In this bulletin:
1. FIJI — State of emergency possible amid crackdown: Fiji PM
2. PACIFIC — Pre-COP31 to put Pacific reality front and centre: Fiji Climate Change Minister
3. PALAU — Zero-Tolerance Drug Law Clears Palau Legislature
4. UN– WHO calls for stepped up action to eliminate viral hepatitis
5. FIJI — Why do you have dignity?’ Tarakinikini reframes Constitution debate
6. W|PAPUA — Clashes in Indonesia’s Papua as hundreds protest military presence
7. PNG — PNG High court reserves ruling on Nomane’s bid
8. NZ — Pacific attendance rises but nearly four in ten students still misssing school regularly – data
9. GUAM — Department of War seeks to expand footprint on Guam; eyes land purchase
10. FIJI — Corporal punishment clause removed from Fiji Education Bill
11. PNG — PNG birds of Paradise breeding active
12. FIJI — Novel DNA research shows massive native ant decline over hundreds of years in Fiji
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Forum audit report raises accountability pressure over finances
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Palau agencies strengthen fight against financial crimes amid rise in online scams
15. PACNEWS BIZ — Palau sees strong Q1 2026 visitor growth despite March slowdown
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — Declaration – Indigenous Peoples set minimum standards for Just Transition, First Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Conference
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
State of emergency possible amid crackdown: Fiji PM
SUVA, 29 APRIL 2206 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has hinted on a possible national state of emergency amid escalated joint operations between the military and Police to tackle the growing illicit drug problem in Fiji.
Rabuka confirmed this to the Fiji Sun, following discussions with the National Security Council last week.
On Monday, Rabuka met Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, and Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander, Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, for a briefing on the general security of the nation.
“If there is to be any escalation, they will make the recommendation,” he said referring to the heads of the two institutions.
At the national talanoa session on Responding to Illicit Drugs in Fiji in February this year, the RFMF highlighted that it has already assessed its role in the war against illicit drugs based on external threats, and the problem that internal institutions were compromised.
Traditionally, Police dealt with drug issues until recent events, which indicated that drug cartels are emboldened to challenge national security.
Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate said declaring a state of emergency would mean certain rights of people would be given up.
“To go to that step is quite serious because it means that there’s something that we really need to address as a nation,” he said.
Usamate said Fiji the link between drug use and increasing rate of HIV/AIDS infections does not look good for Fiji. However, he emphasised that there are criteria boxes that needed to be checked before a state of emergency is declared.
Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) president Sepesa Rasili maintains that any discussions regarding a state of emergency must be based on a sound and thorough analysis of the actual threats posed.
“Crucially, this analysis must be informed by direct community feedback and reporting to ensure that decisions are grounded in the lived realities of our citizens and not based solely on top-down security assessments,” he said.
Constitutional lawyer Shaista Shameem indicated that decisions relating to a state of emergency must be guided by constitutional provisions.
Chapter 9 on emergency powers said :154.—(1) The Prime Minister may, on the recommendation of the Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, declare a state of Emergency in Fiji, or in part of Fiji, and may make regulations relating to a state of emergency, if there are reasonable grounds to believe that— The security and safety of all or part of Fiji is threatened; and it is necessary to declare a state of emergency to deal effectively with the threatening circumstances.
Under such declaration, certain rights under the Bill of Rights can be limited, but only to the extend strictly neccessary to deal with the emergency…. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS/FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Pre-COP31 to put Pacific reality front and centre: Fiji Climate Change Minister
SUVA, 29 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS/FIJI GOVT) — Fiji’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya has told Parliament that pre-COP31 will showcase Pacific leadership and realities to the world, as preparations ramp up for the major climate meeting.
Updating Parliament, Tabuya said Fiji’s role as host is a chance to shift how the Pacific is seen in global climate talks.
“Pre-COP31 must tell a story not only of vulnerability but of Pacific stewardship, solutions, unity, and political clarity.”
She said bringing the meeting to Fiji will ensure global leaders see the region firsthand.
“No longer will our circumstances be a distant reality described in rooms thousands of miles away. Delegates will see and delegates will understand.”
The Pre-COP comes ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, with Fiji hosting the main preparatory meeting, Tuvalu hosting a leaders’ component and Australia supporting delivery under a broader partnership.
Tabuya said the Tuvalu segment will highlight the vulnerability of low-lying atoll nations, while Fiji will ensure Pacific voices, culture and priorities remain central to discussions.
To strengthen advocacy, three Pacific climate envoys have been appointed, including Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu as Pacific Ocean Envoy, alongside Kristina Stege of the Marshall Islands and Ruel Yamuna of Papua New Guinea.
She said the envoys will push Pacific priorities globally and work with the COP31 Presidency to shape an Action Agenda that reflects the region’s needs.
With more than a thousand participants expected, Tabuya confirmed preparations are well underway, with coordination across government, regional partners and agencies covering logistics, security, accreditation and communications.
She also announced a major step forward in climate data management with the launch of the Fiji Digital Climate Transparency Tool in Suva.
“For years, one of the most significant challenges in meeting our climate reporting obligations has been the production, coordination, and compilation of data,” the Minister stated.
“Collecting, validating, and compiling sectoral greenhouse gas activity data in a standardised, timely, and accurate manner has required enormous effort from our line ministries, our technical officers, and our development partners. we take a decisive step forward in making that process smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable.”
The digital platform allows ministries to input and update emissions data in real time, improving reporting under international climate frameworks.
Tabuya described the system as a clear signal of Fiji’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“It demonstrates to the world that Fiji is serious about transparency. That we hold ourselves to the highest standards of accountability. That we will continue to lead, to advocate, and to act for our people and for future generations.”
The tool was developed under the Fiji Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency Project, in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme.
Pacific Regional Director Sakiusa Tuisolia said the system will strengthen Fiji’s ability to meet its reporting obligations under global climate agreements.
The Ministry said it will continue working with partners to improve and integrate the platform, ensuring continuous data updates and stronger climate governance.
Tabuya reaffirmed that Fiji will use pre-COP31 to push for stronger global action while keeping Pacific priorities at the centre of negotiations…. PACNEWS
PALAU – DRUGS FIGHT: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Zero-Tolerance Drug Law Clears Palau Legislature
KOROR,29 APRIL 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Palau lawmakers finally passed a long-awaited, wide-ranging anti-drug bill that would expand drug testing, increase penalties for drug offenses, and direct new funding toward both law enforcement and rehabilitation programmes.
Under the bill, “designated employees” — such as police officers, customs and immigration staff, health workers, and operators of buses, boats, and heavy equipment — would be required to take drug tests at least twice a year. Anyone applying for these jobs must also pass a drug test before being hired.
