Bula vinaka and a very good morning to you all.
Ni sa bula vinaka. I bid you greetings from the Government and people of Fiji and warmly welcome you to our shores. We are so honoured to have you here with us in this corner of the Blue Pacific if only for a few days. Consider Fiji your home away from home.
As Minister for Meteorology, it is a great honour to be part of the Sixth Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC in short) as your Host and on behalf of the Fiji Government, we would like to extend a warm welcome to you our PMC members, senior government officials from SPREP member countries and territories, development partners, CROP and UN agencies, collaborating organizations and institutions.
At the outset, I wish to convey our sincere gratitute acknowledge for the unwavering support from the Secretariat of the Pacific Environmental Programme (SPREP), World Meteorological Organisation, the European Union funded Climate Services and Related Applications (ClimSA) program, the Australian DFAT funded Climate and Oceans Support program for the Pacific (COSPPac).
These kind gestures will go a long way in strengthening and sustaining our end-to-end early warning systems that contribute to the safety, well-being of our regional communities and contributing to our sustainable development goals.
Today marks the 12th year anniversary of the Pacific Meteorological Council since its establishment in Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Island we are truly honoured to host this council for the second time.
Resilient Blue Pacific.
The PMC journey crafted a visionary Meteorological Strategy to sail amid extreme climatic events, pandemics and many more challenges.
As one of the most disaster-prone areas of the planet, our region is highly exposed and amongst the most vulnerable to a wide range of worsening climate-related hazards such as tropical cyclones, floods, droughts, earthquakes and many more.
Since the last PMC engagement in 2019, our region has suffered several extreme events, including tropical cyclone Harold in April 2020, hitting Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga, tropical cyclone Yasa in December 2020 and Ana in January 2021, both made landfall in Fiji.
Such extreme events comes with cascading hazards such pressure to us all, pushes Governments into debt distress, businesses into insolvency, communities and individuals into extreme hardship.
These experiences make one thing very clear and that is we need to become more resilient.
Improving disaster risk reduction and response is one of the five core principles to strengthen resilience to disasters and our changing climate in the Pacific.
Strengthening and sustaining our early warnings for all.
Let me first acknowledge the visionary leadership of Pacific Island governments in ensuring that we are all protected by an early warning system.
Also, I would like to salute the excellent work carried out by our early warning agencies, disaster risk reduction partners, donors, and communities in our past achievements and present progress.
However, we cannot be complacent due to the many challenges we face today. The last IPCC Report is clear that the future does not look bright.
Our leaders declared last year here in Fiji that the Pacific is facing a Climate Emergency that threatens the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of its people and ecosystems, backed by the latest science and the daily lived realities in Pacific communities.
In this regard, the Fiji government is committed to ensuring that we effectively play our role in providing people-centred early warning information to the region, especially from our regional specialized meteorological centre (RSMC) here in Nadi.
Through our National Disaster Management Office, as co-chair of the Risk Governance Working Group under the Pacific Resilience Partnership, our primary focus has been on fostering inclusivity and promoting the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) throughout various initiatives.
We are also devoted to working with you all in sustaining our end-to-end early warning system, strengthen the infrastructure, capacity and resources needed in our region.
Given the interconnected nature of disasters within our region, our comprehensive objective is to cultivate a society in which every individual is endowed with the essential knowledge and resources to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones during times of challenge.
I wholeheartedly encourage all gathered here to actively engage in the exchange of acquired insights, thus bolstering one another as we navigate our shared path forward.
Resource mobilisation initiatives such as Weather Ready Pacific Decadal program.
At this juncture, I would like to acknowledge all our partners and donors who have worked tirelessly in supporting and sustaining our early warning for all programs in our region.
On 27 of July 2021, Pacific leaders endorsed the Weather Ready Pacific Decadal Programme of Investment, an ambitious, innovative and transformative plan.
This aims to bring about accurate and timely early warning information for early action.
Now, I urge you our donors and development partners to coordinate resources through such Pacific-led investment program so that we can ensure that every person in the Pacific region is protected by early warnings and resilient.
Together, we shall forge a path towards a safer and more secure future, where the well-being and prosperity of all citizens are prioritised.
In unity, we shall surmount any obstacles that may come our way, and together, we will craft a legacy of strength and prosperity for generations to come.
On that note, thank you all for this opportunity and I wish you successful deliberations over the next 3 days.
Thank you