OPENING REMARKS by Dr Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Director UNESCO Pacific Regional Office.
Dear Honorable Minister T. C. Schuster, Samoa Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)
Dear Diplomatic Corps, High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Heads of UN Agencies
I warmly welcome Dear Representatives from the Pacific Countries who have braved the storm and travelled a long way to be with us today. My most sincere and humble thanks to you. PNG, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, French Polynesia, Tuvalu, Cook Islands and Samoa. Certain experts were held back to monitor the weather situation in their countries.
These experts and representatives are mainly from National Geological Services, National Tsunami Warning Centers, National Volcano Observatories and National Disaster Management Offices (NDMO).
I Warmly thank and Welcome, our partners, the Samoa Meteorological Services, Samoa Disaster Management Office, SPREP, UNDRR, regional partners, the Pacific Community (SPC), JICA, USGS and other partners………… connected online. Especially those who were unable to travel due to the current cyclonic weather conditions.
Dear friends of UNESCO,
It is my honor and pleasure to address you at the opening ceremony of the Science and partnerships for geohazard resilience in the Pacific region towards a Multi-hazard Early Warning System
Firstly, let me extend my deep appreciation to the Government of Samoa for hosting this important event and for their flexibility in organizing this event in such uncertain weather conditions and ALLOWING FOR HYBRID SESSIONS.
Geohazards
Geohazards are defined as an adverse geologic condition capable of causing damage or loss of property or life. These processes only become hazards when humans get in their way.
The Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) proximity to the Ring of Fire, where volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis occur, makes it one of the most vulnerable regions to geohazards in the world.
In celebration of the International Geoscience programme on healing the earth, the 50th Anniversary in 2022 noted and I quote
ONE HEALTH
Earth and Ocean Sciences contribution to the implementation of the SDG’s
The Earth gives and the Earth takes away. It gives humanity the rich tapestry of landscapes within which civilisations and complex societies have flourished, providing the raw materials to build livelihoods and the resources to feed and fuel our modern world.
It takes away through the disasters that emerge from geological violence In the coming decades our planet faces a geological tipping point that threatens the future of humanity and the natural world that sustains it. Geoscience – the science of planet Earth an the ocean sciences – will be vital in averting that calamity.
Geosciences and the ocean sciences
Geoscience studies how our planet works, unravels its four and a half billion year history, and applies that past understanding to present and future societal concerns.
Geohazards History of the PICTs
I am told that,
• 30% of global seismicity is observed in the Southwest Pacific Region
(Lebellegard et al., 2007) and less than 3% of seismic stations are available for
real time monitoring within this area (repartition based on GEVN network).
• 15% of deadly tsunami’s originate from the Southwest Pacific
• 80% of these tsunamis are caused by an earthquake.
• 69% of world tsunamis originate from the Pacific Ocean Basin and marginal seas
• 99% of deaths in the Pacific are caused by local and regional tsunamis.
• We need not to be reminded by the recent events in Vanuatu on 17th December
2024 and the 2022 Hunga- Tonga Hunga Ha’apai Volcano Eruption and Tsunami
Why UNESCO and how can UNESCO support the management of geohazards?
Vision of a world at peace could not be a world without science
Since its establishment after WW2, UNESCO promotes international cooperation in the natural sciences, and marine sciences through its inter governmental and international scientific programmes. UNESCO is home to the inter-governmental hydrological programme, international basic sciences and UNESCO is the only organization with a mandate in the earth sciences. This is the S in UNESCO.
The International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) is the oldest and most successful example of a scientific partnership between a non-governmental organization (the International Union of Geological Sciences; IUGS) and an intergovernmental organization (UNESCO). The IUGS, founded in 1961, with 121 national members representing over a million geoscientists, is one of the world’s largest scientific organizations. It encourages international co-operation and participation in the Earth sciences in relation.
Since 1972, UNESCO, through the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and in partnership with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), has harnessed the intellectual capacity of a worldwide network of geoscientists to lay the foundation for our planet’s future, focusing on responsible and environmental resource extraction, natural hazard resilience and preparedness, and adaptability in an era of changing climate.
For 60 years, UNESCO’s inter governmental Oceanographic Commission promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the oceans, coasts and marine resources.
UNESCO, is leading the United Nations OCEAN DECADE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2020-2023 and have launched the Ocean Decade Tsunami Programme (ODTP) in 2021. This is an effort to bolster the global tsunami warning system by reducing response times and enhancing community readiness.
