Climate Change Resilience
The 2014 'Small Islands, Weather Together' campaign has been nominated for a Green Cross 'Green Star Award' for its efforts to strengthen weather and climate services for all small island nations.
The 'Small Islands, Weather Together' campaign was developed by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and a range of partners including the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Digicel Pacific and the governments of Norway and Finland.
This campaign has now reached more than 100 million people in over 50 countries, and directly engaged leaders and donors in the discussion about the urgent need to increase investment in weather and climate services for small island nations.
"SPREP is proud to be a part of this initiative that helped make a positive impact at the third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States here in Samoa this year," said Deputy Director General Mr. Kosi Latu.
"We are pleased it has been recognised by the international Green Cross - noting the impacts of extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones and storm surges, many small island nations still lack the basic weather and climate services they need to protect their vulnerable communities."
The biennial Green Star Awards recognise individuals, organisations, governments and companies who have demonstrated achievements in prevention, preparedness and response to environmental emergencies.
The 'Small Islands, Weather Together' campaign strategy was originally developed at a workshop in the Cook Islands attended by Pacific Island National Met Service Directors and their partner agencies in April 2014.
The High Level Panel during the Third UN Conference on Small Islands Developing States in Samoa
At the third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States in Apia, Samoa the well-known BBC World presenter Mr David Eades hosted two special events as a key part of this campaign involving leaders such as His Excellency Anote Tong, the President of Kiribati and Mr Hans Brattskar, State Secretary of the Government of Norway.
These panel discussions were edited into a combined 23-minute television programme broadcast throughout the Asia Pacific region via the Australia Plus Network and other broadcasters.
The 'Small Islands Weather Together' campaign also used a range of successful advocacy approaches that included the development of the www.weathertogether.org website and an online competition for Pacific Island countries which was sponsored by the mobile phone company Digicel Pacific.
The production of a 2-minute animated TV commercial was produced and screened over a four week period with the support of the regional Australia Network television network which reached a potential audience of 100 million people in over 50 countries.
Direct online video interviews were posted on the Weather Together website which allowed for the Prime Ministers of Samoa and the Solomon Islands, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga and the Director of the World Meteorological Organization to call for the greater cooperation and investment needed to improve weather and climate services in all small island nations.
"We look forward to the outcomes of the Green Star Awards, the results of which will be in 2015. We wish this campaign all the best," said Mr. Latu.
To keep posted on developments for the next stage of the 'Small Islands Weather Together' campaign please visit the website or join our facebook page - The Pasifika Collective/SPREP
The 'Small Islands, Weather Together' campaign was developed by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and a range of partners including the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Digicel Pacific and the governments of Norway and Finland.
www.weathertogether.org
This campaign has now reached more than 100 million people in over 50 countries, and directly engaged leaders and donors in the discussion about the urgent need to increase investment in weather and climate services for small island nations.
"SPREP is proud to be a part of this initiative that helped make a positive impact at the third UN Conference on Small Island Developing States here in Samoa this year," said Deputy Director General Mr. Kosi Latu.
"We are pleased it has been recognised by the international Green Cross - noting the impacts of extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones and storm surges, many small island nations still lack the basic weather and climate services they need to protect their vulnerable communities."
The biennial Green Star Awards recognise individuals, organisations, governments and companies who have demonstrated achievements in prevention, preparedness and response to environmental emergencies.
The 'Small Islands, Weather Together' campaign strategy was originally developed at a workshop in the Cook Islands attended by Pacific Island National Met Service Directors and their partner agencies in April 2014.
The High Level Panel during the Third UN Conference on Small Islands Developing States in SamoaAt the third United Nations Conference on Small Island Developing States in Apia, Samoa the well-known BBC World presenter Mr David Eades hosted two special events as a key part of this campaign involving leaders such as His Excellency Anote Tong, the President of Kiribati and Mr Hans Brattskar, State Secretary of the Government of Norway.
These panel discussions were edited into a combined 23-minute television programme broadcast throughout the Asia Pacific region via the Australia Plus Network and other broadcasters.
The 'Small Islands Weather Together' campaign also used a range of successful advocacy approaches that included the development of the www.weathertogether.org website and an online competition for Pacific Island countries which was sponsored by the mobile phone company Digicel Pacific.
The production of a 2-minute animated TV commercial was produced and screened over a four week period with the support of the regional Australia Network television network which reached a potential audience of 100 million people in over 50 countries.
Direct online video interviews were posted on the Weather Together website which allowed for the Prime Ministers of Samoa and the Solomon Islands, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga and the Director of the World Meteorological Organization to call for the greater cooperation and investment needed to improve weather and climate services in all small island nations.
"We look forward to the outcomes of the Green Star Awards, the results of which will be in 2015. We wish this campaign all the best," said Mr. Latu.
To keep posted on developments for the next stage of the 'Small Islands Weather Together' campaign please visit the website or join our facebook page - The Pasifika Collective/SPREP