At the end of the first week of negotiations on a new global legal instrument to oversee the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), there appears to be a number of issues that continue to divide than unite negotiators in New York. One of the sticking points of […]
Category: Our region
Five Schools Trial Solutions to Reduce Plastics
Honiara, Solomon Islands — Five Honiara schools are trying for 10 weeks to replace single-use plastics in their lunch service through a new waste management initiative. Koloale, Florence Young and Emmaus schools are trialing a refundable-fee scheme, which involves lunch vendors or the school canteen serving lunches with reusable containers. Students are refunded a small […]
Forum marathon reveals tensions over climate policy
In a marathon leaders’ retreat that continued well into the night, with often heated debate, the Pacific Islands Forum has issued a joint communique and a new declaration on climate change. Throughout this week in Tuvalu, the Australian delegation has defended a series of negotiating red lines against strong pressure from island leaders, seeling more […]
Fiji PM calls for urgent need for the world to step up its response to climate threat
Pacific Islanders and climate-vulnerable people the world over will welcome our collective declarations at the end of the 50th Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu on the urgent need for the world to step up its response to the climate threat says Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimara. “There is no doubt that holding our gathering in […]
Palau tells Australia to step-up on climate
Palau has called on Australia to do more to tackle climate change, saying the Pacific’s “big brother” has an obligation to act on an issue that threatens the existence of its small island neighbours. Australia has launched a diplomatic push it calls the Pacific “step-up” to boost its influence and counter growing Chinese influence in […]
PNG Environment Minister wants plastic ban enforced by November
Papua New Guinea Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Minister Geoffrey Kama wants an outright ban on the manufacture, import and use of single-use plastic shopping bags in the country by November. Kama told journalists in Port Moresby that the ban introduced by former minister Sir John Pundari was a noble move which he wanted to […]
Why this Time cover is a disgrace to the climate realities of Pacific islanders
Eleven thousand. That’s approximately how many people are living in Tuvalu right now. That is exactly how many people are facing direct threats to their homes, livelihoods and identities as a result of rising sea levels, storm surges, cyclones and the other climate change-related events hitting Tuvalu on a monthly basis. Hundreds have already left […]
Pacific Island States declare ‘climate crisis’ and urge action
Nadi, Fiji (July 31, 2019) – A ‘climate crisis’ has been declared in a special session during the 5th Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) Leaders’ Summit and first Conference, echoing the global movement declaring ‘climate emergency.’ The PIDF Leaders’ Summit had representation from 10 of the 14 member states, which are among those most at risk […]
Pacific experiencing the realities of climate change, says expert
SUVA, 29 JULY 2019 (WANSOLWARA ONLINE NEWS) — Climate change is real and many Pacific Island countries are experiencing this reality, says climate expert Dr Jale Samuwai. Dr Samuwai became the first graduate to be awarded a PhD in climate change at The University of the South Pacific this year. Speaking at the USP graduation […]
Tuvalu bans single use plastic starting August 1
FUNAFUTI, 29 JULY 2019 (RNZ PACIFIC) — A single use plastic ban and importation levy comes into force in Tuvalu from the beginning of August to help deal with waste in the small remote islands. It’s hoped the new measures will ease pressure on an overflowing rubbish dump on Fogafale where most of the population […]