field

cop meetings

time students

msc climate changecountry

global issue climate

enthusiastic students

ausaid future climate