Search

About this Report This report draws on the latest meteorological and oceanographic data and information to describe historical change in Pacific Island climate. There is significant demand at regional, national and local community levels within the Pacific Islands for science-based climate data and information to inform decision-making, including high-quality monitoring, analysis, and communication of observed and future climate change. At the 15th Pacific Islands Forum in Funafuti, Tuvalu in 2019, leaders called on “the international community to immediately increase support and assistance for Pacific-led science-based initiatives intended to improve our understanding of risk and vulnerability, as well as build capacity for evidence-based decision-making and project development”. Members of the 4th Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC), in Honiara in 2017, welcomed the renewed focus on climate change science, especially underpinning meteorology and climate services. This report was produced by the WMO RA V Pacific Regional Climate Center (RCC) Network https://www.pacificmet.net/rcc, specifically members of the Nodes on Climate Monitoring and Climate Change Projections. The WMO RA V Pacific RCC Network is a virtual center of excellence for supporting national meteorological services with up-to-date regional long-range climate forecasts, climate monitoring products, climate change projections, climate data services, and information on regional training activities. The RCC Network was endorsed by PMC-4 and is currently in a demonstration phase. The node on Climate Monitoring is co-led by NOAA and the University of Hawaiʻi, while the node on Climate Change Projections is led by Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Consortium members include the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and The Pacific Community (SPC). Author invitations were extended to the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) member countries. The regional indicators described here are intended to provide: meaningful regionally and locally relevant information about the status and trends of key physical, biological, and chemical variables in light of a rapidly changing climate; and information in a form that is accessible and useful to a wide variety of stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as well as the education and scientific communities. This will assist communication and inform decisions on management, research, and education.