Solomon Islands raises meteorological equipment, sustainable financing, technology and regional partnerships at PMC-8.
For Solomon Islands, the eighth Pacific Meteorological Council Meeting (PMC-8) provides an opportunity to raise the country’s meteorological needs, particularly in equipment, sustainable financing, technology and regional partnerships.
The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service plays a role in providing weather forecasts, warnings and climate information to support communities and sectors affected by weather and climate conditions.
With the country facing the need to strengthen its meteorological systems and infrastructure, the regional meeting provides a platform for Solomon Islands to discuss these priorities with other Pacific meteorological services, regional organisations and development partners.
Speaking to Tavuli News during the opening of PMC-8 in Nuku’alofa, Director of the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service, Dr Alick Hiruhari, said the meeting provides an opportunity for Pacific countries to share experiences and discuss common challenges.
Dr Hiruhari said the PMC provides a platform for countries to learn from one another and identify areas where further support and cooperation may be needed.
“This is important for the country because this is where we can get support and partnership through negotiations and partnerships to help our work in the country,” he said.
He said the regional platform also allows countries to work together and share experiences, while the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) can help facilitate links between countries, development partners and donors where support is required.
For Solomon Islands, one of the key issues is ensuring that meteorological infrastructure and equipment can be maintained and continue operating over the long term.
Dr Hiruhari said this is important to ensure the country can continue providing weather and climate information.
“We have equipment and also weather radar that is coming up and this meeting will ensure that financing for sustainability,” he said.
The PMC-8 meeting also provides an opportunity for participating countries to report on developments in their meteorological services, including progress, challenges and gaps that require attention.
Dr Hiruhari said Solomon Islands is using the regional meeting to raise its priorities, including the need for additional meteorological equipment.
“In this meeting room everybody comes with their priorities since it is a regional network and for us the priority is to seek meteorological equipment to enhance our work in the country,” he said.
He said sustainable financing is another concern, given the cost of establishing and maintaining meteorological systems and infrastructure.
For Solomon Islands, strengthening these systems could support the country’s ability to provide timely weather information and warnings, which are important for disaster preparedness and for sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, transport and communities.
Dr Hiruhari said regional cooperation can be important for countries such as Solomon Islands when national resources are not sufficient to meet the costs involved.
“We may not have the budget for such systems and infrastructure because it too expensive, so that is where such initiative is very important and timely for Solomon Islands,” he said.
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