Progress report for
Norway-Pacific Joint Chair of Oceans and Climate Change
Achievement at a glance
The Chair, Professor Elisabeth Holland, was lead author on IPCC Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate (SROCC). Represented climate and ocean science at 50th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. Negotiation to support science as Solomon Islands delegate and IPCC author, UNFCCC COP25. USP representative for IAU global consortiums for SDG13 (led by University of the West Indies) and SDG14 (led by University of Bergen). Pacific Node of Advisory group of Global Ocean Acidification Network. USP representative, Pacific Islands Forum Regional Conference on Legal Options and Institutional Responses to the Impact of Sea-Level Rise on Maritime Zones.Challenges faced in implementation
From early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily suspended travel and physical cooperation among representatives of the two universities in the partnership. Joint courses originally intended as physically taught on-site have therefore been postponed. Online versions are under development. Yet implementation has proceeded well, partly through the Chair taking up significant roles at physical meetings in the multiple Fiji hubs of regional and global ocean-climate cooperation, and partly through online meetings and the Chair's active publication agenda.Next Steps
Development of online joint courses to replace planned physical meetings and workshops.The implementation for 2021-2025 of the Norway-Pacific Ocean-Climate Scholarship Programme, as a direct expansion and continuation of the Commitment of the Norway-Pacific Chair.
Consideration of physical and/or online participation by both universities at COP26 in Glasgow, organized by the Chair
Beneficiaries
USP and UiB, Pacific Islands Regional Organizations including PIF, OPOC and SPC; the IOC/UN Decade of Ocean Science; Pacific Islands Missions at the United Nations, the 12 member countries of the USP plus Papua New Guinea, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia.