Pacific Ocean Pathways in support of sustainable development: an integrated approach (PACPATH)

• Applicant: Louis Celliers, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Human Geography ; Data Management, Data-Intensive Systems, Computer Science Methods in Business Informatics ; Atmospheric Science ; Oceanography ; Political Science
• Term: from 2021 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 462207221

Based on the importance of SDG 14 for the Pacific Island Countries (PICs), our project - PACPATH- aims at establishing cost-effective, efficient and sustainable trans-disciplinary processes, methods and networks allowing stakeholders as scientists, indigenous and civil organizations of the PICs to share common objectives and actions in order to achieve environmental sustainability.In this proposal, we propose to build a Pacific stakeholder network drawing on two pilot sites, Fiji and New Caledonia, examining the impacts of ocean climate change and other stressors on the ocean environment and ecosystem services, and their consequences for society, economy, and attainment of the SDGs. These pilot sites will create the framework and methodology and serve as a guide for application and adaptation to other, interested PICs.The PACPATH work plan and the international collaboration based on trans-disciplinarity, competence and expertise of the consortium will allow to achieve strong added-value results. This includes the analysis of the importance of SDG14 (“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”) for the Pacific Islands. It will also qualify the linkage of SDG14 with SGDs 13, 15 and to the other remaining through the integration of a plurality of different knowledge forms from academic to local. PACPATH will co-construct direct and indirect indicators and interactive indicator tools with contribution of local, national and regional stakeholders, environmental and social scientists, economists and operational centers (national and international). Through the co-construction process it will identify the information, targets and trans-disciplinary expertise needed regarding research capacity building, participative research, and indicator acquisition/definition. Finally, the project will develop strategies for future maintenance of the PACPATH network of networks through long-term funding opportunities and rooting in sustainable structures.

• DFG Programme: Scientific Networks