University of the South Pacific launches new research hub for climate change

A new climate change research hub has been launched at the University of the South Pacific (USP).

The USP is the region's premier higher education institution, jointly owned by 12 Pacific islands countries.

The university's vice-chancellor and president, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, said "climate change is more than the greatest challenge of our time" and the new Centre for Sustainable Futures "will strengthen USP's core role as a traditional university".

The new centre was officially launched on 5 August with initial funding from Aotearoa New Zealand International Climate Finance Strategy.

The hub - expected to be operational in the coming months - is designed to be sustainable to ensure its long-term impact on Pacific Island countries, the USP said.

Professor Ahluwalia said while Pacific Islands nations contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions was insignificant, they face the most severe impacts of climate change.

"For us in the Pacific, climate change is more than the greatest challenge of our time. For us, the threat goes beyond that," he said.

"The loss of our villages and our islands leads to the demise of our cultures, our identities, indeed our mana."

The vice-chancellor said the new research centre will create a multi-disciplinary, integrated, and strategic approach to climate change and resilience.

It will be a place of "seamless blending of expertise, diverse knowledge, indigenous wisdom and knowledges alongside modern science", he said.

"Having a sustainable Pacific future means increased research capacity, in-depth impact studies, capacity-building initiatives, academic programmes, community-centred policies, and climate finance strategies benefitting the whole region.

"The centre will strengthen USP's core role as a traditional university, researching to create and disseminate new knowledge through teaching, training, and publications. This will result in an increased number of current and future Pacific climate change researchers, policymakers, and legislators.

"These leaders will then be equipped to lead their communities in addressing the challenges of climate change and its impacts," he added.