Nineteenth SPREP Meeting to Address the Implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015

August 2008: The nineteenth South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Meeting of Officials, which will be held from 4-12 September 2008, in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, will consider a number of climate related matters, including the Action Plan for the implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015. Participants are also scheduled to examine a Plan for Action on the Pacific Year of Climate Change 2009.

The Action Plan for the implementation of the Pacific Islands Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015 provides guidance to Pacific Island Countries and Territories on achieving the outcomes of the Framework by 2015, including by: implementing adaptation measures; ensuring the prominence of climate change issues in national sustainable development strategies and planning; improving understanding of climate change; strengthening climate change education, training and awareness; contributing to global greenhouse gas reduction; and increasing partnerships and cooperation. The Plan for Action on the Pacific Island Framework for Action on Climate Change aims to present the Secretariat’s proposal for 2009 to be designated the ‘Pacific Year of Climate Change’ and the regional campaign plan to support this initiative. Under the agenda item Members Issue, a US paper on Meteorology and Climatology support by SPREP, participants will discuss the Terms of Reference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Permanent Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics for the period 2007-2011.

One of the priority areas for the Sub-Committee, as defined in the paper, is climate, climate change and climate variability. More specifically, the paper proposes that the Sub-Committee strengthen the capabilities of the ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre and of every ASEAN member country and encourage capacity building within ASEAN countries in climate information and prediction services. Pacific Environment Ministers will meet on 12 September 2008 to consider the Regional Action Plan to implement the Pacific Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015, which outlines the issues ministers are invited to discuss and the actions they will consider endorsing to advance the Framework. [Paper on Meteorology and Climatology support by SPREP] [Climate Change Action Plan] [Pacific Year of Climate Change 2009: a plan for action] [Taking action on climate change in the Pacific - regional Action Plan to implement the Pacific Framework for Action on Climate Change 2006-2015]