In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Vanuatu calls for urgent ocean stewardship on World Oceans Day amid climate and biodiversity threats
2. PALAU — Palau challenges Russia over fake news operation, raises security concerns ahead of Pacific Islands Forum
3. PACIFIC — Tuvalu calls for “transformational change” at GEF Assembly
4. PACIFIC — Samoa presses for easier climate funding as 2030 deadline nears
5. PACIFIC — From risk to resilience: Securing the future of atoll nations
6. PACIFIC — Fiji approves revised SPC host Country Agreement
7. PACIFIC — Pacific nations unite to strengthen cybercrime laws against growing digital threats
8. PACNEWS BIZ — PALM workers unable to re-engage, encouraged to return home
9. PACNEWS BIZ — ADB evaluation urges shift to long-term, tailored support for Pacific and other small Island states
10. PACNEWS BIZ — IMF flags cost of living crisis, says Fiji needs productivity boost
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Q&A: ADB’s Role in Mitigating Energy Impacts of the Middle East Conflict
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — What Fit in a Suitcase – and What Didn’t
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Extreme heat and coral reefs: What it means for Asia and the Pacific
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Tue 09 Jun 2026
Vanuatu calls for urgent ocean stewardship on World Oceans Day amid climate and biodiversity threats
By Sanjeshni Kumar
SUVA, 09 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS) — As the world marked World Oceans Day, Pacific leaders have renewed calls for stronger global and regional action to protect marine ecosystems, warning that rising climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are placing increasing pressure on ocean health.
Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management, Ralph Regenvanu, said the ocean is now central to global development conversations and must be treated as a shared responsibility across nations.
“The health of the oceans reflects the health of the people,” he said, stressing that Pacific communities have long understood the ocean as both a source of life and identity.
He said the region is now facing a “triple planetary crisis”, climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, requiring urgent and coordinated action from governments working alongside communities.
Regenvanu highlighted recent international legal and political developments that he said strengthen the global framework for ocean protection, including the entry into force of the Convention on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions.
“We celebrate that we have had the Convention on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions ratified this year, coming into force this year, which is a huge step forward,” he said.
He also pointed to a growing recognition of ocean protection under international law, referencing a recent United Nations General Assembly outcome supporting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on climate change obligations, which affirmed state obligations in relation to the right to a healthy and sustainable environment.
“This is a human right of all citizens of the world, and the governments have an obligation to fulfil this right,” he said.
Across the Pacific, he noted, countries are increasingly embedding ocean governance into national policy frameworks. Vanuatu, for example, established its first Ministry of Oceans last year and passed its first National Oceans Act.
“In fact, Tonga was first and we were second,” he said, referring to the region’s early legislative leadership on oceans management.
Regenvanu said these developments reflect a broader shift that has been building since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the 1980s, as governments increasingly recognise the importance of sustainable ocean governance.
He said protecting the ocean is not only a political or environmental priority but also a responsibility inherited from previous generations of Pacific stewardship.
“It is our responsibility to ensure this stewardship for the future generations in the same way that it has been provided for us,” he said.
Regenvanu called for sustained cooperation between governments and communities to ensure that oceans remain healthy and resilient for generations to come…. PACNEWS
PALAU – DIPLOMACY: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 1: Tue 09 Jun 2026
Palau challenges Russia over fake news operation, raises security concerns ahead of Pacific Islands Forum
KOROR, 09 JUNE 2026 (ISLAND TIMES) — The Government of Palau has formally protested to the Russian Federation over what it describes as a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting Pacific leaders, including President Surangel Whipps Jr, and concerns involving Russian-linked personnel working within Palau’s telecommunications infrastructure.
In a diplomatic démarche delivered through the Ministry of State, Palau accused Russian-hosted infrastructure of facilitating a fake news operation that falsely announced the deaths of three Pacific leaders, including President Whipps, and spread fabricated documents and impersonated media content across multiple social media platforms.
The government said the operation specifically targeted leaders expected to attend the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting scheduled to be hosted by Palau later this year.
According to government officials, a forensic technical investigation traced the campaign to infrastructure registered and hosted within the Russian Federation.
Officials said the content was distributed through Russian-based hosting services using geo-fencing and other techniques commonly associated with sophisticated influence operations.
The diplomatic protest follows a series of fake social media posts and cloned news content discovered in May. One incident involved a fabricated article designed to mimic an Island Times news report, prompting concerns that the publication’s website had been compromised. Further investigation determined the site had been cloned and used to distribute false information regarding President Whipps.
Government officials have now linked those incidents to a broader disinformation campaign that they say raises significant national security concerns.
“The Government of Palau takes any threat to our sovereignty, our leaders and our critical systems extremely seriously,” officials stated, adding that the matter is being addressed through diplomatic, legal and technical channels consistent with international law.
As part of its démarche, Palau has requested that the Russian government take six actions:
*Immediately cease, or ensure the cessation of, any disinformation or cyber operations originating from Russian territory or infrastructure targeting Palau and other Pacific nations.
*Preserve and provide hosting and account records associated with the infrastructure used in the campaign for law enforcement investigations.
*Provide a full accounting of Russian telecommunications engineers working in Palau, including their identities, qualifications and any official affiliations.
*Offer written assurances that no operations are being conducted to undermine Pacific leaders or the upcoming Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
*Fully cooperate with international law enforcement referrals connected to the investigation.
*Acknowledge that Palau reserves its rights under international law to pursue additional diplomatic, legal and protective measures if necessary.
The government has requested a formal written response from Russia within 30 days.