If a worker tests positive for illegal drugs, they could be fired immediately. The case would also be referred to prosecutors, unless the drug use is tied to a valid prescription or other limited exceptions.
Foreign workers and their family members would face similar requirements. Soon after arriving in Palau, they must complete medical screenings that include drug tests. If illegal drug use or serious contagious illness is found, the president would be notified, and immigration officials could review whether the individual should remain in the country.
The bill raises penalties for serious drug crimes involving substances such as methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and LSD. Drug trafficking offenses would carry long prison terms and heavy fines, with even stricter penalties for law enforcement officers convicted of such crimes.
Possession penalties would also increase. Notably, the law treats the presence of illegal drugs in a person’s blood or urine as proof of possession of a small amount — a change that could affect how cases are investigated and prosecuted.
The legislation also updates drunk driving laws to include drug impairment. Drivers would be considered to have given consent to drug-related sobriety tests, in addition to alcohol breath tests.
The measure creates and formalises several funds, including a Drug Enforcement Fund and a Drug Rehabilitation Fund. Money and property seized in drug cases would be split evenly — 50 percent for enforcement and 50 percent for rehabilitation. A portion of fines would also go toward treatment programmes.
Government agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office and relevant ministries, would be required to submit annual reports and undergo audits to track how the funds are used.
The bill also increases reporting requirements to protect vulnerable groups. Teachers, health workers, law enforcement officers, government officials, and traditional leaders would be required to report cases where children, pregnant women, elderly people, or others at risk are exposed to drugs or harmed by drug use.
While lawmakers describe the bill as balancing strict enforcement with treatment, it raises several questions for the public:
*If addiction is recognised as a health issue, should people who test positive automatically lose their jobs or face jail time, even for small amounts?
*What protections are in place to prevent false positives or unfair targeting, especially for foreign workers and lower-income employees?
*Will Palau’s healthcare system have enough resources to provide treatment and long-term support, or will most efforts focus on punishment instead?
House Bill 12-1-1, HD1, SD9, CD1 cleared its final readings in both chambers in April and now awaits action by President Surangel S. Whipps Jr.
Supporters say the measure is a strong response to what they describe as a growing drug problem in the country…. PACNEWS
UN- HEALTH: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
WHO calls for stepped up action to eliminate viral hepatitis
GENEVA, 29 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — Countries are making measurable progress in combatting viral hepatitis, but the disease remains a major global health challenge, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a new report published on Tuesday.
It highlights significant gains made in the fight against hepatitis B and C, which together account for 95 per cent of all hepatitis-related deaths worldwide.
These infections claimed 1.34 million lives in 2024. Meanwhile, transmission continues at a rate of some 1.8 million infections annually – or more than 4,900 cases every day.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver. It can be spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood, saliva, vaginal fluids and semen, or passed from mother to baby.
Disease can be acute or chronic, with chronic infection raising risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus of the same name. Transmission is spread through exposure to infected blood from unsafe injections, such as sharing needles and syringes or unscreened blood transfusions.
The 2026 Global Hepatitis Report documents progress since 2015. For example, new hepatitis B infections have declined by 32 per cent while hepatitis C-related deaths have dropped by 12 per cent.
Hepatitis B prevalence among children under five has also fallen to 0.6 percent, with 85 countries achieving or surpassing the 2030 target of reducing prevalence to 0.1 percent.
While these advances reflect sustained and coordinated international action towards viral hepatitis elimination targets adopted at the 2016 World Health Assembly, current rates are insufficient to meet all 2030 elimination targets.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said countries have shown that “eliminating hepatitis is not a pipedream,” but efforts must accelerate.
“Many people remain undiagnosed and untreated due to stigma, weak health systems and inequitable access to care,” he said.
“While we have the tools to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat, urgent scale-up of prevention, diagnosis and treatment is needed if the world is to meet the 2030 targets.”
The report estimates that 287 million people – roughly 3 percent of the global population – were living with chronic hepatitis B or C infection in 2024.
Although the WHO African Region accounted for 68 per cent of new hepatitis B infections, only 17 percent of newborns there received a birth-dose vaccination.
With regard to hepatitis C, people who inject drugs accounted for 44 percent of new infections, underscoring the need for stronger harm reduction services and safe injection practices.
Access to treatment also remains limited. Although 240 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B in 2024, fewer than five percent were receiving treatment.
Furthermore, only 20 percent of people with hepatitis C have been treated since new effective treatment became available in 2015.
Limited access to prevention and care continues to drive mortality. In 2024, roughly 1.1 million people died from hepatitis B and 240,000 from hepatitis C, mainly due to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Ten countries in Asia and Africa – Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa and Viet Nam – accounted for nearly 70 per cent of hepatitis B related deaths worldwide that year.
Hepatitis C-related deaths are more geographically dispersed. In 2024, 10 countries accounted for 58 per cent of global cases: China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, the United States and Viet Nam.
Despite these challenges, WHO pointed to the highly effective tools that are already available in the fight against the disease.
The hepatitis B vaccine is more than 95 percent effective against both acute and chronic infections, while long-term antiviral treatment can help manage chronic infection and prevent severe liver disease.
At the same time, short-course therapy for hepatitis C, lasting 8 to 12 weeks, can cure more than 95 per cent of cases.
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections, stressed the need to improve access to care.
“The data shows that progress is possible but also reveals where we are falling short. Every missed diagnosis and untreated infection due to chronic viral hepatitis represents a preventable death,” she said.
“Countries must move faster to integrate hepatitis services for people living with hepatitis B and C into primary care, and to reach the communities most affected.”
The report identifies priority actions to accelerate progress, including scaling up treatment for chronic hepatitis B infection particularly in the WHO African and Western Pacific regions, and expanding access to hepatitis C treatment in the Eastern Mediterranean region.
It also calls for stronger political commitment and increased financing to expand access to hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination and medicine to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
The report also emphasises the need to improve injection safety both in and outside healthcare settings, including through strengthened harm reduction services for injecting drug users…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Why do you have dignity?’ Tarakinikini reframes Constitution debate
NEW YORK/SUVA, 29 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fijian diplomat Filipo Tarakinikini is urging a deeper national reflection on the Constitution, arguing that the current debate is focused on the wrong question.
Writing as a private citizen, Tarakinikini said discussions have largely centred on whether Fiji should be declared a Christian State or remain secular — but said both positions miss a more fundamental issue.
“The question is not what label we put on the State. The question is this: why do you have dignity?” he said.
He stressed that the foundation of human dignity must go beyond legal or political arrangements.
