UN APCICT Press Release, 7 July 2009

Forum brings together managers and policymakers from ICT and disaster risk reduction sectors to address challenges in making communities safer in the Pacific Islands.

Representatives of 12 Pacfic Island Countries attended the Forum which was from 7-9 July 2009 in Apia, Samoa.

The Forum was followed by a joint SOPAC/APCICT Academy workshop on the 10th July covering linkages between ICT and MDGs, ICT for Development Policy, process and governance.

The first meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management was held in Nadi, Fiji from 7 - 15th of May 2009. The Pacific Platform is comprised of a series of Pacific regional meetings of national focal points for disaster risk management; regional development partners and key decision makers of Pacific governments; CEOs responsible for Finance and Planning and Disaster Management.

The Pacific Platform concept has its origins in the UN Secretary-General’s? report A/60/180 which points out the intention of a strengthened UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) system to support regional networks for advocacy for disaster risk reduction and cooperation at regional and sub-regional levels in support to national initiatives and platforms.

Recognising, that strengthening the fragile Pacific Islands energy sector through addressing energy, economy, and environment in a period of rapid change, that energy security is an imperative for economic growth and human development and further that Pacific economies are the most vulnerable in the world to rising oil prices and the urgent need to reduce this vulnerability through mainstreaming energy security into national planning and budgetary process; improving energy efficiency and energy conservation; adopting financially viable renewable energy sources; and where appropriate regional approaches to petroleum procurement and coordination of regional services.