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 […]
Tag: Oceans
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 […]
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 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 […]
Mobilising Urgent Action and Political Will For Ocean and Climate Change
There is an urgent need for action on the ocean and climate change nexus. Our oceans, which cover three quarters of the earth’s surface, is one of the greatest and most important resources of our planet. It provides food for four out of ten people in the world and is a source of income for […]
Climate crisis not science debate anymore: Kiribati civil servant
Kiribati’s shores are eroding and they are tired of world leaders denying their responsibility for the climate crisis. Terieta Mwenwenikeaki, the small island’s Permanent Secretary for Women, Youth Sport and Social Development is in Samoa for the Pacific Games, and said the climate crisis is no longer a purely scientific discussion. “It has become part […]
ISACC project strengthens institutions in Tuvalu to access and manage climate finance
The Institutional Strengthening in Pacific island Countries to adapt to Climate Change (ISACC) project is assisting Tuvaluan practitioners who are engaged with climate change related projects. Ms. Susan Tupulaga, National Coordinator of the ISACC project in Tuvalu, said that although Tuvalu does not receive direct funding from ISACC, it receives benefits in other ways which […]