“Not because the Constitution says so — constitutions can be overthrown, as we know better than most,” he said.
“Not because parliament voted for it — parliament can vote it away.”
Tarakinikini pointed to Fiji’s history of four constitutions in 50 years, all of which were eventually set aside, as evidence that rights grounded solely in political consensus remain vulnerable.
“Each one overthrown… not because the rights they listed were wrong, but because they rested on political agreement alone, and when that agreement broke down, the rights broke with it,” he said.
He argued that a more enduring and universal foundation is needed to safeguard rights for all Fijians.
“I believe the answer is that every Fijian is made in the image of God… and it is the only foundation for rights that no coup, no parliament, and no emergency decree can ever touch,” he said.
Tarakinikini said his position is not intended to divide along religious lines, but to provide a shared basis for dignity across all communities.
“That is not a sectarian statement. It applies to every person regardless of their faith,” he said.
He added that he has outlined his views in a full opinion piece, exploring how Fiji can move beyond the binary debate of Christian versus secular state, and instead build a more durable and honest constitutional foundation.
The comments add a new perspective to the national conversation, shifting attention from labels to the deeper principles underpinning rights, identity and governance in Fiji…. PACNEWS
W|PAPUA – PROTEST: REUTERS PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Clashes in Indonesia’s Papua as hundreds protest military presence
JAKARTA, 29 APRIL 2026 (REUTERS) — Students and civilians clashed with law enforcement personnel in Indonesia’s insurgency-hit Papua on Monday during a protest attended by hundreds of residents demanding the withdrawal of military personnel from the region, a police official said.
A military operation conducted in the region earlier this month allegedly resulted in the death of 15 people, including women and children.
The operation was carried out against armed separatists who have sought independence for the resource-rich Papua region since 1969, when a vote overseen by the United Nations brought it under Indonesian control following more than six decades of Dutch colonial rule.
The country’s human rights watchdog last week confirmed the deaths and called for the government to review operations in the region. The military has yet to acknowledge the casualties.
On Monday, around 800 protesters rallied in three locations in the capital of Papua province, Jayapura, before gathering in the city centre, said Cahyo Sukarnito, the spokesperson for the Papua provincial police.
They called on the government to withdraw the military from all of Papua’s six provinces and ensure that decades of violence were brought to an end, Cahyo told Reuters, acknowledging that the deaths during recent military operations had sparked local anger.
Tear gas and a water cannon were deployed to disperse protesters in one location after they threw rocks at the police, Cahyo said. He said five police personnel were injured but there was no report of injuries among the protesters.
Footage from local media Tribun Papua showed police personnel in protective gear carrying batons as they approached the protesters.
Once the clashes abated, the demonstrations continued peacefully, and several regional lawmakers arrived on site to meet protesters and listen to their demands.
Papua is home to the world’s second-largest gold and copper mine, Grasberg, which is owned jointly by the Indonesian government and U.S. mining giant Freeport…. PACNEWS
PNG – COURTS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
PNG High court reserves ruling on Nomane’s bid
PORT MORESBY, 29 APRIL 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — A Papua New Guinea Court will decide at a later date whether to proceed with Opposition Leader James Nomane’s constitutional reference to have parliament recalled debating a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister.
Nomane has filed the application pursuant to Section 18 (1) of the Constitution, asking the court to declare that he has standing to make the application on the issue of constitutional amendment in Section 145 (5).
The amended Section 145 (5) of the Constitution says that a motion of no confidence cannot be moved for another period of 18 months, commencing on the date the motion of no confidence was unsuccessful.
Nomane is represented by Nicholas Tame.
The two interveners in the proceeding are Parliament Speaker Job Pomat, and the Attorney-General Pila Niningi.
Niningi’s lawyer Jurth Levente, submitted that Nomane had raised pleadings or facts that had been raised in the earlier proceeding by East Sepik governor Allan Bird and Nomane himself, regarding the amended Section 145 (5).
He argued that the proceeding was incompetent and Nomane had no standing to make the application because what he was seeking now had already been considered and determined by the same court.
In citing a case law, Levente submitted that the court could not overturn the decision in the case of Bird because “there were no conflicts between the new provision and the existing one”.
He said the application was without merit as nothing new had transpired, no new laws, cases, or facts were pleaded, and it should be refused.
Pomat’s lawyer also supported Niningi’s arguments.
Tame argued that the issues raised were not considered and determined in the earlier proceedings by Bird and Nomane.
He said the applications were dismissed at the standing stage where the merits were not determined and submitted that the applicant had standing and the findings by this court should be reviewed.
A five-man Supreme Court bench comprising justices David Cannings, George Manuhu, Derek Hartshorn, Joseph Yagi, and Colin Makail, yesterday, heard the parties’ submissions and reserved their decision.
On 30 October last year, the Private Business Committee (PBC) rejected the motion because of the Constitutional Amendment No.48 to Section 145, which was certified by Pomat on 17 March. …. PACNEWS
NZ – EDUCATION: PMN PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Pacific attendance rises but nearly four in ten students still misssing school regularly – data
WELLINGTON, 29 APRIL 2026 (PMN) — Pacific student attendance is showing signs of recovery after earlier declines but the number of young people missing school regularly remains a major concern.
New Ministry of Education figures for Term 1 this year show 58.8 per cent of Pacific students attended school regularly. This means they were present for more than 90 per cent of the term.
That is up from 55.1 per cent last year and 50.1 per cent in 2024, and this points to a gradual improvement after a weaker period, according to the ministry.
But the gap with the rest of the country remains clear. Pacific students are still 10.8 percentage points behind the national average of 68.6 percent.
That means nearly four in 10 Pacific students are still not attending school regularly.
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour says there are still worrying signs in the data, even with the recent lift.
He said the stats show the country has been moving “in the opposite direction”.
“I know that there’s been some trends for Pacific [students] that are going in the opposite direction and going down, and that’s not good,” Seymour says.
He made the comments during an interview on Pacific Mornings where he was asked about the latest attendance figures.
The new data also shows Pacific students remain behind other groups: Asian students have a regular attendance rate of 77.4 per cent while European/Pākehā students are at 71.5 per cent. Māori students are at 54.3 per cent.
While Pacific students have improved in this latest update, the figures show the gap remains wide compared to other communities.
When asked about ways to improve outcomes, Seymour pointed to the new Sisters United Academy,
The school opened in February this year with 120 students and focuses on Pacific girls. Its model is built around culture, wellbeing, and academic success.
Principal Bonnie Talamaivao says the school aims to better support Pasifika learners.
