Kiribati is located in the central Pacific Ocean. People living on an isolated island community in the Pacific Ocean are finding ways to reduce their dependence on expensive imported food while promoting climate resilient farming techniques, thanks to a programme supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). Islanders in Kiribati have long recognized that they […]
Category: Micronesia
World Environment Day 2020 – It’s Time for Nature
Opinion by Sefanaia Nawadra – Head of the UN Environment Programme, Pacific Office Around the globe there are more than one million plant and animal species on the verge of disappearing forever. The planet is not in good shape because of us. Nature is suffering biodiversity and habitat loss, a rapidly heating climate, and toxic […]
Aiming for a ‘Bluer Pacific’ in post COVID-19 recovery plans
As the Pacific islands assess ways to build back economies severely struck by the COVID-19 crisis, the environmental impacts faced worldwide highlight the opportunity we now have in our hands to build back a ‘Bluer Pacific’. Key to this is, is an environmental component in all post COVID-19 recovery plans across our Pacific islands region. […]
FFA continues to monitor fishing amidst COVID19 situation
As Pacific nations face the threat of coronavirus to their health and economic growth, the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has taken action to continue to monitor and control fishing of the world’s largest tuna stocks. A key tool in FFA Member’s efforts for monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing in Pacific nations is […]
Happy International Day for Biological Diversity!
‘Our Solutions are in Nature’ is the theme for this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity observed annually on 22 May. Nature-based solutions can support climate change adaptation, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, and biodiversity provides the answer to a number of sustainable development challenges we face. Corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) has given the […]
Effective Management of Medical Waste Essential During Pandemic
As the world grapples with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, countries are now facing another challenge as a result: how to manage medical waste safely and effectively. Many types of additional medical and hazardous wastes are being generated during the pandemic, including infected masks, gloves, and other personal protective equipment (PPE). The Secretariat of the Pacific […]
Bill to end Palau’s 26-year fishing ban on endangered species faces pushback
A fisheries scientist warns that a move to lift a 26-year ban and allow fishing of an endangered fish species for personal use lacks controls with loopholes that could lead to it being overfished and exported illegally to Asian markets, where the Napoleon Wrasse is a delicacy. It is the most expensive reef fish in […]
Work to address marine plastic litter gets off the ground
A cleaner Pacific Ocean free from single-use plastics. This is the vision behind the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), a six-year AUD 16 million project, which aims to complement existing waste management projects to support the delivery of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)’s Pacific Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter 2018. […]
Marshall Islands, Suriname, Norway upgrade climate plans before COP26
The Marshall Islands, Suriname and Norway have submitted plans for tougher action to tackle climate change before a five-year milestone of the Paris Agreement in 2020, with almost 200 others ignoring an informal 09 February deadline. Together the three countries account for about 0.1% of world emissions. The Marshall Islands, which says its 53,000 citizens […]
Safer, more reliable water for Kiribati
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved US$15 million in support to the government of Kiribati to significantly strengthen the water supply for the island of South Tarawa. Approved on December 13,The South Tarawa Water Supply Project will help provide people on South Tarawa, Kiribati’s most populated island, with better access to a safe, reliable, […]