Tonga's Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukālala urged Pacific Ministers for Meteorology to find ways to advance climate and weather services in our region and to build resilience to high impact weather events on our small islands, when he opened the First Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology today 24 July in Nuku'alofa.

The Crown Prince said having a robust weather service is no longer a luxury for us but an obligation.

He believed that quality weather and climate information is now a requirement to help us adapt, reduce risk and build resilience against climate and weather related hazards.

“The increase in the frequency and intensity of high impact weather events on our small islands due to climate variability and climate change is a concern. Cyclones, drought, landslides, floods and storm surges pose critical threats to our safety and security; water and food security, availability of clean fresh water, sustainable development, prosperity and in some cases now our very existence and survival.”

He said the cost to provide a reliable weather forecast is expensive and asked Ministers to deliberate and find ways to advance weather and climate services in the Pacific. "I encourage you to work together and find common ground to support Meteorological Services in our region as means of building resilience by committing national resources and working with our development partners to mobilise the necessary resources needed."

Declaration

Ministers from Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and representatives from Papua New Guinea and Palau discussed a Nuku’alofa Ministerial Declaration for Sustainable Weather and Climate Services for a Resilient Pacific.

The declaration included requests and calls on Pacific governments, regional organisations, development partners, Pacific Meteorological Council and its panel on Education, Training and Research; Marine and Ocean Services, climate changes and aviation services, and donors to support the implementation of the Pacific Islands Meteorological Strategy (PIMS) 2012-2021 and other related regional frameworks and PMC outcomes.

Requests were also extended to SPREP, USP, SPC and other regional organizations, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and development partners to expedite the implementation of the Pacific Roadmap on Strengthening Climate Services in the Pacific region, and to explore possibilities for the establishment and operation of a Regional Climate Centre and future annual Pacific Island Climate Outlook Forum (PICOF) among others.

This meeting followed the Third Meeting of the Pacific Meteorological Councl held earlier in the week at the Fa'onelua Convention Centre.

Representatives from SPREP, WMO, regional organisations and development partners also attended.