Consultation on new Meteorology Policy Framework and Legislation Featured
MEIDECC CEO, Paula Ma'u with participants from NGOs, Private Sectors and District Officers
Nuku'alofa, 21 July 2016. District Officers, NGOs and Private Sectors joined MEIDECC on a consultation workshop to draft a new Meteorology Policy Framework and Legislation at the NEMO Conference Centre, Nuku’alofa this morning.
The workshop provided them with opportunities to consider their inputs not only as users of meteorological information but also their role in disaster management, early warning and community awareness.
At the opening of the 1 day workshop, CEO of MEIDECC, Mr. Paula Ma’u said that “No sector is free from the influence of the weather and climate, and with new functions now required of the Meteorological Service, it is now recognized that the existing legislation and policy frameworks that governs Meteorology work in Tonga is no longer adequate to cater for needs of the Meteorology Department,” he said.
“Traditionally, the Met Service has operated mainly under the auspices of the Civil Aviation Act as well as the Emergency Management Act. It’s now time for the Met Service to have its own policy and legislation” he added.
The Cabinet earlier in June 2016 had approved the drafting of the Meteorology Policy Framework and a Meteorology Bill.
With Climate change now threatening the livelihoods of Small Islands States, Government has now realized that having a robust Meteorological Service is vital for the development of Tonga. Just last month, Government in partnership with the World Bank Launched a USD$16.7M Resilience Project to Build Tonga’s Resilience to Disasters.
USD$11.5M of this Project is allocated to Strengthening of Early Warning Systems and Preparedness. It includes building new Joint NEMO/Met Service facilities in Tongatapu and the other islands, upgrade to communications systems, capacity building and institutional strengthening.
The CEO expressed his appreciation to the participants and asked for their support in sharing their ideas and experiences to ensure that we can be able to reduce vulnerabilities and our risk to these issues as it affects everyone as a whole.
“Everyone has a responsibility both in disaster management, early warning and preparedness. Everyone present here has a hand in building resilience not only for today’s needs but for future generations.
I invite you all to actively share your ideas and experiences to ensure we have a robust meteorology framework which can help us improve our quality of life through improved economic activities as well as reduce vulnerabilities and our risk to meteorological and oceanographic influences.”
The workshop is hosted by MEIDECC with funding support from the Australia Funded Climate and Oceans Science Program for the Pacific (COSPPAC) Project.
The draft Meteorology Policy Framework and Bill will be submitted to both Cabinet and Parliament respectively later in the year for consideration towards the later quarter of 2016.
-MEIDECC
