Keeping up to date with the latest climate science and applications of climate information in Papua New Guinea, will ensure the National Weather Service (NWS) shares the best forecasts for a resilient people.
This was empowered through a workshop underway for the Papua New Guinea NWS with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
“Climate science and services training such as that provided through the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific ensures we keep up to date with the latest science and climate forecast capabilities,” said Mr Kasis Inape, Assistant Director of the Papua New Guinea NWS.
“This training helps us provide the best seasonal climate guidance to our stakeholders to help prepare them for the coming season ensuring they can mitigate against some of the extreme weather that we can experience.”
Mr. Inape emphasised the ongoing support and training from programmes such as the Australian and New Zealand aid funded Climate and Oceans Support Programme in the Pacific (COSPPac)
The training ensured the 12 Papua New Guinea NWS staff from climate, forecasting and observation divisions were able to use the tools such as the Australian Community Climate and Earth-System Simulator – Seasonal climate modelling system and the Seasonal Climate Outlooks in Pacific Islands Countries, a decision support tool which generates seasonal outlooks for rainfall, temperature, or other climate-related factors.
A key outcome from the discussions over the week was to ensure that messages from the climate services division were able to meet the needs of all the key sectors that depend on receiving early warning for the risk of climate extremes.
“Training on ocean and climate is very important for Papua New Guinea NWS. We need to get the climate science and simplify to the communities through traditional knowledge so they can be proactive to the climate extreme events and building resilience in our communities,” said Papua New Guinea NWS Director Jimmy Gomoga during his official remarks.
“Data is crucial for our work and having the observers and forecasters as part of the training reinforces the high value we have in our team. They play a key role in building a safe and resilient Papua New Guinea in the face of our weather and climate events that may come our way.”
The training was facilitated and supported by SPREP, and the Australian and New Zealand aid funded COSPPac, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 26 to 30 August 2024.
For more information about climate, ocean and drought warning services provided by PNGWS contact Mr Jimmy Gomoga at [email protected] and Mr Kasis Inape at [email protected].