Strengthening Palau’s disaster response and resilience to hazards

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in unison with the Government of Japan and the Government of Palau, are forging ahead to achieve long-term disaster and climate resilience for Palau, despite the challenges of COVID-19. UNDP’s Japan-funded Enhancing Disaster and Climate Resilience (EDCR) in Palau through Improved Disaster Preparedness and Infrastructure project, is partnering with […]

Palau aims to become world’s first “Carbon neutral tourism destination”

The Palau Bureau of Tourism, Sustainable Travel International and Slow Food have launched a new project in Palau that aims to mitigate the tourism sector’s carbon footprint and establish Palau as the world’s first “Carbon neutral tourism destination.” The project is taking a destination-level approach that includes promoting local food production within tourism and developing […]

Pacific Tuna Tagging expedition overcomes COVID Challenge

Despite the significant challenges presented by COVID-19, the Pacific Community (SPC) 7-week research expedition to monitor the health of world’s largest tuna fishery departed from Honolulu on Saturday 15 August 2020. Half of the world’s tuna catch comes from the Western & Central Pacific, providing a critical source of protein and export revenue for Pacific […]

Tonga wants to ban single-use plastics

Tonga is looking at phasing out single-use plastics such as shopping bags, cutlery, straws and more starting next year, confirmed Director of Environment, Lupe Matoto. Lupe told a regional conference last week that in September last year, Cabinet started the process to ban single-use plastics. Work is currently underway with the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance, […]

Vaisigano Bridge in Samoa seven years in the making

The climate change resilient brand new Vaisigano Bridge, took seven years in the making. And under no circumstances are the bridge and all other Government initiated infrastructural projects (such as new roads, schools, water, etc) were designed to be used as a campaign strategy by Government, as a lead up to the 2021 General Elections. […]

Climate Change can’t be ‘quarantined’: Taloiburi

Pacific Island Forum Secretariat finance adviser Exsley Taloiburi is worried that climate change may slip down regions’ agenda as Pacific ministers put focus on coronavirus. Speaking in the margins of the Economic Forum Ministers Meeting (FEMM) Taloiburi said while the deadly virus can be quarantined and worked around, the change in weather patterns can never […]

Fisheries Ministers express concerns over COVID-19 impacts

Fisheries Ministers from member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) have expressed serious concern about the unprecedented impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their domestic economies. This was during the 17th FFC Ministers meeting last week. Ministers have expressed strengthened commitments to regional solidarity and collaboration as central to confronting the impacts […]