Its main objectives are to:
o Enhance systems’ capacity to issue actionable and timely warnings for tsunamis from all identified sources to 100% of coasts at risk;
o Guarantee that 100% of communities at risk are prepared and resilient to tsunamis by 2030 through efforts like the UNESCO-IOC Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme.
Our UNESCO Natural and Ocean Sciences have joined efforts in convening this Regional Geohazards week-long meeting responding to the call of Pacific Islands Countries and Territories.
UNESCO recognizes the efforts of Pacific Islands Countries and Territories in their collaboration to better understand the science and geohazards risks under the Oceania Regional Seismic Network (ORSNET), Melanesia Volcano Network (MVN), Pacific Islands Landslide Network and the Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System for Pacific Islands Countries and Territories (WG-PICT).
Therefore in 2023, the inaugural Science and Partnership for Geohazard Resilience Workshop in Nadi, Fiji was launched. Since then, we can review the outcomes:
• Among PICTs, UNESCO in collaboration with regional and international partners to strengthen PICTs understanding of geoscience and Geohazards through the UNESCO’s.
o International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and Global Geoparks
In collaboration with SPTO and SPC, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu recently targeted on the establishment of Geoparks.
o DRR Programme, UNESCO supports Member States.
In collaboration with SPC, UNDRR, UNICEF and others UNESCO is supporting PICTs ( Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu) on a 2-year Funded project on Information Management.
o Tsunami Resilience Programme, UNESCO supported;
The review of National Tsunami SOP in Fiji- a pre-requisite for an FJD 72 million Concessional loan
Review of National Tsunami warning and response SOP in Tonga, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Pacific Wave Exercise 2024 – Regional PICT Exercise and National Tsunami Drills in Fiji and Tonga.
Official recognition of 6 PICT communities to be UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Community in 2023-2024.
In December 2023, the PSIDS regional geohazards community of practice discussed the need to better understand the science of geohazards to clearly ascertain threats posed by geohazards among PICTs and the status of:
a) in-country capability of geohazard monitoring and detection and multi-hazard early warning system.
b) Volcano, earthquake, tsunami, and landslide sciences among PICTs
c) seismic data sharing for earthquake, volcano and tsunami monitoring and
detection
This Inaugural Science and Partnerships for Geohazards Resilience Meeting identified the need to develop a Regional Geohazards Strategic Framework to inform programmes or projects to address the capacity gaps in scientific hazard monitoring, assessment, warning, and disseminations to enable the public to better understands their risks and threats from a geohazard.
Since December 2023, the PSIDS regional geohazards community have been exploring opportunities to strengthen the science and scientific data and knowledge that informs geohazard programmes, policies.
• UNESCO is a major global partner of the UNEW4ALL supporting the four lead
agencies, UNDRR, WMO, ITU and International Federation of the Red Crescent
Society,
• UNESCO recognizes the call of the Pacific Islands Leaders under the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and intends to work closely with regional UN and CROP agencies to accelerate progress of PICTs towards achieving the goals of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
• The PICT geohazards community is critical in advising Pacific Island Leaders on threats posed by Geohazards to PICTs.
Your meeting this week builds on the outcomes of the inaugural 2023 meeting. But also other scientific and technical meetings organised by the partners.
• Your meeting this week is timely in order to;
Identify and consolidate the gaps and needs in your geohazards operations and services.
Identify spaces for constructive and meaningful engagement (on geohazards scientific and technical advice) with Pacific Islands Leaders through the Pacific DRR Ministers Meeting (in consultation with Pacific Disaster Managers Meeting) and the Pacific Meteorological Ministers Meeting (in consultation with the Pacific Meteorological Council.
The PSIDS regional geohazards community mostly includes Geological Services with Geohazard Management Units/ Sections are mostly hosted by Meteorological Services or Mining/Mineral/Natural Resources Departments. These are mainly a small team of technical and scientific officers who monitors, detects, and provide public advisories on geohazards. This regional community is mainly coordinated within UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Warning Systems in collaboration with Geoscience Australia, GNS New Zealand and USGS including CROP Agencies such as The Pacific Community (SPC) and SPREP.
At the regional level, under the Pacific Resilience Programme (PRP), a technical working group on Multi-Hazard Early Warning System have been established to provide the overarching common DRR frameworks as well as guidance and coordination support.
