The Pacific Community's Digital Earth Pacific project will unlock exponential opportunity in the region, the regional body's chief says.
The head of the Pacific Community (SPC) Stuart Minchin said he believes setting up and rolling out the project will be as beneficial for the region as it has been in Australia and Africa.
Photo: AFP / Christoph Gerigk / Biosphoto
Digital Earth Pacific involves the development of an earth observation system that takes decades of data and brings it together within the Pacific context.
It aims to understand changes in the environment such as the impact of sea-level rise on communities, disaster preparedness, and agricultural productivity.
Speaking at the Blue Climate Summit in French Polynesia, Minchin said ways had to be found to bring a shared public capability to the entire region which would empower the Pacific to manage, monitor and develop individual and shared resources.
Minchin said his organisation is also on a mission to mobilise investments in strengthening the food systems of the Pacific.
Through a 'Food in Pacific Schools' project, the SPC is tackling alarming rates of non-communicable diseases and child stunting in the Pacific, he said.