Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PACE-SD)

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Research, Consultancy & Publications

Projects

Projects

CURRENT ACTIVITIES

PACE-SD endeavours to promote integrated research of regional relevance and international standard in the area of environment and sustainable development.

The major goal of our research is to promote targeted and integrated work on environment and natural resource issues with a view to promoting sustainable development.

Specific Current Research Projects:

The USP-EU Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) Project

This is a four year project funded by EU. A component of the project includes Applied Research and also research carried out by students. The goal of this component is to provide data and ways to help with a better understanding of the impacts of climate change in the region and with the determination of adaptation strategies best adapted to these impacts of climate change. This component will involve the statistical analysis of model generated databases and the determination of the reliability of the model outputs at high geographical resolution, the development of plausible projections of national/local climate variability and extremes for two different timeframes(model projections at 20-50 years), the anaysis of the likely impacts of climate change, the review and formulation of adaptation strategies and practices for specific sectors and regions of the Pacific Islands. This could include vulnerable communities in regions such as low0lying atolls, deltas, or coastal communities. The formulation of approriate adaptation strategies and practices could be used in national strategies drawing on the experience in the region ( and elsewhere). For more information please email Dr Helene Des Combe    

 ⇒ EU GCCA Project Presentation

⇒ Brief Summary of the EU GCCA Project

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Climate Change Adaptation in Rural Communities in Fiji Project (CCA): This project helps rural communities to adapt to climate change, but as the communities and USP are both 'learning by doing', is also research project. The major emphasise of the first phase was on the implementation of cost effective adaptation options in water and coastal sectors in six village communities in Fiji. It has been jointly implemented by USP's PACE-SD and Insitute of Apllied Science that started during the second half of 2006. The project is funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). In June 2010, AusAID announced that it will put in additional funds "for over the three years to ensure the continuation of the CCA which began in 2006". This project began its second phase in July 2010, and will replicate similar project activities to those of the first in six other village communities in Fiji. For more information email Mr Leone Limalevu.

Ba Watershed FORENET project: Application of integrated assessment and action methodology to develop a Watershed Management Master Plan for the sustainable management of natural resources and long-term protection and conservation of natural ecosystems within the Ba Watershed in Viti Levu (Fiji islands). The research is intended to initiate and facilitate community-based sustainable natural resources management and development planning to improve livelihoods and to enhance the protection and conservation of the natural resources and ecosystem within the upper Ba watershed. For more information email Dr Dan Orcherton

Pacific Environment and Climate Change Outlook (PECCO): USP is making a major contribution to this report, which is to be published by UNEP in early 2011. PACE both making a substantial direct contribution to the research and co-ordinating the USP input as a whole. For more information email Prof Murari Lal.

 

 

 

 

AusAID Future Climate Leaders Program: The programme is funded by up to A$1.6m from AusAID. The program enables PACE to engage Research Fellows that will conduct and assist Post Graduate students for research on climate change issues. It also includes providing Climate Change scholarships to USP Post graduate students to enrol for the Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change, development and operation of credit courses and non-credit courses in climate change and Institutional support for courses and scholarship in climate change. PACE is coordinating the course units that is the major components of the Post Graduate Diploma in Climate Change. Here are the followig units:

  • EV 414 Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation
  • EV 415 Climate Science
  • EV 425 Environmetal Impact Assessment
  • EV 424 Disaster Risk Management

                                                                                                             

ACCU-COE Mainstreaming ESD project: This is a major five year project for mainstreaming education for sustainable development at USP through both formal and non formal/informal approaches. It is a joint initiative with three main partners within USP - Continuing Community Education, School of Education and PACE-SD. The project is funded by Asia- Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO - Centre of Excellence (ACCU-COE). The main objective of the project is to build education based capacity, using innovative curriculum development and delievery approaches, to promote sustainable development in the Pacific Island Countries. For more information email Mrs Aliti Koroi.Specific current research projects

EDULINK NIU Project: This is a EU funded Network of Island Universities: mainstreaming Education for Sustainable Development (ESD. The three major universities in the Pacific Island region - the University of the South Pacific, University of Papua New Guinea and the National University of Samoa - will pool their knowledge to enhance institutional management and mainstream teaching and research in Education for Sustainable Development.

Name of students

RESEARCH TOPICS

Mr Samuelu Telii

Ph.D student

Climate change and Fisheries in Tuvalu: The social and economic implications on fisheries and future policy directions

Mr Niko Kunavue

Ph.D student

The effects of groundwater salinisation and other climate related indices on sugar cane productivity in Lomawai, Raviravi and Tawarau, Viti Levu, Fiji.

