Earth Sciences New Zealand joined government representatives, regional organisations, development partners and innovators in Port Vila, Vanuatu, from 1-3 July for SPREP's inaugural Pacific Innovation Forum for Climate and the Environment, highlighting collaborative Pacific-led approaches to climate resilience, environmental monitoring and disaster preparedness.
A key feature of ESNZ's participation was a regional workshop, Towards Pacific-Wide Greenhouse Gas Validation and Verification, led by Chief Scientist, Changing Atmosphere and Climate, Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher. The workshop brought together participants to explore how the region could develop a coordinated, observation-based greenhouse gas monitoring capability. Discussions focused on practical and affordable approaches suited to island and ocean environments, and how improved emissions observations could support national reporting, climate policy and evidence-based decision making.
The forum also provided an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the PaRTneR programme, delivered jointly by ESNZ, the Pacific Community (SPC) and national disaster management agencies across the region. Through a plenary panel session and exhibition booth, Pacific partners shared lessons learned and demonstrated how the programme has strengthened disaster preparedness, risk assessment and decision-making in participating countries.
Panellists from the Marshall Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu reflected on the value of regional collaboration and knowledge sharing in building resilience to natural hazards and climate impacts. Their experiences highlighted the importance of long-term partnerships and locally led approaches to strengthening community preparedness across the Pacific.
Looking to the future, PaRTneR Programme Managers Juli Ungaro (ESNZ) and Orisi Naivalurua (SPC) also undertook consultations in Vanuatu to inform the design of a proposed third phase of the programme. The engagement was the third of nine national consultations being conducted across the region to ensure future activities are shaped by country priorities and needs.
More on the forum: https://sprep.org/news/ten-pacific-entrepreneurs-pitch-for-top-climate-and-environment-innovation-prize-in-vanuatu