University of the South Pacific

USP is the premier tertiary institution in the region, owned by 12 Pacific Island countries. Its current enrolment stands at close to 30,000 students spread over 14 campuses, with the majority enrolled at its main campus in Laucala, Suva. USP has provided courses and training programmes in climate change, disaster risk management, resource management, environmental management and sustainable development at postgraduate level under its priority strategic areas through the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development (PaCE-SD) over the past decade as a centre of excellence in multi-disciplinary aspects of climate change. PaCE-SD’s priority areas are Capacity Building, Community Engagement and Applied Research. Through course development and academic scholarships, PaCE-SD assists PICTs in enhancing their capacity in human resource development to meet the growing needs for trained human resources for climate change, environment and sustainable development related professions. In addition, PaCE-SD also carries out climate change and disaster risk management awareness, adaptation planning and implementation at community level in 15 Pacific Island countries, targeted at sustaining livelihoods. 

USP is currently engaged in creating a cadre of skilled professionals as climate leaders able to support and guide national governments, non-governmental organisations and regional organisations in their efforts to adapt to climate change and to train other stakeholders in mainstreaming of adaptation, especially at community level. It is also actively engaged in applied research (focusing on impacts of climate change and associated extreme events, climate services, Disaster Risk Assessment, Policy Support, Sustainable Sea Transport, Climate Adaptation etc.) leading to better understanding of the projected adverse impacts of climate change in the Pacific Islands region with a view to formulating appropriate strategies and implementing sector-specific community climate change adaptive actions in as many as 15 Pacific members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). 

1. European Union Global Climate Change Alliance Project http://eugcca.usp.ac.fj/   
2. Oceania Centre for Sustainable Transport http://pace.usp.ac.fj/ocst/HomePage.aspx   
3. USAID Coastal Community Adaptation Project (C-CAP) http://pace.usp.ac.fj/usaid/CCAP.aspx
4. European Union Pacific Technical and Vocational Education and Training on Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Adaptation (PACTVET) (no website yet) 

Focal points 

1. Professor Elisabeth Holland, Director PaCE-SD/Professor in Climate Change - [email protected] 
2. Dr Morgan Wairiu, Deputy Director PaCE-SD - [email protected] 
3. Ms. Sarika Chand, Communications Officer - [email protected]