13th Asia Oceania GEO Symposium Special Session 3: Pacific Islands Countries and Territories Introduction: Where are we now?

13th Asia Oceania GEO Symposium
            Special Session 3:
Pacific Islands Countries and Territories

Introduction: Where are we now?

Ms Emma Luke
Assistant Director, National Planning and International Relations, Geoscience Australia; and
Co-lead of the Pacific Islands Advisory Group to the Executive Committee of the Group on Earth
Observations
                                                                              © Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2021

The Pacific Islands….
                        •Ocean-based economies:
                        Largest ocean space in the
                        world, ~ 1/3 of the Earth’s
                        surface
                        •22 island nations across
                        45 million square Kms
                        •EEZ 4x continental Europe
                        •Politically, culturally,
                        geographically diverse
                        •Small governments with big
                        remits
                        •Regional organisations play
                        an important role

The Pacific Islands and COVID-19…..

…low infection but very high economic impact
                 © Commonwealth of Australia
                 (Geoscience Australia) 2021

PICTs and COVID: Economic impact
•   Tourism and reduction in trading activity led to worst economic crisis
    in generations: regional per capital income down by 9%
•   Vaccination mainly via WHO COVAX programme, herd immunity in the
    Pacific may not be until 2025, continued severe impact on tourism
    based economies
•   “Pivoting” economic recovery in the region:
     •   Agriculture, merchandise, mining (minerals, gas etc)
     •   Capital infrastructure projects and other development investments
     •   International labor mobility schemes
•   Meanwhile:
     •   Climate change remains an existential crisis for the region
     •   Developing small islands can result in big footprints
                       © Commonwealth of Australia
                       (Geoscience Australia) 2021

Development is not a bad word…..

….. provided it is tempered with equity and sustainability, not
just for humans but for nature itself.
This balancing act, defined as the United Nation’s
Sustainable Development Goals, will require an enormous
amount of information (much of it location based) and
analytics of the highest order.
This is where geospatial systems will play a crucial role.
Politicians and administrators will need help in making correct
decisions so that development works for all and not just for a
select few….
Prof. Arup Dasgupta, Managing Editor, Geospatial World Vol 11, Issue 5

                        © Commonwealth of Australia
                        (Geoscience Australia) 2021

The good news is…

© Commonwealth of Australia
(Geoscience Australia) 2021   …a vibrant EO ecosystem of many actors…

The GEO Ministerial Summit Canberra Declaration
           Noting the opportunity to strengthen the voices
           of developing island nations in GEO’s
           governance, we:
           10. Welcome new Members from the Pacific and
           other island nations to the GEO community, and
           recognise the significant capabilities they have
           to offer.
           11. Emphasise the importance of GEO being
           inclusive of these countries with their significant
           and increasing exposure to disaster risk, climate
           change and sustainable development challenges

Today’s speakers and panel members
Speakers                                                  Panelists
Ø Mr. Cristiano GIOVANDO, Senior                          Ø Dr. David HELWEG, Senior
   Technical Advisor, Humanitarian                           Liaison for Insular Relations
   OpenStreetMap Team:                                       for the National and Regional
   Disaster Risk Reduction in the                            Climate Adaptation Science
   Pacific                                                   Center network, USGS

Ø Dr. Dean GESCH, Research                                Ø Dr. Sachindra SINGH, Senior
  Physical Scientist with the U.S.                          Geospatial Systems Architect,
  Geological Survey:                                        Geoscience, Energy and
  Resilience to Climate Change in                           Maritime Division, The Pacific
  the Pacific                                               Community                                    Co-chairs
                                                                                             Ø   Dr. ANDO Kentaro, AOGEO
Ø Mr. KURINO Toshiyuki, Associate                         Ø Mr. Masanori Kobayashi,              Coordination Board Co-Chair,
  Senior Engineer, Satellite                                Senior Research Fellow at the        Japan Agency for Marine-Earth
  Applications & Operation Center,                          Ocean Policy Research                Science and Technology
  JAXA:                                                     Institute, Sasagawa Peace        Ø   Ms. Emma LUKE, Co-lead GEO
  Sustainable Development Goals                             Foundation                           Pacific Island Advisory Group,
  in the Pacific                                                                                 Geoscience Australia

                            © Commonwealth of Australia
                            (Geoscience Australia) 2021