SPREP Tok

Abstract

In the month of July, we officially confirmed the funding assistance from the Government of Ireland through Irish Aid for the National Meteorological Services of the countries severely impacted by Tropical Cyclone Winston earlier this year. The NMSs of Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were recipients of funding and assistance, delivered through SPREP, which will go towards the repair and replacement of important infrastructure and equiment damaged during TC Harold. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Government of Ireland for their support for climate change response in the region. The Cook Islands State of Environment Report was officially endorsed by Cabinet earlier this year, and I congratulate the Cook Islands on this achievement, which was the direct result of the hard work put into prioritising environmental data collection in order to ensure informed decision making at all levels. Finally, our “Transitioning to a post-pandemic Pacific” webinar series also wrapped up in July, with the final session hosted by our Islands and Ocean Ecosystem programme. The webinar, which focused on “Healthy Environment = Healthy Humans”, included a panel of distinguished speakers who explored the linkages between ecosystem degradation and the loss of biodiversity, and the emergence of infectious diseases. The session concluded the five-week webinar series, which aimed to drive Pacific conversation which empowers a “blue and green” component in the COVID-19 recovery plans for Pacific island countries.I hope you enjoy this issue of the SPREP-Tok.