FSMPACC National Coordinator Presents Loss & Damage Report at the UN Climate Change Conference COP 18, Doha, Qatar

                                         

Mr. Simpson Abraham, the National Coordinator of the FSM Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change Project; attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Doha, Qatar. A side event  called “ Pioneering Study Shows Evidence of Loss and Damage Today  from the Front lines of Climate Change: Vulnerable Communities Beyond Adaptation?”, was held on Monday, November 26.  Mr. Abraham  presented the Loss and Damage report  from Kosrae, Micronesia. He joined four more experts who discussed the findings based in nearly 1,800 households interviews and 200 focus groups and stakeholders discussions conducted in Bangladesh, Buthan, Gambia, Kenya and Micronesia.

For more information on Policy reports with case studies, press releases and fact sheets please visit www.lossanddamage.net 

The Loss and Damage in Vulnerable Countries Initiative was initiated by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in order to move forward the debate on loss and damage for the benefit of the least developed countries (LDCs) and other vulnerable countries. The GoB requested assistance from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN).

CDKN has appointed a consortium of organizations - UN University-Institute for Environmental and Human Security (UNU-EHS), Germanwatch, International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and Munich Climate Insurance Initiative (MCII) - to carry out this work.

                      

                         

 

Mr. Abraham presented the Kosrae Loss and Damage Case Study Report, UNFCCC high level segment conference in Doha, Qatar- COP 18.

Poor hit by climate damage despite adaptation - study - AlertNet

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Disaster Management Training

During the week from November 12 until the 16th, we participate in a State disaster management training. We learned how to  do Initial Damage Assessments and to work on an Emergency Operation Center. We  practice using examples of anthropogenic and climate related emergencies. This training was sponsored by  USAID, The Asia Foundation, SPC and the FSM National Government's Office of Environment & Emergency Management.

Government officials, Private sector and NGO's practicing their roles at the Emergency Operation Center during a typhoon drill.

Administrative Officer

Meet our new Administrative Officer, Mr. Ginny T. Jose. He begun working with us since October 8th, 2012. He is from Malem village, Kosrae. He has prior experience in financial and administrative matters from his U.S. Marine Corps service. His appointment will help us to concentrate more on our tasks.

Media Training

FSM PACC project assistant, Carlos Cianchini attended a week long training on using the media as a way to educate the people. The training was held in Pohnpei during October 8-12, and was sponsored by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, SPC. During the training, we learn the different kinds of media such as radio, TV and written press. The last three days we divided in groups by media and two themes, climate change and energy, to practice what we learn. Carlos was included in the written media about climate change. This group produced two posters and a brochure.

Participants for the Media Training came from Palau, FSM and the Marshall Islands. Kosrae group included KIRMA's environmental educator, Ruthey M. Luckymis and Historic Preservation Office information specialist, Swenson Thompson.

Kosrae State Fair

The Kosrae State Fair was held for two days, September 20 &21th. Farmers and fishermen brought their products to compete for the best of the different varieties of  farm produce and fishes. The FSM PACC and its partners like KIRMA and the  environmental NGO, KCSO, had booths with information. The PACC project display included the Public Announcement about El Nino current which as been detected beginning last August and the days in which we expect higher tides. Not many people came to the information booths, but the Public Announcement was given to the four Mayors and the broadcast news manager for radio dissemination. Mayor were interested in this prediction and told us they will spread the news and check their river dams to check for leaks to be less vulnerable to the expected drought. On Monday, 24th, we heard the radio announcing the prediction of a drought that might affect Micronesia. We will keep updating the drought prediction as more information reaches us.

Utwe students reading the PACC booth display about El Nino current and the expected drought.

PACC Project Mid Term Review

We received the visit of Mr. Peter Hunnam, the consultant from SPREP who came to conduct the project Mid Term Review. He stayed on the island from the 15th until the 18th of September. He met with members of the FSM PACC Steering Committee and other stakeholders. Even thought we revised all aspects of the project, Peter got more information regarding the climate proofing of the road. After analyzing the data he collected, he will give us suggestions to improve our work.

Mr. Peter Hunnam meets with Mr. Simpson Abraham and Mr. Weston Lukymis, director of the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure.