The United States and Taiwan, in collaboration with the East-West Center, hosted a Disaster Management in the Pacific workshop in Auckland, New Zealand on September 29-30, bringing together disaster response experts from Pacific Islands Forum members, associate members, and observers.
“The Pacific is one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions. Disaster resilience is hard earned and built from generations rebuilding after crises and intentional efforts to develop mitigation strategies that save lives,” U.S. Chargé d’affaires Gabrielle Cowan said.
The workshop, held under the auspices of the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) program and implemented by the East-West Center, convened government officials, policy experts, and the private sector to strengthen disaster management capacity and coordination across the region.
Local expertise set the tone for the workshop, with Professor Liam Wotherspoon of the University of Auckland, delivering the keynote address and describing New Zealand’s hazard landscape. Pacific island leaders also shared local strategies, frameworks, and challenges to mitigate the impacts of disasters.
“Participants heard from Taiwan, whose renowned early warning systems and whole-of-society disaster preparedness make it one of the most resilient places in the world,” Cowan said.
“Natural disasters are not abstract challenges. Taiwan has learned through hard lessons how preparedness can reduce the impact and define the speed of recovery.
Located at earthquake-prone tectonic plates, with frequent hurricanes and floods, Taiwan is committed to share best practices and resources with partners across the Indo-Pacific, especially with Pacific Island nations,” Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New Zealand Representative Joanne Ou said.
“This is the value of the GCTF – bringing partners around the globe to learn from each other and explore feasible ways of collaboration. Global challenges, such as disaster mitigation and reconstruction, the rise of sea levels, and volcanic eruptions, require inclusive platforms where all stakeholders can contribute their experiences and insights, helping to develop practical solutions that tackle the needs of our communities and peoples.”
“The United States is also a Pacific country. U.S. citizens live in the Pacific, and our Pacific states confront disasters every year. California, which hosts 1,350 km of Pacific coastline, battles roughly 7,000 wildfires annually. Hawaii, which experienced brutal flooding earlier this year, sits in hurricane country and atop five active volcanoes,” Cowan said.
Following the event, participants returned home with stronger regional partnerships, practical resources, and tools they could immediately apply to build a safer and more resilient Pacific region.
The United States and Taiwan, in collaboration with the East-West Center, hosted a Disaster Management in the Pacific workshop in Auckland, New Zealand on September 29-30, bringing together disaster response experts from Pacific Islands Forum members, associate members, and observers.
US Chargé d'affaires Gabrielle Cowan delivered an opening remark.
Representative Joanne Ou delivered an opening remark
GCTF Participants visited Mt. Eden
