Australia’s

Australia to fund third phase of monitoring unit

minister for foreign affairs, Alexander Downer, has announced that Australia will fund the third phase of the South Pacific Sea Level and Climate Monitoring Project.

The project was developed in response to concerns raised by South Pacific Forum countries about climate change and sea level rise in the region.

Announcing the funding, Downer said it represents a significant regional contribution by Australia in the effort to understand better climate variability and global warming.

“Small island states in the Pacific are especially vulnerable to the

potentially adverse effects of climate variability and climate change in areas such as coastal infrastructure, fresh water resources, agriculture and health,” Downer said.

“Since its inception in 1991, the project has helped eleven Pacific Island countries to monitor and analyse climate and sea level changes through a network of sea level monitoring stations, satellite transmission networks and computer systems.

“It has provided governments and communities throughout the region with resources, training and information to better understand the links between sea level, climate variability and their adaptation requirements.

“An accurate scientific record of longer-term sea level trends will be crucial to understand better the effects of climate change and the occurrence of extreme weather events in the region, and to the development of appropriate response measures,” the minister said.

The third phase of the project will enhance the quality of long-term sea level monitoring and analysis, and provide national meteorological services in Pacific Island countries with improved capacity to analyse and interpret project data.

It will give increased emphasis to monitoring short and medium-term climate variability in the Pacific. ■