8 August 2019, Apia Samoa - The United States is committed to revitalising its commitment to Pacific Region, said Raymond Tanabe, the Director for the Pacific Region of the National Weather Service. This includes helping to build resilient systems in the face of climate events.
“The United States views the Pacific islands as a unique region with size and spread of islands and will continue its engagement with the region. Some of this will come through the training and support through the regional office.”
According to Mr. Tanabe, since the PMC-4 in 2017, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration completed a new office in Palau. He also stated the United States will continue to support of the Weather-Ready Nation Initiative across the Pacific islands region.
Mr. Tanabe presented a report on the status of United States support for climate reliance and prediction in the Pacific region to the fifth meeting of the Pacific Metrological Council (PMC-5), on 7 August in Apia Samoa. Mr. Tanabe said that the United States views Pacific Islands as critical to strategies promoting regional growth, security, and freedom.
“America believes in, and wants, free, prosperous, independent Pacific island nations,” said Mr. Tanabe.
Mr. Tanabe said the United States looked forward to future collaboration with all the PMC members and the continued growth of the organisation.
The Fifth Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC-5) from 6 – 9 August, 2019 follows a range of pre-PMC meetings which were held in Apia, Samoa from 29 July - 6 August, 2019.
The PMC-5 is supported by a strong partnership between the following: The Government of Samoa, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Government of Canada, Government of Korea, Climate Risk Early Warning Systems (CREWS), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), IMPACT Project, Varysian, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Climate and Oceans Support Programme in the Pacific (COSPPac), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
For more information please visit our website https://www.pacificmet.net/pmc/meetings/pmc-5 or email Salesa Nihmei [email protected] or Azarel Mariner-Maiai [email protected].