Mr Arunesh Asis Chand

Ph.D Student

The role of Governance in Climate Change activities in the Pacific Island Countries

Ms Mary Tahu

MSc

Climate Change, Sea Level rise & Coastal biodiversity in Solomon Islands: Case study on the  impacts, role and adaptation in Ghizo Island 

Ms Taomia Tagifoe

MSc

Evaluating Success of Community-based Adaptation measures inTuvalu

Ms Roselyn Naidu

MSc

Acidification carbon production by benthic foramifera(Margnipora Vertebralis) under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide

Mr Rishi Nand

MSc

Community Vulnerability Assessment to Climate Variability and Changes: A Case Study of Daku Village, Tailevu Province. Fiji

Ms Vandhana Devi

MSc

Climate variability and extreme events in Fiji - A relation to ENSO and Global Warming

Ms Ngedikes Olai Uludong

MSc

Assessing Adaptation to Climate Change in Micronesia: Case Study of Marshall Islands

Mr Kilifi O'Brien

MSc

Social & Ecological Adaptation to Environment & Climate Change: A Case Study of Vegetation and its implication on Human Livelihood

Ms Archana Gupta

MSc

Analysing the Past and Current Trends of Extreme Weather Conditionsand Likely Future Changes in Fiji Islands

Ms Sri Nandini

MSc

Trends in Ocean Acidification and other Physical Parameters of the Ocean in the Western Pacific

Mr Sainivali Naivoti

MSc

Implementing Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEA)  - Fiji:Challenges and Opportunities

Ms Priya Sharma

MSc

Variation in Chorophyll Distribution Pattern due to Climate Change in the South Pacific Ocean

Ms Linda Yuen

MSc

Assessing of Climate Change Impacts on Urban Water Security Using Projected Climate and Water demand patterm: A Case Study of the Nadi-Lautoka Urban Areas in Fiji.

Mr Gareth Quity

MSc

Ecological Impacts of Climate Change on Root Crops production in Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands

  1. Waste Management Projects
    2. :It is part of USP's greater vision that University functions at the level of a sustainable ecosystem, the University has envisaged a “Green University” which would see target a university with an improved environmental quality through improved resource efficiency and productivity. USP would be able to join leading universities worldwide that have committed themselves to greening their activities. As part of the idea of a "greener" University, PACE-SD has inititated Pilot projects within the University working closely with Institute of Applied Science, Properties and Facilities, School of Engineering. PACE-SD then extended its waste activities with other communities and other stakeholders like Suva City Council.
  1. Virgin Coconut Oil as a Contribution to sustainable development (sponsored by APFED)
  1. Atmospheric Ozone profiling, USP-NASA/NOAA
  1. Greenhouse gas studies, USP-NIWA NZ,
  1. Aerosol & rain chemistry, Uni of Miami, CSIRO Melbourne
  1. Marine emissions and climate change and water pollution in collaboration with the division of Chemistry, FST.
  1. Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Research Programme
    2. (AIACC Project): This internationally project supported 24 research projects across South Africa, Asia, Latin America and Small Islands from 2001 - 2007. PACE was the lead agency for the AIACC project in the Pacific.
  1. Learning Methods and Networking to Bridging the Knowledge and Learning Gaps in Small Island Developing States project. This project was jointly implemented by PACE, University of the Philippines, University of the West Indies an international NGO, Counterpart Caribbean. The major focus of the project was distance learning and environmental education opportunities. The project was completed in November 2005

SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Many of PACE’s  current activities  are largely funded  through  substantial ‘program’ grants from donor agencies,  three of which focus on the development and implementation of materials and courses for teaching and training in climate change and sustainable development .  They are:

Current Research students: Climate Change

Proposed Future Activities

Drainage and floodgates in the Rewa delta: The Rewa delta in Fiji is already subject to frequent flooding, and this is expected to be made worse by climate change.  What are some cost-effective adaptations that can be made?

Climate Adaptation Network – Canada and Pacific (CANPAC):  A proposal by PACE in collaboration with SPREP and a consortium of Canadian universities for a major regional project has been short-listed for funding by IRDC (Canada)

Coffee agro forestry systems and Teak: A joint project is being developed between Future Forests Fiji, PACE-SD and GTZ on Integrating high-value Teak (Tectona grandis) with   traditional agro forestry systems and coffee in Fiji.

REDD+. Safeguarding Vanua: Integrating Western Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge for community-based adaptation plans towards sustainable REDD-plus strategies in Fiji and Vanuatu [proposed for funding]

Food security and climate change.  The application of Agro- climatic modelling to strengthen food security and improve livelihood of Fiji, Samoa and Tuvalu communities in a changing climate. [proposed for funding

Past Research

For more information of the above 'Past research project' activities, email the Director of PACE-SD, Prof Murari Lal.

