In 2020, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas will recognise and honour Pacific Islanders with a commitment to environmental sustainability and resilience within the Pacific Islands.
The special PIELA ceremony will be held during the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas being held in New Caledonia from 19 – 24 April, 2020. The ceremony will recognise environmental champions across seven categories.
Palau President Tommy Remengesau, Jr., won the Pacific Champion Award in 2013 at the 1st PIELA. This came in response to his efforts to promote environmental causes in Palau and across the Pacific.
President Remengesau issued a statement in support of the awards and environmental champions across Oceania.
“Now, more than ever, action is needed to address the challenges we face in stopping our environment from being destroyed. The Pacific Islands face these challenges from the frontlines, with battles that put our very existence at risk.
The PIELA puts our efforts to meet these challenges front and centre, recognising the actions that we Pacific Islanders take to fight the threats of climate change, pollution, and the illegal and over-harvesting of resources.
Recognition brings encouragement, and encouragement is an important accelerating factor in getting things done. The Pacific is fighting as a united front against these challenges.
The PIELA reminds us Pacific Islanders, and the rest of the world, that we need to take and accelerate meaningful action, and that we need to do it together as citizens of this planet,” he said.
SPREP and the partners of the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas are asking for people to nominate outstanding contributions of individuals, communities, non-governmental organisations, private enterprises and countries and territories with a commitment to environmental issues across the awards categories.
Nominations for the 2nd Pacific islands Environment Leadership Awards to be presented in April 2020, are still open. SPREP and the partners of the 10th Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas call upon people to celebrate those across the Pacific island region who have demonstrated their strong commitment to environmental issues across the awards categories.
The PIELA commemorates those that have demonstrated environmental leadership in the categories of Pacific island nations; Communities; Youth; Media; Champion of the Pacific Environment; and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Nominations are open until 30 November, 2019.