“I don’t want to bag on mainstream, I come from mainstream education,” Talamaivao told Terite. “I think there are pockets of excellence for our Pasifika kids in our mainstream schools, but I think there’s a huge gap, and there always has been … it’s intergenerational.”
The latest figures suggest some progress is being made after a difficult period of declining attendance.
But for Pacific families, the reality remains unchanged in many communities: too many students are still missing too much school and the gap with the rest of the country is not closing quickly enough…. PACNEWS
GUAM – DEFENCE: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Department of War seeks to expand footprint on Guam; eyes land purchase
HAGATNA, 29 APRIL 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — The U.S Department of War is seeking to buy more lands outside the military bases on island, the Guam-based think tank Pacific Centre for Island Security said, taking the military to task for not including an appropriation request for affordable housing in its 2027 budget proposal.
PCIS noted that the department’s proposed US$1.5 trillion budget, which includes construction projects on Guam, will undergo intense review in Congress and many still be trimmed, but it provides a glimpse of how the DoW is considering Guam in its allocation of resources.
The department’s budget this fiscal year is US$961.6 billion.
“The DOW proposal for Guam projects entirely ignores the community’s cries to address housing and shelters. Moreover, the work on the unproven missile defence system now includes monies to buy land outside the fence,” said Robert Underwood, PCIS chair.
The budget proposal is asking Congress for US$29 million to buy land in Guam.
PCIS said the projects came from military commanders stationed on Guam and Honolulu.
“Apparently, when it comes to responding to community concerns, military commands here and in Honolulu are MIA,” Underwood said.
Industry stakeholders have noted that housing costs are driven up by military personnel who live outside the fence and are reimbursed for their rent and other housing expenses. The costs are no longer affordable to Guam’s working families.
Rental units, especially in select neighborhoods, are being accused of jacking up their prices and pricing out many members of the Guam community from these areas. This has led to a persistent housing crisis in Guam.
Overall, the proposed DoW expenditure for FY27 projects on Guam, totaling US$1.456 trillion, will mostly go to ongoing projects, PCIS said.
Of that total proposed expenditure for Guam, 57 percent is for increments to ongoing projects or for cost to complete, such as replacing some housing at Anderson Air Force base or for communications upgrades, PCIS said.
Just over 30 percent of proposed expenditures are for new projects, it added.
About 13 percent of the proposed expenditures are related to work being done on the missile shield being built in Guam, the Enhanced Integrated Air and Missile Defence System, PCIS said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – EDUCATION BILL: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Corporal punishment clause removed from Fiji Education Bill
SUVA, 29 APRIL 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — The Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights has recommended the complete removal of Clause 73 on corporal punishment from the Fiji Education Bill (Bill No. 34 of 2025), despite strong public support for its return.
In its report to Parliament, the Committee said there was “no justification” for including provisions on corporal punishment, citing constitutional protections for children under Section 41(d), which guarantees the right “to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, any form of violence, inhumane treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour.”
The Committee acknowledged that public submissions revealed mixed but significant support for corporal punishment. Of those who responded, 60 per cent agreed that school heads should be allowed to administer it.
However, the Committee’s own consultations at community-level meetings found even stronger sentiment, with more than 90 per cent of participants supporting the return of corporal punishment in schools and at home.
Despite this, the Committee maintained that the Constitution provides clear guidance on the issue, reinforcing the need to prioritise child protection over public opinion.
The report has now been tabled in Parliament for consideration as debate on the Education Bill continues…. PACNEWS
PNG – BIRD OF PARADISE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
PNG birds of Paradise breeding active
PORT MORESBY, 29 APRIL 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — The Port Moresby Nature Park is driving a conservation effort, through its Birds of Paradise breeding programme, to protect the iconic species, while easing pressure on wild populations and strengthening long-term survival.
Chief executive officer Johnpaul Houston said the Nature Park’s main objectives were on conservation, research and education.
The park’s breeding programme is a long-term, science driven effort to breed multiple species of birds of paradise in captivity, particularly the national bird, the Raggiana.
He said that by September next year, the park would host an international bird of paradise symposium to bring specialists together and establish a special volunteer working group under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Centre for Species Survival (IUCN) for the research and conservation of these species.
The birds are kept within specialised facilities, such as the Plumes of Paradise precinct at the park, which comprises aviaries carefully designed to replicate natural conditions such as height for courtship displays, vegetation and the controlled separation of males and females to support breeding behaviour.
He explained that it was a capacity building project that the park uses to teach its keepers on what to look for, when to act, how to promote the birds to lay eggs and hatch them. Since then, the park has seen an increase in success of its breeding programme.
The park works with the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) – the Government entity that permits the park to keep these protected species of birds.
“Every year Cepa comes out to the park for inspections, and the park provides a report four times a year,” he said.
Port Moresby Nature Park conservations manager Francis Gundu said the park relied on the rescue and rehabilitation of these birds to carry out its breeding programme.
“We only receive animals that are surrendered to the park by the public,” he added.
“We also work with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) which bring to the park animals they confiscate.”
There are currently four birds of paradise species included in the breeding programme.
They are the Raggiana Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea Raggiana), Growling Riflebird (Ptiloris intercedens), Trumpet Manucode (Phonygammus keraudrenii) and Crinkle-collared Manucode (Manucodia chalybatus).
The Raggiana Bird of Paradise is part of an international breeding programme, while the other species are part of the institution’s breeding programme.
He explained that these species were successfully bred because the park had acquired a male and a female bird through the rescue and rehabilitation programme.
There have been eight successful outcomes from the programme since 2018, following the opening of the Plumes of Paradise precinct that was specifically built to study and support the breeding behaviour of the birds.
However, the park spent several years developing skills and conditions needed to successfully breed these species.
It was in 2021 that it had its first success with the breeding of a Raggiana Bird of Paradise chick.
Apart from the Raggiana, the park has also achieved the first captive breeding of the Growling Riflebird, highlighting its growing expertise in managing species that are notoriously difficult to breed.
Importantly, the breeding programme is part of an international conservation network, contributing to global efforts to preserve these species.
It also supports local conservation goals by reducing reliance on wild-caught birds for the use of traditional feathers, advancing national research on PNG’s native wildlife and educating the public through conservation campaigns and outreach.
There are three education campaigns carried out by the park during visits by schools.
They include the Lukautim Bilas Belong Yumi, City Kids Do Not Eat Bush Meat and Do Not Buy Wildlife as Pets.
Gundu said that the Lukautim Bilas Belong Yumi campaign was to teach the public alternative ways to source feathers for traditional attires.
The campaign teaches them that instead of constantly collecting new martials from the wild, especially birds of paradise feathers, people could care for and reuse existing traditional items, store them properly so they last longer.
