BY CHRIS ALEX
A new twinning partnership between the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service (SIMS) and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology was officially launched on Tuesday this week in Honiara.
This collaboration aims to enhance meteorological capabilities in the Solomon Islands through knowledge sharing, technical support, and upgraded infrastructure.
Speaking at the launch event, Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon. Trevor Manemahanga, expressed gratitude to the Australian High Commission and representatives from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology for their commitment to this critical partnership.
“Let me extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Australian High Commission to the Solomon Islands, as well as to representatives from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, for their commitments to this vital partnership,” Minister Manemahanga said.
He highlighted the recent impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which originated off the Queensland coast, travelled through the Coral Sea towards the Solomon Islands, and then returned, causing significant damage in parts of Queensland. He emphasized the importance of accurate meteorological monitoring and timely information dissemination during such severe weather events to aid decision-making and protect lives and property.
“It is through partnerships like this that we can achieve meaningful advancements in our capacity to predict, respond, and mitigate the impacts of tropical cyclones and other severe weather events,” he added.
The partnership is set to empower the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service by facilitating skill transfers, providing technical support, and integrating innovative technologies. This will strengthen disaster preparedness and response mechanisms, improving early warning systems and disaster risk reduction strategies.
Hon. Manemahanga acknowledged the challenges the Solomon Islands has faced in managing disasters, including cyclones and flooding, which have devastated communities and disrupted livelihoods. He emphasized that by enhancing meteorological capabilities, the country can better safeguard its people and build resilience against future extreme weather events.
Australian Minister-Counsellor Lindsay Buckingham, representing the Australian High Commission, reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service’s operational resilience.
“This partnership will focus on strengthening the good weather observation work and forecasting capability of SIMS through support for training meteorological staff and targeted uplift block assistance. This includes upgrading existing manual station sites with semi-automated weather stations to improve weather monitoring and forecasting of severe weather events,” Buckingham said.
The collaboration between SIMS and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology marks a significant step forward in enhancing climate resilience and disaster preparedness in the Solomon Islands.
Through improved forecasting and early warning systems, the partnership will help save lives, protect livelihoods, and bolster the country’s ability to respond to future meteorological challenges.
The partnership which build on a long history of collaboration was officially launched by Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon. Trevor Manemahanga and Australian government representatives through the Meteorological agency.
