28 October 2019, Apia, Samoa – The Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) is officially in operation, with the hosting of two important trainings and workshops this week.
The Climate Risk Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Information Technology training for Meteorological Officers started today, Monday 28 October, and is the first training workshop to be held at the PCCC, which was recently completed and officially opened in September during the 29th Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Meeting of Officials.
This will be followed by an Information and Knowledge Management workshop which commences tomorrow, Tuesday 29 October.
One of the participants of the CREWS Information Technology Training, Ms Maxine Edwards of Niue, said about the PCCC, “It is a good building and it’s nice to be among the first to use this facility. The building is a good thing because it helps us, and it brings Pacific islanders together.”
Mr Lee Jacklick of the Republic of the Marshall Islands said, “We are very fortunate to have the first IT training here. This is the kind of building we need in the region. Coming from a meteorological point of view, many technologies have been put into our countries, but it is our IT skills that are lacking. To have a building that is specifically built for these kinds of needs is very much appreciated.”
In addition, the Climate Change Resilience programme of the Secretariat has also moved into the second floor of the Centre, where they will be based from now on. This will ensure that the PCCC is not a standalone resource but will work together with the Climate Change Resilience programme and its workplan, as well as deliver on the SPREP Strategic Plan 2017-2026 priorities.
The PCCC was funded by the Government of Japan through grant aid to the Government of Samoa, with funding support from the Government of New Zealand, which will assist in resourcing the Centre. It is hosted by and located at the SPREP Campus in Vailima, Samoa.
It will serve as shared resource for Pacific island countries and territories, as well as a regional hub for climate change information, applied research, capacity building through training and learning and innovation.
The cost of the construction of the PCCC is estimated at approximately USD 8 million and was undertaken by Japanese construction company, Konoike Company Ltd, and project management by Yamashita Sekkei.
The Centre is a showcase of sustainable building technology in the Pacific, with potential for 100% of energy to be generated by solar panels, as well as energy and water-saving technologies that have been installed.
The Centre will also host the Pacific islands preparatory meeting for the 25th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change next month.