Ultimately this would reduce the hunting for the birds of paradise.
The park also encourages passive learning through the placement of signage within the aviaries to educate visitors on the different species kept at the park.
He said that apart from their education programmes, the wildlife team at the park carried out Keeper Talks every weekend at the park.
It is where the public is educated on the three campaigns.
“We also have our animal ambassadors that are included during campaign talks.
“This is done so that the public can interact with these animals while learning about them,” Gundu said.
The park would also look into establishing a facility for research, conservation and breeding of Birds of Paradise species that would be similar to the Tree Kangaroo Rescue and Breeding Centre.
This would be a dedicate space that would be off display, except for partial viewing of the eggs and chicks for education purpose…. PACNEWS
FIJI – ANT FAUNA: MONGABAY PACNEWS 3: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Novel DNA research shows massive native ant decline over hundreds of years in Fiji
SUVA, 29 APRIL 2026 (MONGABAY) — Scientists conducting a DNA analysis of ant specimens collected from across Fiji have been able to reconstruct how entire ant populations rose and fell over thousands of years.
The findings, based on specimens held at museums, showed that nearly 80 percent of the archipelago’s 88 endemic ant species have been declining since humans first arrived there 3,000 years ago, while a small number of nonnative species expanded their populations.
“It can be difficult to estimate historical changes to insect populations, because with few exceptions, we haven’t been directly monitoring populations over time,” co-author Evan Economo, a biologist at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan, and the University of Maryland, U.S, wrote in a statement.
The new methodology, called community genomics, uses DNA to infer large-scale population patterns across entire ecological communities, rather than just one or a few species. It’s especially useful for studying insects, as their populations are difficult to assess in the wild.
“The genomes hold evidence of whether populations are growing or shrinking,” Economo said.
Researchers found a sharp decline starting around 300 years ago, roughly corresponding with the arrival of Europeans, industrial agriculture, and introduced species.
Fiji’s ant fauna, mainly found in intact, high-elevation forests, were shaped by at least 65 colonisation events, the study found.
A total of 88 species are endemic to Fiji, while 16 species arrived after European colonisation.
“The findings confirm once more what we have been saying for the past decade: that human impacts are having a significant toll on most insects, including ants, which are known by their resilience to ecological change,” Francisco Sánchez-Bayo, an ecologist at the University of Sydney, Australia, who wasn’t involved in the study, told Mongabay by email.
In 2019, Sánchez-Bayo co-authored a landmark review that found that 40 percent of insect species are threatened with extinction.
He said island ecosystems, which often host a large number of endemic species, are especially vulnerable to extinctions; most recorded animal and plant extinctions have occurred on islands. Invasive species, which are highly adaptable, are a main driver of insect decline worldwide.
One of Fiji’s native ant species, Philidris nagasau, is the only nonhuman animal known to practice true plant agriculture. It farms large Squamellaria colonies by planting and fertilizing plants under tree bark. The ants then feed on the flowers produced.
The research also highlights the importance of museum specimen collections for science. More than 4,100 specimens across 144 ant species were sequenced for the study.
“Collections are not just some old stuff we store in the attic,” Economo said. “They become more valuable over time as the information they contain is unlocked in ways that may have been unimaginable to the people who originally collected the specimens’ decades or centuries ago…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – AUDIT REPORT: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Forum audit raises accountability pressure over finances
SUVA, 29 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Pacific Islands Forum has released its 2023 Audited Financial statements, setting out its financial position, audit findings and the steps being taken to tighten oversight and accountability across the region’s premier political body.
The report provides a detailed breakdown of the Forum Secretariat’s finances, confirming how funds were received, managed and spent during the 2023 financial year, while underscoring the importance of transparency to member countries and development partners.
According to the audited statements, the Secretariat continued to operate within established financial frameworks, with systems in place to track expenditure, manage resources and support programme delivery across priority areas.
The audit reviewed compliance with financial regulations, internal controls and reporting standards, assessing whether funds were used in line with approved budgets and strategic objectives.
The Forum said the audited financial statements are a key accountability tool, ensuring that all financial activities are subject to independent scrutiny and that member states have a clear picture of how regional resources are being managed.
The report highlights that maintaining strong financial governance remains critical, particularly at a time when the Pacific is dealing with economic pressures, climate-related challenges and increasing demand for coordinated regional action.
It also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve financial systems, strengthen internal controls and enhance reporting processes to meet international standards.
The Secretariat acknowledged that sound financial management is central to delivering results, noting that effective use of resources directly impacts the success of regional programmes and initiatives.
The audited statements also serve as a benchmark for future planning, helping to identify areas where efficiencies can be improved and where resources can be better aligned with regional priorities.
The Forum reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening governance and ensuring that financial systems remain robust, transparent and accountable to its members.
The 2023 Audited Financial Statements will be presented to Forum leaders and member governments as part of the organisation’s formal oversight and reporting processes, reinforcing its obligation to maintain trust and credibility across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PALAU – FINANCIAL CRIMES/SCAMS: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Palau agencies strengthen fight against financial crimes amid rise in online scams
KOROR, 29 APRIL 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Law enforcement and regulatory agencies in Palau are strengthening coordination to investigate and prevent financial crimes, officials said during a recent public programme.
Jolanda Warren, an investigator with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Bureau of Public Safety, said her work involves close collaboration with agencies including the Financial Institutions Commission and the Financial Intelligence Unit, as well as other partners.
Financial crimes under investigation range from embezzlement and fraud to bribery, forgery, misuse of public funds and credit card theft.
“This year we worked on one major financial crime case and have submitted it to the Attorney General for action,” Warren said. “I still have many other cases pending on my desk.”
Officials from the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Financial Institutions Commission said their roles include monitoring money laundering and suspicious cross-border transactions. They also ensure financial institutions comply with the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
“Part of what we do is ensure that financial institutions in Palau have the proper processes in place to prevent money laundering and related criminal activities,” said Kara Remeliik of the Financial Intelligence Unit.
Joline Ngoriakl of the Palau Digital Citizenship Initiative warned that expanding internet access in Palau has increased exposure to online financial crimes. The rise of artificial intelligence tools is also creating new risks for potential victims.
Authorities said limited manpower and low public awareness — particularly around online scams — remain key challenges for enforcement efforts.
Jeremy Lee of the Financial Intelligence Unit said plans are underway to launch a public awareness campaign aimed at helping residents recognise and avoid financial scams.