Consultancy

Consultancy

PACE-SD can offer consultancy services to the region on environment and sustainable development issues, drawing on its own staff and on the expertise of staff in other parts of the University, including the Institute of Applied Science.

The centre has completed several consultancy projects on environment and SD issues in partnership with IAS.

Publications

Publications

PACE-SD has produced a number of refereed papers; books/chapters; technical documents; research proposals, concept papers and consultancy reports during the last five years and only papers connected with PACE's work is listed here.

[Note: Authors in bold are/were PACE staff]

Occasional Papers

PACE-SD Occasional Papers is a series of papers on topics to do with the Environment and Sustainable Development in the Pacific Islands region. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the University of the South Pacific.

K Koshy, L Limalevu, Application of an Integrated Assessment and Action Methodology to address Climate Change, Climate-induced Natural Disasters and to Facilitate Community-based Sustainable Development [Peer reviewed conference proceedings of the South China Sea Tsunami Conference 03-05 November, 2009, Eureka Comples, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia Proceedings, USM, to be published in Nov 2010]

Bill Aalbersberg, Patrina Dumaru, Leone Limalevu and Tony Weir, Community Adaptation in Fiji: some lessons learnt, PACE-SD Occasional Paper 2010/1

LLimalevu, Nai Veisau ni draki kei iko, ["Climate Change and You"], PACE-SD Occasional Paper 2010/2.

T Weir and Z Virani, Three linked risks for development in the Pacific Islands: Climate Change, Natural disasters and Conflict, PACE-SD. Occasional Paper 2010/3

Journal articles

T Weir & Z Virani, “Three linked risks for development in the Pacific Islands: climate change, disasters and conflict”, Climate and Development, vol 3, pp193-208 (2011)  , doi 10.1080.17565529.2011.603193

Leone Limalevu, Bill Aalbersberg, Patrina Dumaru and Tony Weir,"Community Adaptation in a Small Island Developing Country", Tiempo (August 2010) 

Murari Lal, J L McGregor, and K C Nyugen (2008) , " Very High Resolution climate simulation over Fiji using a global variable resolution model", Climate Dynamics, 30, 293-305

S Kad & T Weir, " Virgin coconut oil as a tool for sustainable development in outer islands", Pacific Economic bulletin, 23, 50-62(2008)

Mataki M, Koshy K, Lal M " Baseline Climatology of Viti Levu (Fiji) and Current Climatic trends", Pacific Science, Vol 60, pp 49-68 (Jan 2006).

Book Chapters

W Moomaw, F. Yamba, M. Kamimoto, L. Maurice, J. Nyboer, K. Urama, and T. Weir (2011): “Introduction”. In IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation [O. Edenhofer, R. Pichs‐Madruga, Y. Sokona, K. Seyboth, P.Matschoss, S. Kadner, T. Zwickel, P. Eickemeier, G. Hansen, S. Schlömer, C. von Stechow (eds)], Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.

Aviel Verbruggen, Manfred Fischedick, William Moommaw, Tony Weir, Alain Nadai, Lars J.Nilsson, John Nyboer and Jayant Sathaye," Renewable Energy Costs, Potential, Barriers: Conceptual Issues", Energy policy. Vol 38, pp 850-961 (Feb 2010). DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2009.10.036

L.Briguglio,K Koshy, L Nurse & PP Wong (2008), " Climate change and small island developing states" in J Strachan & C Vigilance (eds), Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States: Issues and Challenges, Commonwealth Secretariat. London

M Mataki K Koshy and V.Nair (2007), " Top-Down, Bottom-up; mainstreaming adapatation in Pacific Isalnd townships", in N Leary et al (eds), Climate Change and Adapatation, Earthscan

Case study contributors

Bill Aalbersberg, Ratita Bebe, Isaac Harp,Rod Hay, Francis Hickey, Alphonse Kambu, Viliamu Iese, Russell Nari, Clark Peteru, Alma Ridep-Morris, Justin Rose,   Posa Skelton, Robin South,Reuben Sulu, Alissa Takesy, Alifereti Tawake, Nenenteiti Teariki-Ruatu, Ana Tiraa, Steve Why, Elaine Wright, "Traditional Marine Management Areas of the Pacific in the context of National and International Law and Policy", in M Vierros et al. UNU-IAS (2010). ISBN: 978-0-9807084-6-2 (print) 

Report

K Koshy, M Mataki (2005), "Sustainable Development and Pacific Island Countries," Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, The University of the South Pacific. 

Communication Materials 

These are some communication materials developed for awareness campaigns.

 
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