NEW YORK — Climate change continues to pose an existential threat to many low-lying countries in Asia and the Pacific, with rising seas putting people’s homes, livelihoods and culture at risk. At a more extreme level, some communities are already being relocated because of rising waters, making future movements across borders a very plausible reality for many people, especially […]
Stories
Posted inStory / Tuvalu
Tuvalu youth to join strike for climate in New York
A young woman from the climate change-impacted island country of Tuvalu, is attending the first ever UN Youth Climate Summit in New York on Saturday, 21 September. Lilipeti Suiti Faavae is one of 500 hundred young people from around the world selected to attend the Youth Climate Summit after demonstrating their commitment to addressing […]
Posted inStory / Fiji
Negotiators yet to find common ground on issues that’s dividing BBNJ treaty negotiations at the UN
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 […]
Posted inStory / Solomon Islands
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 […]
Posted inStory / Tuvalu
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 […]
Posted inStory / Fiji
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 […]
Posted inStory / Palau
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 […]
Posted inStory / Papua New Guinea
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 […]
Posted inStory / Tuvalu
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 […]
Posted inStory / Fiji
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 […]