The discussion took place during the “Uncovering Financial Crimes in Palau” programme held at Palau Community College, which brought together representatives from multiple agencies involved in financial crime investigations…. PACNEWS
PALAU – TOURISM INDUSTRY: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 29 Apr 2026
Palau sees strong Q1 2026 visitor growth despite March slowdown
KOROR, 29 APRIL 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — Palau’s tourism sector posted strong growth in the first quarter of 2026, with visitor arrivals rising sharply year over year and travel patterns pointing to a maturing, experience-driven market, according to newly released data.
Total arrivals from January to March reached 24,379, a 39 percent increase from 17,739 during the same period in 2025, signaling continued recovery and expansion of the country’s tourism industry.
China emerged as the dominant source market, contributing 8,892 visitors or 36 percent of total arrivals, followed by Japan (16 percent), Taiwan (15 percent), and the United States/Canada (13 percent). Europe, Australia, South Korea and other markets made up the remainder, reflecting a broad and diversified visitor base.
Growth was recorded across all major markets, with the strongest gains seen from Australia (+107 percent), South Korea (+92 percent), Japan (+59 percent) and China (+55 percent). Taiwan posted more modest growth at 6 percent, suggesting stabilization in that segment.
March arrivals totaled 7,360 visitors, down 20 percent from February’s peak of 9,209, reflecting a seasonal slowdown following a strong February. Despite the decline, March figures were still 29 percent higher than March 2025, underscoring sustained year-over-year growth.
China remained the top market in March with 2,407 visitors, followed by Japan (1,262), USA/Canada (1,128), and Taiwan (959). Europe, Australia, South Korea and other markets continued to contribute smaller but steady shares.
Notably, China’s share dropped from 45 percent in February to 33 percent in March, indicating shifting monthly dynamics, while the U.S/Canada segment increased its share from 9 percent to 15 percent, suggesting strengthening long-haul demand.
Visitor entry data shows that 78% of March arrivals were first-time visitors, compared to 22% repeat travelers, highlighting Palau’s continued success in attracting new tourists rather than relying primarily on returning guests.
The visitor profile indicates a mature, higher-spending demographic, with the largest age groups between 30–39 and 40–49 years old, followed by travelers aged 60 and above.
Gender distribution remained balanced, with a slight male majority.
Tourism remains overwhelmingly leisure-focused, with 93.9 percent of visitors traveling for vacation in March. Smaller segments included visiting friends and relatives (3.8 percent) and business or conferences (2.3 percent).
Top activities reported by visitors included scuba diving, snorkeling, sightseeing, and cultural or historical tours, reinforcing Palau’s reputation as a premier marine and eco-tourism destination.
Travel discovery trends show that the internet remains the leading source of information (40 percent), followed by recommendations from friends and family (22 percent). Tour operators, social media, travel agents and repeat visits also played supporting roles.
Accommodation patterns indicate strong demand for full-service stays, with 58.7 percent of visitors staying in hotels and 33 percent in resorts, while smaller shares opted for motels and liveaboards.
The increase in arrivals was supported by a mix of scheduled and charter flights. Major carriers in the first quarter included United Airlines, China Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and Cambodia Airways, alongside newer entrants such as Philippine Airlines, which launched service at the end of March.
United Airlines accounted for the largest share of arrivals at approximately 28.5 percent, followed by China Airlines at 26.5 percent.
The first quarter data suggests Palau is not only recovering but expanding its tourism base, driven by diversified markets, strong leisure demand, and increasing global visibility. However, the March slowdown highlights the continued influence of seasonal travel patterns and the need for sustained market development…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Declaration – Indigenous Peoples Set Minimum Standards for Just Transition, First Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Conference
SANTA MARTA, 29 APRIL 2026 (OPIAC) — “Indigenous Peoples are rights-holders, self-governing Peoples, and guardians of our territories and Mother Earth. Without the right to self-determination, Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and the legal protection and security of our territories, lands and waters, there is no climate, environmental and economic justice. The Just Transition recognises that humans are inseparable from Earth and nature. The Just Transition and phase out of fossil fuels must be built with us or it will not be just.”
A Just Transition is grounded in the effective respect of our right to self-determination and must be based on the guarantee of our internationally recognised inherent and distinct collective rights over our territories, land and waters. It is not limited to the substitution of energy sources; it must not reproduce forms of colonialism and extractivism such as those that characterize fossil fuel exploitation, nor contribute to armed conflict or promote the militarization of Indigenous Peoples’ territories.
For Indigenous Peoples of the world, respect for our right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent, our own governance systems, cosmovision, spirituality, and our full, effective, inclusive, gender-responsive, intergenerational participation and representation in decision-making; respect for our knowledge systems, sciences, governance, practices, and our own and regenerative economies, Indigenous jurisprudence, customary rights; and the legal protection of our territories, lands, and waters, are indispensable for a true Just Transition.
Furthermore, a Just Transition must guarantee respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI), as well as the Principle of No Contact that applies to them. It must also ensure the protection, safety, and non-criminalisation of Indigenous defenders.
Considering the provision adopted by COP30 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in its UAE Just Transition Work Programme, paragraph 12.i, which states:
“…The importance of the rights of Indigenous Peoples including their right to free, prior and informed consent and the importance of ensuring that all just transition pathways respect, protect and promote the distinct, collective and internationally recognised rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to self-determination, and acknowledge the specific rights and protections for Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact, in accordance with relevant international human rights instruments and principles;”
When read together with paragraphs 13, 25 and 26 of the same documents, this paragraph 12.i reaffirms that the design and implementation of Just Transition pathways should centre the rights of Indigenous Peoples, incorporating our proposals and contributions.
As a result of our deliberations and agreements reached during the preparation process toward the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, Indigenous Peoples from the different socio-cultural regions introduce the minimum standards for the discussions during the Conference and for their inclusion in its outcomes:
ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES FOR A JUST TRANSITION
The principles that guide this position reflect our holistic vision of a Just Transition. They are not isolated elements; rather, they are grounded in an approach that brings together the rights, systems of knowledge and governance of Indigenous Peoples to transform the economic model in a way that enables a true Just Transition.
1. Right to self-determination and self-governance of Indigenous Peoples: As adopted by COP30 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in its UAE Just Transition Work Programme, paragraph 12.i, the transition must fully respect and guarantee our right to self-determination. We are Indigenous Peoples with our own governments who, by right, decide over our territories, lands, and waters, our ways of life, and our own pathways toward the Just Transition. Our decisions must be respected in all policies, initiatives, and projects to be implemented in or affecting our territories, lands, and waters, in order to avoid repeating historical relationships of subordination, dispossession and imposition.
2. Free, Prior and Informed Consent as a non-negotiable right: No measure, policy, or project related to the transition should proceed without our free, prior and informed consent. This is not a simple consultation process, but the full exercise of our right to decide, including the right to deny such consent.
