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 […]
Category: Our region
Fiji Prime Minister Bainimarama opens the Regional Pacific NDC Hub office
Fijian Prime Minister Bainimarama opened the Regional Pacific Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Hub Office on Tuesday, marking an important milestone for Pacific Island member countries determination to take a leading role in meeting the climate change targets set out in the Paris Agreement. The establishment of NDC Hub is a direct outcome of the Inaugural […]
Fiji Environment Minister calls for a national movement to combat litter
Combating litter and protecting our environment is everyone’s business and therefore, there should be a national movement to keep our country clean. This was highlighted by the Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Dr. Mahendra Reddy while officiating at the litter Act 2008 Litter Prevention Officer (LPO) Enforcement Training at Fiji […]
The end of Ontong Java?
TWO European filmmakers Guus Schuijl and Iggy Pacanowsk visited Solomon Islands last year to film a documentary about Ontong Java. They were investigating how climate change is affecting the community on the atoll. The filmmakers are now back in Europe and have released a trailer this week for the film which can be found on […]
COP25 outcome disappointing: Fiji PM
Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the outcome of COP 25 in Madrid Spain is unfortunate given Fiji’s efforts to get world leaders to tackle climate change. Speaking at the launch of the Disaster Risk Reduction Policy, Bainimarama said Fiji will not stop pushing for global action. “The largest emitters have yet to summon the […]
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, […]
Dug out wells a lifeline for Vatukola
THE sight of several dug out wells greet us at Vatukola Village in Kakabona, northwest of Honiara in the Solomon Islands. It rains fairly often in Honiara and historically, fresh water has been plentiful. But in recent years, the wells, which once provided a ready source of water, have been mysteriously drying up. Scientists from Inter-Governmental […]
Stumbling blocks at Kukum
CLIMATE change has been a heavily debated global topic. For many people, climate change has become an ongoing battle for survival. Kukum Fishing villagers in Honiara believe that climate change is real and that their surrounding environment is living proof. A coastal plain situated along the Kukum Highway in Honiara, the village is one of […]
Support for nature-based solutions
NATURE-BASED solution is Solomon Islands’ best mitigation and adaptation approach towards addressing the effects of climate change. The concept encourages rural communities to revive traditional means and methods such as planting of trees and building seawalls using rocks. Lord Howe Settlement located in the capital Honiara, is a lot safer from storm surges and sea level […]
Hope for a better tomorrow
LIVING in an informal settlement comes with sacrifice, patience and dreams of a better future. Day in and day out is always a challenge when it comes to basic services like water and sanitation as well as simple hygiene practices. External shock and stresses due to adaptation deficit in urban infrastructure, housing and service provision are […]