The importance of effective communication and preparedness for Early Warning Systems (EWS) covering oceans and islands cannot be overstated.

Recognising this need, the Cook Islands Meteorological Service (CIMS) office facilitated the ‘Ocean Science to Services Consultation’ aimed at strengthening their delivery model for climate (and ocean) information services.

This initiative seeks to bridge the knowledge gap among various stakeholders, including government agencies, community and local lagoon operators, by providing them with critical information and tools needed to respond to weather related dangers.

CIMS director Maara Vaiimene said the ocean is essential to human life and the planet in many ways, including climate change.

“The ocean stores and releases heat and controls the climate and weather patterns, it is a major source of food, a means of transportation and offers many unique activities.”

Vaiimene said the intention of the workshop is the interaction between the stakeholders or the Meteorological staff for a better understanding and partnership of their needs and how the CIMS can best deliver them to fit its purpose.

“We have gathered to share and learn from each other as to how we can work together to better understand and provide products and services to helps us all with our activities in relation to the ocean,” Vaiimene said.

It was also to increase the awareness of ocean science, map stakeholder information needs and facilitate discussions aimed at improving ocean and marine services as well as enhancing early warning capability in the Cook Islands.”

Participants had the opportunity to discuss needs and gaps around ocean outlooks, forecasts and Early Warning Systems, and deliberate on the way forward in addressing these.

The objectives include the increase in Cook Islands ocean stakeholder’s awareness and understanding of early warning systems, ocean dynamics, the tools available for accessing ocean data, and the interpretation and application of ocean data for improved ocean prediction and monitoring.

Matt Blacka, programme manager of the climate services Office of the Prime Minister ,said to meet those needs, a process defined by the World Meteorological Organization framework places the climate services users at the top.

He said the programme overview was to strengthen the delivery model for climate information services and multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) covering oceans and islands, strengthen observations, monitoring, modelling and prediction of climate and its impacts on ocean areas and islands, improve community preparedness, response capabilities and resilience to climate risks, as well as to enhance regional knowledge management and cooperation for climate services and MHEWS.

“The CIMS are looking into using a better easy forecast in this ocean space, meeting the needs of stakeholders in this country,” Blacka said.

The objectives included the increase in Cook Islands ocean stakeholder’s awareness and understanding early warning systems, ocean dynamics, the tools available for accessing ocean data, and the interpretation and application of ocean data for improved ocean prediction and monitoring.

This workshop was delivered as a joint activity through the GCF-funded Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services Program (UNEP CIS-Pac5) and the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac) funded by the Australian and New Zealand Governments.

The Pacific Community, formerly the South Pacific Commission, partnered with the CIMS to facilitate the workshop that was held last week at the Crown Beach Resort.