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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac)

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Government
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    Description
    Description
    The Australian Government is supporting Pacific Island countries to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate variability in part through Australia's assistance in the Climate and Oceans Support Program in the Pacific (COSPPac). The program is being implemented by the Bureau of Meteorology, in partnership with 14 Pacific Island countries (PIC), to develop enhanced climate, ocean and tidal services for Pacific Island communities and governments. COSPPac is successfully building capacity in PIC National Meteorological Services (NMSs) and Lands and Survey Departments to develop and disseminate user-focused products and services, that assist governments and communities to better prepare for drought, severe wet periods, extreme tidal events, disease, water shortages, decreased hydropower supply and food security threats.
    Products produced through COSPPac include:
    - An Ocean Portal
    - An extensive, long-term tidal information and sea level monitoring network
    - A comprehensive seasonal forecasting system
    - A comprehensive monthly climate monitoring bulletin
    - The improvement of CliDE (Climate Data for the Environment) Climate Data Management System
    - A traditional knowledge monitoring and database system

    Consultation and incorporation of traditional knowledge is an important component of all COSPPac activities, ensuring the forecasting products contribute to improved decision making, risk management, and disaster prevention.

    The priority for the final years of the Program is the transition of COSPPacs products and services to the Pacific regional partners where appropriate. The program's strong emphasis on capacity building has also ensured that this transition from the Bureau of Meteorology and into the Pacific is well underway and much will be achieved before the end of the current phase of COSPPac in June 2018.

    At the 2016 Pacific Islands Forum, a four-year package (2018-2022) of climate change and resilience support to the Pacific was announced to follow on from COSPPac. To meet this commitment, DFATs Pacific division will deliver a new Climate Connect program comprising a set of linked regional sub-programs as well as cross-program technical advice and coordination.

    The Program will enhance SPREP core funding, increase development partner coordination, and will consist of four technical sub-programs which are: Climate Information Services; Climate Adaptation Services; Climate Change Governance; Gender and Climate Change; Climate Change Unit in Suva.
    Partners
    Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (Government), Geoscience Australia (Government), the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
    14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    An Ocean Portal, informing Pacific stakeholders in fisheries, shipping, environmental management and tourism.
    An extensive, long-term tidal information and sea level monitoring network, the network is the primary and comprehensive dataset of long-term sea-level observations in participating countries. This is an annual deliverable which will be ongoing beyond the conclusion of the overarching project
    The production of tide prediction calendars for 19 Pacific locations (in 14 Pacific countries), published annually. Each calendar has a factsheet that provides a basic introduction to tides and (where applicable) country-specific information to extend the usability of the tide predictions to other islands within a country. This is an annual deliverable which will be ongoing beyond the conclusion of the overarching project
    A comprehensive seasonal forecasting system for rainfall, temperature or other climate related factors, termed Seasonal Climate Outlooks for Pacific Island Countries (SCOPIC).
    Financing (in USD)
    29000000
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Scientific research
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 July 2012 (start date)
    01 June 2018 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Bureau of Meteorology
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Neil.Plummer@bom.gov.au
    Ocean Basins
    South Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Sustainable fisheries, Sustainable blue economy, Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Neil Plummer, Assistant Director, Climate Information Services, Bureau of Meteorology