The Pacific community says the region is a global leader in responding to climate change adaptation and disaster risk management together in strategic ways.
High tides in Marshall Islands in March 2016 hit a seawall. Photo: RNZI/Giff Johnson
The SPC's geoscience, energy and maritime director Andrew Jones said it was vital that both threats were dealt while considering the humanitarian and development needs of the people affected.
Mr Jones said a conference in Fiji this week is highlighting the need for practical frameworks to guide governments and agencies in dealing with disasters like cyclones or longer term threats such as droughts.
He said there was a lot of expertise and knowledge about resilience in the region.
"The thing that I'm probably most impressed with or very pleased to see is the way that the Pacific comes together to deal with this and I don't just mean bringing together disasters and climate change. I mean I don't think there would be any other region in the world that's made up of such a diverse range of cultures and communities that's seeking to address disasters and climate change in such a collaborative and integrated way."