3. Indigenous governance, representation, and full, equitable, inclusive, effective, and gender-responsive participation in decision-making: As authorities, governments and Nations with decision-making rights at all levels of climate governance, our role as key actors in the Just Transition must be recognised and respected. Our participation must be funded to ensure full and effective participation in all stages of the decision making processes that affect or could affect our territories, lands, and waters, as well as our lives and ways of life.
4. Legal and ancestral protection of our rights to our territories, lands, and waters for the exercise of our right to self-determination: For us, territory is not a resource, but the foundation of life, culture, governance, and spirituality; through our Indigenous knowledge systems and sciences, we organize, protect, and sustain life.
The Just Transition must guarantee the territorial integrity of Mother Earth as well as our territorial rights, including sub-surface rights; the recognition of the use, traditional possession and collective ownership of our lands; and the safeguarding of our sacred landscapes, recognising the legally binding nature of our cultural and spiritual relationships with our territories, lands and waters. All these actions form the basis of climate action and biodiversity conservation.
5. Protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI) and exclusion of extractive activities: The protection of the rights of PIACI constitutes a collective responsibility and an ethical imperative for humanity. Guaranteeing their right to self-determination and the principle of no contact, as well as ensuring the legal protection of their territories by adopting measures to designate them as exclusion zones for extractive activities, land-use change, and energy infrastructure, is a non-negotiable element of a Just Transition. This exclusion must also be applied in the territories of other Indigenous Peoples who so determine within the framework of their autonomy.
6. Protection of the rights of Indigenous defenders: Indigenous defenders face disproportionate levels of violence, criminalization, and stigmatization associated with extractive activities. A Just Transition requires guaranteeing respect for the rights to life, liberty, security, freedom of expression, and freedom of association of Indigenous defenders, among other rights enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, while strengthening our own systems of care and collective protection. This includes implementing measures for prevention, protection, and non-repetition, recognizing our role in defending our territories, lands, and waters, and ensuring the investigation, sanction, and effective reparation of Human Rights violations.
7. Specific protection for Indigenous women, children, youth, and elders, gender-diverse and persons with disabilities: The differentiated impacts of extractive activities on Indigenous women, children, youth, elders, gender-diverse and persons with disabilities, must be addressed through the urgent implementation of measures to guarantee their safety, well-being and physical, mental, and spiritual health. A Just Transition cannot ignore or fail to address these differentiated impacts.
8. Elimination and non-repetition of extractivism: The transition must not become a new form of colonial extractivism that perpetuates models that exploit our territories, lands, and waters and generate the accumulation of wealth for a few at the expense of life on the planet. A Just Transition must not allow the imposition of mineral extraction activities, nuclear energy and its proliferation, hydro energy, agribusiness, acceleration of petrochemicals, land dispossession and land grabbing in our territories.
9. Territorial, social, cultural, and spiritual reparation and restoration: It is necessary to guarantee the right of Indigenous Peoples to reparation in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ILO Convention 169.1 A Just Transition must include frameworks to halt, reverse, and restore the environmental, social, cultural, and spiritual impacts of extractive activities and land-use change linked to fossil fuels, transition minerals, petrochemical industry and its applications, agribusiness, and biofuel production in the territories, lands, and waters of Indigenous Peoples.
10. Contribution of Indigenous knowledge systems and sciences: Our Indigenous knowledge systems and sciences—including their cultural foundations for care, regeneration, and balance within our territories—must be recognised and strengthened as a basis for a Just Transition within a framework of environmental justice.
11. Direct, accessible, adequate, and sustained climate funding and financing: In the context of climate justice, Indigenous Peoples require direct funding and financing for the implementation of our Just Transition strategies, initiatives, programs, and projects, designed and led by us, including through our own financial mechanisms.
12. Reject climate false solutions: nuclear energy, geoengineering, and other imposed false solutions fail to address the root causes of the climate crisis and enable the fossil fuels corporations and high-emitting countries to greenwash their activities. Geoengineering, comprising carbon dioxide removal technologies, solar radiation modification and ocean marine manipulation, poses grave risks to ecosystems, biodiversity and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. This includes the new forms of tech-based colonialism.
13. Move away from market mechanisms and financialization of Nature: The transition must focus on leaving fossil fuels in the ground, rather than relying on offset mechanisms that commodify nature. In accordance with our right to self-determination, Indigenous Peoples maintain the right to consent or withdraw consent at any point throughout our participation in these mechanisms. In all cases, it is necessary to take actionable steps to address the harms of sacrifice zones and remedy the negative impacts caused by these market systems.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO EACH PILLAR
As Indigenous Peoples, we present our contributions to develop and deepen the proposals defined under each Pillar of the Conference, in accordance with the outlined principles:
Pillar 1: Overcoming economic dependence on fossil fuels.
As actionable proposals, we present the text in italics for inclusion in the Final Report under Pillar 1.
a. “To overcome economic dependence on fossil fuels, it is essential to recognise, respect, develop, and strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ own and regenerative economies.”
The recognition and strengthening of Indigenous Peoples’ own and regenerative economies is central to overcoming dependence on fossil fuels and as a foundation for sustainability, food sovereignty, and territorial autonomy within a Just Transition and phase-out of fossil fuels. This recognition must be consistent with Indigenous knowledge systems, sciences, and governance, guaranteeing the right to self-determination, governance, Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, and respect for their territories, lands, and waters.
b. “To overcome economic dependence on fossil fuels, it is essential to guarantee direct, accessible, territorial, adequate, and sustained climate funding and financing for Indigenous Peoples.”
Within the framework of climate justice, we propose ensuring our direct access to funding and financing for the implementation of our Just Transition strategies, initiatives, programs, and projects, designed and led by us, including the strengthening of our own financial mechanisms. This funding must ensure that Indigenous Peoples have direct and equitable access to it, within their territories at the regional and local level, preventing centralisation and the use of intermediaries.
c. “To overcome economic dependence on fossil fuels through economic diversification and avoid repeating extractivist schemes, it is essential to implement traceability mechanisms for investments in alternative productive activities proposed to transition beyond fossil fuels.”
It is necessary to prevent climate funding and financing from being directed toward projects that impact the territories, lands, and waters of Indigenous Peoples without their Free, Prior and Informed Consent. For this reason, it is essential to implement investment traceability mechanisms to ensure transparency, regulatory compliance, and accountability of such investments, and to ensure that Indigenous Peoples can access this information.
Pillar 2: Transforming the supply and demand of fossil fuels
As actionable proposals, Indigenous Peoples have submitted the text in italics for inclusion in the Final Report under Pillar 2.
