During the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) held in Dubai, an event was held to showcase a new digital public infrastructure tool for policy and decision-makers in the Pacific.
Digital Earth Pacific unlocks access to Earth observation data, showing the changes to coastlines, mangroves and tracking water resources including showing how inundation floods communities using a tool called Water Observations from Space (WOFS).
This digital repository is a regional public good, offering free and open products and services that will be regularly updated using global satellite systems. This ensures cost-effectiveness and accessibility for leaders, ministers, and decision-makers and will help reduce the burden of attaining expensive datasets in the future.
“Digital Earth Pacific emerges as a complementary solution, providing a lifeline for vulnerable Pacific Islands,” said Mr Exsley Taloiburi, Deputy Director for Disaster and Community Resilience at the Pacific Community (SPC).
“This access to Earth observations in order to safeguard against climate change and rising sea levels, is such an important tool for our communities and it was co-designed with an approach seeking partnerships with governments, academia, donors, the private sector, and society, including youth. With this tool, it will be easier to identify and plan for areas at risk of loss and damage, a key issue for Pacific Islands.”
“From a youth perspective, Digital Earth Pacific is a transformative tool that gives power to the younger generation in the Pacific to be able to understand the challenges of climate change by accessing this type of information,” said Ms Naomi Maheu, Asia Desk Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs, Tuvalu. “I think for many youth, DEP is not only a platform to contribute meaningfully to conversation, but to show how resilient our communities are, and help us shape a sustainable future for islands like Tuvalu.”
Ms Maheu and Mr Taloiburi were two of the panellists at the side event, alongside, Ms Lisa Kingberry, SPC’s Director of Communications. The session was moderated by Ms Karena Lyons, SPC’s Director Partnerships, Integration and Resource Mobilisation.
"The development of DEP took a co-design approach involving collaborating with Pacific countries to pinpoint sustainable developmental priorities. It wasn't just a shot in the dark; three major themes—climate change, food insecurity, and disaster risk reduction—served as our North Star in crafting this tool. Our goal is to have a digital infrastructure that's not just fancy technical jargon but is accessible to every Pacific nation,” said Ms Lisa Kingsberry.
DEP is a powerful tool that gives Pacific countries important information about their changing environment, helping them make smart decisions. It focuses on things like how coastlines are changing, the health of mangroves, and the impacts of rising water on islands.
SPC’s Digital Earth Pacific uses a special digital system to gather information from satellites and organises it in a way that decision-makers can easily understand. This means leaders get accurate and up-to-date details to help them decide what's best for their countries.
And it doesn't just provide data; it creates helpful products, like showing how coastlines changed over more than two decades, tracks the health of mangroves, and shows how flood events or droughts are affecting countries over time. These tools empower nations to keep an eye on and adapt to the challenges caused by climate change.
Looking ahead, Digital Earth Pacific is focused on creating a system that lasts and meets the different needs of all Pacific countries and territories. This digital effort not only tackles the problems of climate change but also positions the Pacific as leaders in using Earth observation to solve challenges faced by Small Island Developing States globally. The commitment to DEP shows that the Pacific is working together to build a strong and sustainable future for the Blue Pacific.
The Pacific Community (SPC) is attending COP28 as part of One CROP (Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific)’s collaboration to support Pacific leaders and negotiators participating in COP28 plenaries and negotiations.
Click here to watch the event's recording.
About COP28:
The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a crucial global gathering where nations come together to discuss and negotiate strategies to address climate change. The conference aims to advance international cooperation and agreements on climate action, from November 30 to December 12, 2023.