Scientific applications for seismic monitoring and detection like SeisComP is widely used by PICTs however, its full potential is not realized due to limited staff capacity and capacity development. Current Staffs of Geological Servies need proper scientific training with the support of partners such as USGS, Geoscience Australia, and GNS New Zealand.
Measuring the impacts on girls and women who bear the burdens of geohazards in a community. A high number of UNESCO’s geoscience projects are led by women Earth scientists, in 2020 women are project leaders in 38% of the active geoscience projects.
The meeting will also provide a platform to
i) stock take progress and share learning considering vulnerabilities and level of
exposure of different members of public to geohazards such as tsunami, volcano, earthquake and landslides.
ii) The meeting will include sessions of the Inter governmental coordination group
for the Pacific Tsunami warning and mitigation system
iii) It will include sessions on Volcano under Melanesia Volcanic Network (MVN) and
JICA/ volcano research project with Landslides and earthquakes under ORSNET
Oceania Regional Seismic Network.
This meeting comes at a critical point as a culmination of all scientific technical workshops held recently with different stakeholders.
– 2023-UNESCO inaugural science and partnerships for geohazards resilience
– Pacific Islands Science, Technology and Resources Network (STAR) Conference
held in Fiji on 20-22nd November 2024 and the
– Forecasting and Communicating Earthquake Hazard and Risk (FORCE) project, Understanding Earthquake Hazard and Risk in the Pacific Region Workshop 18-19th November 2024 gathering national officials from National Geohazards Observatories, National Tsunami Warning Centers and National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).
Two questions arise:
i) Should there be a platform for a PSIDS Regional Geohazards Strategy.
The PSIDS Regional Geohazards Strategy could inform programmes or projects developed at national and regional level and stimulate collaboration and partnerships among government agencies, development partners, universities, CROP Agencies and UN Agencies particularly UNESCO.
ii) Given the success, momentum on geohazards resilience, should there be a
Multi-hazard Early Warning system bringing together the different entities
Thanks
Specifically thank, our partners UNDRR, SPC, Weather Ready Programme at SPREP, USGS and Tokyo University in supporting this Regional Geohazard Meeting.
Lastly, this meeting is brought to you by UNESCO’s Natural Science Programme coordinator Susan Schneegans and UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Resilience Programme Coordinator Jiuta Korovulvula, and their team Arti Devi. Other colleagues from UNESCO based here These programmes coordinate this regional gathering of Pacific Islands Countries and Territories Geohazards Community since the Inaugural 2023 Regional Geohazards Meeting in Nadi, Fiji.
Dear Experts, this is your platform and your meeting. I greatly thank you.
I thank the Diplomatic Corps and heads of agencies for their presence and time. I have no doubt their participation would lead to further avenues for collaboration with the geohazards community to combat and build back better.
I am certain that the exchanges that we will hear in the upcoming days will be inspiring and will provide a basis to extend and increase the excellent cooperation between UNESCO and all of you. UNESCOs’ Intergovernmental scientific and international programmes support its Member States to strengthen their national capacity in oceans and geosciences for the management of both geohazards risk reduction.
Let me end i0 by wishing you all fruitful exchanges and thank once again the Government of Samoa and Honorable Minister Schuster for the great work in converting this into the first Regional meeting on Science and partnerships for geohazard resilience in the Pacific Region: towards a multi- hazard early warning system.
And before I close I would like to go back to the reflection on science and development
Vision of a world at peace could not be a world without science
In 2021 UNESCO’s 193 Member States endorsed the first standard setting instrument Recommendation on Open Science. Open science is a set of principles and practices that aim to make scientific research from all fields accessible to everyone for the benefits of scientists and society as a whole. Open science is about making sure not only that scientific knowledge is accessible but also that the production of that knowledge itself is inclusive, equitable and sustainable.
Open science:
• increases scientific collaborations and sharing of information for the benefits of
science and society;
• opens the processes of scientific knowledge creation, evaluation and communication to societal actors beyond the traditional scientific community.
Our interconnected world needs open science to help solve complex social, environmental, and economic challenges and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. By promoting science that is more accessible, inclusive and transparent, open science furthers the right of everyone to share in scientific advancement and its benefits as stated in Article 27.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Fa’afetai Lava.
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