The Pacific Climate Change Centre is applying new and innovative technologies to continue building Pacific capacity, opening up training opportunities for more people.
In September a regional virtual training on “Climate Science – observed climate change and future climate projections” saw twice as many people participate than when held in person.
Applying innovative technologies, the training continues at the PCCC through the “Project for the Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific at the Pacific Climate Change Centre in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP), the Government of Samoa and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“This project has also been affected by COVID-19, but we explored a new delivery format. In April, we planned to organise a face-to-face training program, however, we had to cancel it,” said Ms. Tagaloa Cooper-Halo, Director of the Climate Change Resilience of SPREP.
“Even with international borders closed, SPREP and its partners, with strong support from countries and territories, have gained experiences and increased ability to execute complex science trainings virtually, and are still trying to be more innovative on how we deliver our activities to your countries.”
The Climate Science training held from 16 – 29 September helped participants to build their understanding of climate science including past and current observed climate change and future climate projections. This strengthens the evidence for adaptation planning and implementation of responses in prioritised sectors such as disaster risk reduction, ecosystem, water, health, tourism, transport and agriculture.
It comprised of online self-paced learning, three virtual sessions and one virtual groupwork session and delivered in partnership with the University of Newcastle, Australia. In total approx. 40 participants from Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and successfully completed the training.
“The projections using the different scenarios will help me prepare my climate awareness materials which will suit the end users,” said Mr. John Ruben, a participant from Vanuatu.
“Having the ability to interpret and incorporate the different projections into awareness and training material will help in making the materials more concerning to the end users.”
The 2021-2022 training modules will include disaster risk reduction, ecosystem, water, health, tourism as well as access to climate finance.
“We believe that this subject, climate science, will enhance scientific understanding of climate change and help to find the way to translate science to practical actions to strengthen climate resilience in our Pacific” said Ms. Cooper-Halo.
For further information on the range of training conducted at the PCCC through the Project for the Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific at the Pacific Climate Change Centre please contact [email protected]