Climate Sense

[

] 54

mpacts

and

mplications

limate

hange

and

ariability

campaigns and in working with government agencies

and industry groups that utilize the climate informa-

tion products.

Building effective dialogue between Meteorological

Services and the users of their information throughout

the various climate sensitive sectors has been recog-

nized as critically important to the overall success of

the project. Reaching out to the grassroots level is espe-

cially challenging, as there is also a need to link climate

information with traditional knowledge and indicators.

Fostering trust between provider and user can

be encouraged in several ways; regular face to face

contact instils a sense that the user is a valued client

and not just one of a collective and anonymous group;

personalized emails or phone calls are particularly

effective as well. Trust also depends on honesty, for

example by communicating the uncertainties and

limitations of seasonal forecasts. Users are generally

willing to accept climate information in spite of the

limitations, providing it is communicated properly

and transparently.

Importance of data

One cannot stress too highly the importance of

measurements and data to the success of building

indigenous capability in seasonal prediction and

adaptive capacity to climate change. The availability

of adequate climate data is fundamental: time-series

of key climate variables that are relatively long (at

inces, particularly in 2003 and 2004. Malaria is now also being

reported at higher altitudes. This pilot project aims to determine

whether malaria epidemics in the Solomon Islands are related

to rainfall and other hydro-climatic variables during particular

phases of ENSO, and then to determine whether or not such rela-

tionships can be used to develop an early warning system for

predicting heightened risk of a malarial epidemic, and therefore

assist in implementing targeted control strategies.

A third pilot scheme looked at sugarcane in Fiji: The sugar

industry in Fiji is totally rain fed (which is to say totally

unirrigated); consequently seasonal to interannual climate vari-

ability has a major impact on sugar production and hence on

the economy of the nation. To maximize yields, it is therefore

essential to understand how different climatic patterns affect

sugarcane growth and sugar yields, and to develop manage-

ment options that take into account the likely climatic effects

of an upcoming season. Fiji’s sugarcane productivity is espe-

cially vulnerable to extreme events such as droughts and tropical

cyclones, and the need to adapt to climate change has added

another challenge to the industry. This pilot project aims to

devise an effective mechanism for disseminating climate infor-

mation directly to the farmers in a format that will be easily

understood and can be applied in making decisions relating to

planting, replanting and harvesting.

Communication and trust

The project has also conducted in-country workshops on

improving the communication skills of meteorological person-

nel in dealing with the media, in conducting public awareness

Climate data rescue efforts in the South Pacific started with the physical sorting and archiving of the paper-based records and storing them in acid free boxes to

minimize further deterioration

Image: Rod Hutchinson