To transform the supply and demand of fossil fuels, it is essential to:
a. “Guarantee respect for the right to self-determination, including over territorial and environmental planning defined by Indigenous Peoples, and their right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent in the design and implementation of activities and projects related to the energy transition.”
b. “Safeguard against the shifting from fossil fuel dependency to the production of petrochemical materials and plastics products. This includes ammonium-based fertilizers and agricultural synthetic pesticides.”
c. “Halt the expansion of extractive activities, land-use change, and infrastructure development in the territories of Indigenous Peoples, particularly in the territories of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI), adopting, for these and for other Indigenous Peoples who so determine within the framework of their autonomy, legal measures to designate them as exclusion zones for any extractive activities, land-use change, and/or infrastructure development related to the energy sector and tech-based solutions.”
d. “Immediately scale back the duration of concessions for extractive activities carried out in Indigenous territories that impact the guarantee of their rights and their territories; do not expand existing concessions; and do not grant new extractive concessions.”
e. “Halt, reverse, and restore the territorial, social, cultural, and spiritual impacts of extractive activities and land-use change linked to fossil fuels, transition minerals, and biofuel production in the territories, lands, and waters of Indigenous Peoples, and adopt the corresponding reparation measures when applicable in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ILO Convention No. 169.”
f. “Guarantee representativeness and full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in all stages of decision-making processes related to energy security, energy sovereignty, and the Just Transition, particularly within their territories. This includes mining and energy regulations; as well as the design, planning, implementation, monitoring, closure, decommissioning of plans, programmes and projects; and restoration and clean up of territories. This should also include funding for the meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples.”
g. ‘Prioritise the activities and initiatives of Indigenous Peoples that contribute to local, regional, and global climate regulation, including their pathways for a Just Transition, when considering schemes for the elimination and/or redirection of fossil fuel subsidies and incentives for low-carbon technologies.”
h. “Develop and strengthen decentralized energy systems designed and owned by Indigenous Peoples, ensuring their production and management in accordance with their right to self-determination.”
Pillar 3: Advancing international cooperation and climate diplomacy
International cooperation must be transformed to ensure climate justice and the recognition of Indigenous Peoples as actors with decision-making power. In this regard, as actionable proposals, Indigenous Peoples submit the text in italics for inclusion in the Final Report under Pillar 3.
a. “Consider equitable coalitions between governments and Indigenous Peoples, recognising that Indigenous Peoples are governed by their own governance systems, which have resulted in the effective conservation of their territories, lands, and waters.”
b. “Guarantee the representativeness and full, equitable, inclusive, effective, and gender-responsive participation of Indigenous Peoples in all stages of decision-making.”
In order for the solutions promoted to be practical, to strengthen multilateral objectives, and to effectively address the climate challenge, it is necessary to fund and guarantee the representativeness and full, equitable, inclusive, effective, and gender-responsive participation of Indigenous Peoples in all stages of decision-making, contributing to inclusive governance and global climate cooperation in the Just Transition.
c. “Protect the territories of Indigenous Peoples through their legal and ancestral recognition, including their sacred landscapes, titling and demarcation, to ensure their connectivity and conservation, while always respecting the right to self-determination and their governance systems over their territories, lands, and waters, so that environmental responses function when implemented in a coordinated manner.”
d. “Recognise and uphold all international conventions and agreements affirming the Rights of Indigenous Peoples including ILO 169 alongside existing and future agreements.”
Nothing in these contributions should undermine the rights Indigenous Peoples currently hold or shall hold in the future, including Article 45 of the United Nations Declaration Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It is also necessary to include in the content of the Pillars and in the Conference, outcome report the following safeguards:
a. Guarantee respect for the right to self-determination and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples, in accordance with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the full exercise of their right to decide, including the right to withhold such consent, while respecting their governance systems and systems of knowledge.
b. Recognition and respect for the rights and protection of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact (PIACI), in accordance with relevant international human rights instruments and principles, and in line with the provision adopted by COP30 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change under the UAE Just Transition Work Programme.
c. Recognition and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems, sciences and data sovereignty as a foundational element for defining the transition, particularly within the territories of Indigenous Peoples and in relation to their territories, lands, and waters.
d. Guarantees for the protection, safety, and non-criminalization of Indigenous defenders.
e. Implementation of investment traceability mechanisms, ensuring transparency, regulatory compliance, and accountability in transition-related plans, programs, initiatives, and projects, and ensuring that Indigenous Peoples can access this information.
f. Implementation of direct, accessible, and culturally appropriate climate funding and financing for Indigenous Peoples, avoiding intermediaries that limit their autonomy and oriented toward strengthening their territorial initiatives, ways of life, and their own solutions to address climate change.
g. Guarantees for the full respect of the rights of Indigenous Peoples, particularly the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, in the design, implementation, and monitoring of market-based instruments to address climate change and advance the transition.
h. Guarantees for the energy security and sovereignty of Indigenous Peoples, strengthening their own systems of generation, use, and management of energy, and avoiding the imposition of projects that undermine their right to self-determination. Equitable, sufficient, and culturally appropriate access to renewable energy, without generating harm to their territories, ways of life, and rights.
i. Full, effective, inclusive, and gender-responsive participation and representation of Indigenous Peoples in defining, negotiating, and adopting priorities related to the Just Transition, including resource mobilization, capacity-building, and technological and knowledge exchange.
j. Implementation of coordinated responses to halt, reverse, repair and restore the various transboundary and regional impacts affecting Indigenous Peoples and their territories, related to extractive activities and land-use change in the energy sector.
k. Uphold the existing UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) de facto moratorium on geoengineering and apply the precautionary principle under the London Convention/Protocol.
l. All relevant actors—including governments, the private sector, and corporations—must address their climate debt through direct public finance and prioritize absolute and direct emissions reductions, avoiding reliance on market-based schemes, such as those related to carbon and biodiversity, and any other current or future offset mechanisms that commodify nature. This must always be done while respecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.
m. Respect the natural and ancestral order of Indigenous Peoples’ territories as a means of ensuring the holistic care and sustainability of life across the entire planet, for humanity, non-human beings, and the universe, always placing life at the centre.
Having presented this proposal, we expect that our standards are recognised, upheld, and respected in the final report. Our submission outlines the necessary solutions for the rapid and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. We will build on this work and Indigenous leadership with strengthened participation of all seven regions to land on an Indigenous roadmap of actionable steps that transition away from fossil fuels…. PACNEWS
For media inquiries: Abubakr Uqdah, auqdah@burness.com +1 202 553-0314 (WhatsApp)
