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Feature article

Pacific Island Training Institute on Climate and Extreme Events

The University of the South Pacific (USP), the East-West Center (EWC) and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) will convene a two-week Pacific Island Training Institute on Climate and Extreme Events from 15–28 June 2004 at the Suva campus of the University of the South Pacific. The Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are sponsoring the Training Institute with additional contributions from USP, EWC and NIWA.

The Institute is intended to enhance the capacity of Pacific Island jurisdictions to understand, anticipate and effectively respond to the consequences of current and future patterns of climate variability and climate-related extreme events such as droughts, floods and tropical cyclones both today and in the future.

Small island developing states, including those in the Pacific, are considered among the most vulnerable to the consequences of climate variability and change and associated extremes:

  • Year-to-year variability such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle has significant consequences for Pacific Island nations and climate change projections suggested a possible increase in climate variability and associated extreme events;
  • Economic plans for most Pacific Island nations are dependent on climate-sensitive sectors (e.g., agriculture and tourism) and resources (e.g., coral reefs);
  • Water resources are already stressed in many jurisdictions and many low-lying atoll nations are completely dependent on rainfall; and
  • Climate-related extreme events such as droughts, floods, tropical cyclones and high temperatures already present significant challenges to public safety and community infrastructure.

Further information (including eligibility and selection criteria) and application form. (These are PDF files; we recommend that you open them outside your browser.)

Applications should be submitted to the University of the South Pacific.

Additional contact information:
Kanayathu Koshy, Director, Pacific Centre for Environment & Sustainable Development, University of the South Pacific, Suva, FIJI.
Phone: (+679) 321-2184 Fax: (+679) 330-9176
Email: [email protected]

Applications are being accepted until 12 March 2004.