Asia-Pacific actions to address climate change will have global impact
Jakarta -- Countries in Asia and the Pacific are at a crossroads and must now strike a balance between rising prosperity and rising emissions. Their success or failure will have repercussions worldwide, predicts a new report released today by the United Nations Development Programme.
This report covers the period 1 January to 31 December 2011
Programme outcome
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Asia Pacific zone office continues to support its regional and country offices as well as the 37 national societies in the zone in building stronger and more resilient communities, improving and assisting in preparedness, knowledge-sharing and response to disasters as well as health and care challenges.
This report covers the period January to December 2011
Programme(s) summary
• Emergency operations support was provided to all Pacific national societies in relation to a range of tsunami and cyclone warnings and disaster operations (drought, cyclone, earthquake, power supply rupture).
Pacific Islands Face Severe Water Threat, new report says
Bangkok, 23 April 2012 – Climate change will exacerbate water stress in Pacific Islands, particularly small islands that rely on seasonal rain for their freshwater needs, according to a report released by the UN Environment Programme today.
BANGKOK, THAILAND – Climate change will cause an upward surge in migration this century, and governments in disaster-prone Asia-Pacific nations must promptly enact a broad range of measures to stave off future humanitarian crises, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report released today.
A sixth-month downward slide in food prices came to an end in January as the FAO Food Price Index rose for the first time since July 2011. FAO analysts cited poor weather as the possible main factor. The Index stood at 214, a 4 point or 2 percent increase over December. Nonetheless, food prices were still 7 percent below the levels recorded in January 2011. The increase was propelled by rising prices in every commodities group measured by FAO, with oils and fats recording the largest increases.
The Prime Minister of Tuvalu, the Honorable Willy Telavi, today presented a cheque of $10,000.00 (FJD) to Fijian Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama at the Sofitel hotel.
"This is a token of goodwill by the people of Tuvalu towards the displaced people who were victims of the recent flooding in Fiji," said Honorable Willy Telavi.
In a private ceremony, Prime Minister Bainimarama thanked his Tuvalu counterpart for the donation, expressing thanks on behalf of Fijians in a time of need.
Asia and the Pacific continues to live up to its reputation as the world’s most natural-disaster-prone region. The International Disaster Database, EM-DAT, reports 89 natural-disaster events in the region in 2011. In terms of the number of events, China (14), Indonesia (6) and the Philippines (22) top the list. However, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand suffered the greatest number of lives lost.
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs:
Red Cross National Societies are community-based organizations. Providing support to improve the functioning of local Red Cross institutions, programmes and resulting services, which then have an impact on vulnerable people, is at the heart of the Pacific regional office’s mandate.
From the weekend Tuvalu and Kiribati will be amongst the island nations bracing for king tides.
In January and February the low lying atoll nations are hit by massive tides, which damage foreshore areas, destroy crops and affect water supplies.
Tuvalu is just recovering from a major drought where it ran out of fresh water, with the Australia and New Zealand defence forces providing desalination plants to ensure supplies.
Presenter:Campbell Cooney
Speaker:Tatuau Pese, secretary general, Tuvalu Red Cross
A bipartisan delegation has seen firsthand how Australia supported Tuvalu through its recent water crisis and is continuing to help build resilience against the impacts of climate change.
The delegation, led by Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Richard Marles, comprises Deputy Opposition Leader, Julie Bishop, Coalition MP Teresa Gambaro and Government MP Bernie Ripoll and also includes Australia's Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, Penny Williams.
Climate Change in the Pacific is a rigorously researched, peer-reviewed scientific assessment of the climate of the western Pacific region. Building on the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, this two volume publication represents a comprehensive resource on the climate of the Pacific.
The Tuvalu Red Cross say while the country still has concerns about fresh water supplies, the start of the rainy season has helped ease water shortages.
Early this year Tuvalu ran out of fresh water, with the Australia and New Zealand defence forces having to provide desalination plants to ensure supplies. But the Secretary General of the Tuvalu Red Cross, Tatuau Pese says with the rain arriving most families now have supplies, and this along with improvements in water storage, means the threat has gone.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has dispatched emergency relief supplies to Tuvalu, following the water shortage crisis caused by recent droughts. The aid goods were delivered on 5 and 9 November.
The first batch of emergency goods, repair parts for seawater desalination units, were procured by JICA and dispatched from Japan via Fiji. The second cargo arrived at Funafuti International Airport via New Zealand on 9 November. A handover ceremony was held at Vaiaku Lagi Hotel at 18:30 (local time) on the 9th.
Strong growth in developing East Asia faces risks from global uncertainty and natural disasters
Press Release No:2012/160/EAP
Singapore, November 22, 2011 — Growth is still strong in developing East Asia, but continues to moderate mainly due to weakening external demand, underscoring the need for governments to refocus on reforms to increase domestic demand and productivity, says the World Bank in its latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update released today.
Women and children in Tuvalu are already suffering from the effects of Climate change.
A conference in Fiji has been told Tuvaluan children living in flood prone areas on the island have often been admitted to hospital for diarrhoea, skin and eye infections after flood occurrences.
The Tuvalu National Council Of Women coordinator, Pulafagu Toafa told the the International Council of Women 5th Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Nadi that the government was too busy travelling to do anything for the affected areas.
In light of the latest report summary from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warns that the world is likely to face more extreme weather events, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is calling on governments to be better prepared to manage the impacts of climate change.
The IPCC findings are consistent with IFRC reports gathered through its global network of national societies.
DHAKA — Some of the countries most affected by climate change should be an "inspiration" to rich nations on how to reduce their emissions, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday.
Speaking at the Climate Vulnerable forum -- which brings together countries most affected by climate change -- Ban praised low-lying nations such as the Maldives, Costa Rica and Samoa for committing to be carbon neutral.
