Vice President Palik heads FSM Delegation to 13th Conference of Leaders and delivers keynote at the Digital Earth Pacific Launch

Noumea, New Caledonia, October 25, 2023 – On the margins of the 13th Conference of Leaders, T.H. Vice President Palik delivered the keynote remarks at the launching of Digital Earth Pacific (DEP). Provided through SPC (Secretariat of the Pacific Community), DEP is a free and open operational earth observation system that uses decades of satellite data to show how local environments and natural resources are changing over time. The platform provides high definition imagery and mapping, which SPC member states can use to make informed policy decisions in order to effectively address the existential threat of climate change. Its features include the ability to track coastline changes, mangrove loss and recovery, flood zones, erosion, illegal mining activities among others. The launch was attended by SPC’s Director General Dr. Stuard Minchin, Tuvalu’s Minister of Justice, Communications and Foreign Affairs T.H. Panapasi Nelesone, among other dignitaries and officials of SPC and fellow member states.In Vice President Palik’s remarks he emphasized the importance of data to make informed policy decisions and the FSM’s commitment to foster innovation and embrace data driven decision making. He stated that “In FSM we recognize that data is not just numbers or statistics; it\’s a reflection of our experiences, our environment, and our aspirations.” “Through Earth observations data collected over decades, we can better understand the dynamics of our islands, track climate change impacts, and improve the delivery of essential services, and be better prepared for potential disasters. We must invest in data infrastructure and capacity-building to collect, analyse, and leverage this invaluable resource.” he added. The event featured interactive demonstrations of DEP for participants and concluded with the official launch through the pressing of a button, versus the traditional ribbon cutting. The FSM remains grateful for key partners such as SPC, who play an invaluable role in providing technical support and capacity building through projects such as DEP.