A disaster expert has told representatives from 23 Pacific Island countries the impacts of natural disasters must be controlled daily regardless of how climate patterns might change.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community's director of its applied geoscience and technology division, Dr Russell Howorth, says information about disaster vulnerability and risks must be built into decision making at all levels.
He says global climate change and natural hazards are critical issues for the Pacific region with increasing populations and their desire for development exacerbating the problems.
He says it's critical land and coastal and ocean resources, infrastructure, development and management strategies can cope into the future.
Dr Howorth says this means that integrated information systems nationally and across the region are essential.
