The Met Office states that the workshop aims to increase the awareness on ocean science, map stakeholder information needs and facilitate discussion aimed at improving ocean and marine services as well as enhancing early warning capability in the Cook Islands.

Participants will also have an opportunity to discuss needs and gaps around ocean outlooks, forecasts and Early Warning Systems, and deliberate on ways forward in addressing them.

In collaboration with the Pacific Community (SPC) the objectives of this consultation are to;

1. Increase Cook Islands ocean stakeholder’s awareness and understanding of Early Warning Systems (EWS), ocean dynamics, available tools for accessing ocean data, and interpretation and application of ocean data for improved ocean prediction and monitoring.

2. Understand the needs of key national ocean stakeholders around forecasts, outlooks and early warning systems, and identify opportunities to strengthen warning system capacity via multi-sectoral discussion.

3. Provide an opportunity to partners and national agencies to create awareness on ocean related projects and initiatives.

4. Strengthen the Cook Islands Meteorological Service as they expand their role as a national ocean information provider, by enhancing collaboration with local ocean stakeholders. The workshop aims to increase the awareness on ocean science, map stakeholder information needs and facilitate discussion aimed at improving ocean and marine services as well as enhancing early warning capability in the Cook Islands.

The workshop will be 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. Release