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Description

The Pacific Islands-Global Climate Observing System (PI-GCOS) programme started in Apia, Samoa, in 2000 as a result of the first regional Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) workshop organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the international GCOS Secretariat. It is a sub-programme of the GCOS aimed specifically at meeting the observing needs of Pacific Islands. Since the Apia workshop, a number of activities have been completed. These include establishment of the PI-GCOS steering group, development of the PI-GCOS Action Plan and appointment of a full-time PI-GCOS coordinator based in SPREP.

At the international level, eight GCOS workshops have been held in other regions of the world, and according to observers, the Apia workshop is considered the most successful. This success is mainly attributed to the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders involved in the PI-GCOS programme to date.Recent activities include the establishment of a Regional Committee (RC) which serves as the PI-GCOS steering group. Mr. Arona Ngari, the Director of the Cook Islands National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS) was selected as the interim chair. The role of the RC is to guide the implementation of the PI-GCOS Action Plan and act as an advisory group to the PI-GCOS Coordinator.One of the issues that was identified early during the consultation among PI-GCOS collaborating partners, is the need to build capacity of individual Pacific Islands NMHS if the goals of the PI-GCOS Action Plan are to be met. The first step in this direction was the establishment of the RC with the majority of its members being representatives of Pacific Islands NMHS.

This is a reflection of the realization that the PI-GCOS can be successful only if it is owned and primarily driven by the Pacific people themselves, as they will ultimately benefit from the programme.The PI-GCOS programme was showcased at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP10) held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 6-17 December 2004 with great success. The PI-GCOS programme success was touted as a good model for other regions, particularly in relation to the cooperative partnership between developing and developed countries of the region, along with the key central roles that organizations such as SPREP and South Pacific Applied Geosciences Commission (SOPAC) have played to further the goals of PI-GCOS.SPREP, in collaboration with SOPAC and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA, NZ) are conducting a mid-2007 review of the Island Climate Update (ICU), a monthly regional climate information newsletter.Establishing a robust and sustainable Pacific Island GCOS that meets the long-term climate observation needs of the region and the world.

Project Status
Start Date
Tuesday, August 1, 2000
End Date
Tuesday, August 1, 2000
Short Title
PI-GCOS
Project Type
Project Scope
Project Objectives

The objective is to develop capacity for application of climate information to cope with climate variability and change. Designed to establish a robust and sustainable Pacific Islands climate observing system that meets long-term climate observation needs in the region and the world, in line with the PI-GCOS Action Plan and the PIGCOS Implementation Plan.

Project Outputs
1) To continually advocate the importance of GCOS observing systems to policy applications on the part of national governments and other interested users (e.g. social, cultural and economic implications). 2) To fully support and operate ALL identified GCOS stations (e.g. GSN, GTOS, GUAN, etc.) in the region by 2005 and according to best practices by 2008. 3) To work with the AOPC to re-examine the spatial-distribution, criteria and coverage of GSN and GUAN stations in the region by 2003 and adjust the networks as appropriate by 2005. 4) To respond to the September 1999 WMO request for the provision of historical GSN and GUAN (when requested), metadata and data by 2003, and to rescue all existing climate data for the region by 2005 fully archive quality controlled climate data in digit. 5) To establish a permanent GCOS infrastructure by the end of 2002 with professional capacity within the region as appropriate (e.g. National GCOS Coordinator, Regional or National Climate Centres, etc)
Project Activities
Activities: 
· To raise the profile of PI-GCOS and institutions responsible for systematic observations for the atmosphere, terrestrial, and ocean among policy makers and the public communities. · To strengthen mechanisms, procedures, linkages and coordination for and among relevant stakeholders and government departments and ministries. · To promote cooperation and coordination of all relevant development assistance agencies. · To increase number of professionals at all levels in the field of science relating to climate, hydrology and oceanography in the Pacific Island Countries.