Working Group 6:  Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (ICG/PTWS WG PICT)

Terms of Reference:

1.      To continually review and evaluate capabilities of and make recommendations for improvements to countries in the Pacific Islands and Territories (PICT) Region for providing end to-end tsunami warning and mitigation services.

2.      To support the involvement and contribution of PICT countries in the activities of the ICG/PTWS.

3.      To promote and facilitate the tsunami hazard and risk studies in the PICT region.

4.      To facilitate cooperation in the establishment and upgrading of seismic and sea level stations and networks in the region, and the interoperability of these systems in accordance with ICG/PTWS requirements.

5.      To facilitate training and capacity building in the end to end tsunami warning and mitigation system in the region.

6.      To encourage the sharing of tsunami information, including but not limited to the free and open exchange of data.

7.      To facilitate tsunami awareness in school curricula, and development and dissemination of public educational materials.

8.      To work in cooperation with PTWS Working Group 2 & 3, and relevant task teams especially on activities that strengthen country capacity in tsunami warning, risk mitigation & emergency response.

Composition:

The Group to be comprised of representatives from Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) as members,  Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP) Agencies and WMO Regional Association V (RAV) as observers with Chair and Vice Chair to be elected by the members of the Working Group and endorsed by the ICG/PTWS.

Membership:

Regional Working Group on Tsunami Warning and Mitigation for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (ICG/PTWS WG PICT) - Chair Mrs Esline Garaebiti (Vanuatu), Vice-Chair Mr Mathew Moihoi (Papua New Guinea)

The following applies for all working groups:

Languages:  English, Spanish and French

Meetings:  Meet intersessionally.

Coordinator and Elections:  Follow the rules of procedures applying to IOC Subsidiary Bodies.  Chair and at least one vice chair who will be elected either by the ICG/PTWS or the members of the working group for two years with possible reelection of one term in the same position.

Members and appointment:  Nominated by member states in accordance with the rules of procedures applying to IOC Subsidiary bodies.  Technical experts can be invited at the discretion of the Chair.

Calendar of Intersessional work should be determined by the working group at the working group meeting and included in the report.

Duration of the WG:  Two years.

Reports:  A final report has to be submitted two months before the parent body meeting and for each working group meeting within the two following months.  

Financial resources:  At national expense.

Amendments:  As warranted by the working groups.

WG-Pacific Island Countries and Territories