Officials described the situation as a “Dual Russian Vector Convergence,” referring to what they say are two simultaneous Russia-linked concerns.
The first involves the disinformation campaign hosted on Russian infrastructure. The second concerns the presence of a Russian telecommunications engineer reportedly installing equipment and software within networks supporting Palau’s critical communications and health systems.
Government officials said the convergence of those two factors elevates the threat level to a matter of national security.
While declining to discuss any specific impacts on government or health systems, officials said the presence of personnel linked to a country whose infrastructure was simultaneously hosting a hostile influence operation creates unacceptable risks.
“Our concern is that critical infrastructure, particularly systems carrying sensitive personal and health data, is being serviced by technical personnel linked to a state whose infrastructure is also hosting a hostile influence operation,” officials said.
The government said protecting the integrity of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting remains a top priority.
Palau is seeking assurances that no further influence operations will target Pacific heads of state or the regional summit itself.
Officials said evidence gathered during the investigation has been shared with Palauan and international law enforcement agencies and that discussions are continuing with international partners, including those under Palau’s Compact of Free Association relationship with the United States.
The government warned that a failure by Russia to provide a substantive response could factor into future assessments of bilateral relations and potential additional diplomatic or legal actions.
Officials emphasised that Palau remains committed to defending its sovereignty, democratic institutions and critical infrastructure while working with international partners to address emerging cyber and information threats…. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Tue 09 Jun 2026
Tuvalu calls for “transformational change” at GEF Assembly
SAMARKAND, 09 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Tuvalu’s Minister for Environment, Maina Vakafua Talia, has urged governments and partners at the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to move beyond gradual reform and deliver what he called “transformational change” to confront climate and environmental crises.
Speaking on behalf of Tuvalu’s government and people, he said the Assembly marked significant milestones as the GEF 8 cycle ends and GEF 9 begins.
Talia framed the meeting as a turning point for global environmental action.
“We are at a critical juncture in our spirit toward the 2030 sustainability targets,” he said, adding that countries must build on this spirit – the spirit of genuine partnership and shared responsibilities.
He said the world is under pressure from funding gaps and ecological decline and argued that governments must act with greater ambition.
“We therefore must commit to move beyond incremental change to deliver transformational change,” he said.
He also called for deeper use of blended finance, private-sector engagement, and science-based systems change.
“Small island developing states and least developed countries must be treated as especially vulnerable in the development architecture.
“We must guarantee that resilience and sustainable development is inclusive; we cannot achieve global environmental sustainability leaving any country or any community behind.”
Talia pointed to Tuvalu’s own exposure to climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation, saying the country experiences the interconnected realities of those crises firsthand.
“The Global Environment Facility, through its LDCF and STAR mechanisms, provides “the financial resources that generate lasting impacts on the ground” and turns commitments into action.”
Looking ahead to GEF 9, Talia said Tuvalu welcomes the new programming direction and urged the Assembly to scale up ambition.
“Let us use the framework, the strategies, and the momentum built here in Samarkand to scale up investments and ambitions to deliver scalable solutions for nature, climate, and pollution,” he said.
“Tuvalu reaffirms its steadfast commitment to continue to strengthen genuine partnership to build a resilient and sustainable planet for generations to come.
Talia thanked the Government and people of Uzbekistan and the city of Samarkand for hosting the gathering, describing the city as “a historic crossroad of culture and enduring symbol of connectivity.” …. PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Tue 09 Jun 2026
Samoa presses for easier climate funding as 2030 deadline nears
SAMARAKAND, 09 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Samoa wants the Global Environment Facility Assembly (GEF) to simplify and expand climate and environmental financing for small island states, saying current access procedures are too complex and costly for countries racing to meet 2030 targets.
Delivering Samoa’s statement at the 8th GEF Assembly at Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Associate Minister for Natural Resources and Environment Taufua Edmund Taufua said the last five years of the decade were critical for island nations facing rising climate risks.
“For Small Island Developing States such as Samoa, this sprint is not only about meeting global targets, but also about safeguarding our people, our ecosystems, and our future,” he said.
Taufua said Samoa’s priorities include climate resilience, biodiversity protection, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy.
He said the government is working to integrate climate adaptation and loss and damage across all sectors and to protect forests, coral reefs, marine ecosystems, watersheds, and endangered species.
“Samoa, though a negligible contributor to global emissions, intends to keep pushing low-carbon development.
“While Samoa’s contribution to global emissions is negligible, we remain committed to demonstrating leadership by expanding renewable energy, reducing transport emissions, and advancing a low-carbon economy.”
The minister said Samoa still faces limited capacity, increasing adaptation costs, and complex access procedures for climate and environmental financing.
As talks on GEF-9 continue, Samoa wants “increased and simplified financing for SIDS,” stronger support for adaptation and locally led solutions, greater investment in environmental data and research, and deeper partnerships to speed implementation.
“The last sprint towards 2030 requires urgency, solidarity, and meaningful partnerships that ensure no country is left behind,” he said…PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: ADB PACNEWS 1: Tue 09 Jun 2026
From risk to resilience: Securing the future of atoll nations
MANILA, 09 JUNE 2026 (ADB) — Across Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu, communities are already living with the impacts of rising sea levels and extreme weather.
Through the Accelerating Atoll Adaptation (Triple-A) Initiative, ADB is working with financing partners Irish Aid and the Nordic Development Fund to support governments in delivering long-term solutions so people can continue to live safely on their islands for generations to come.
“If the rise in sea level is not arrested, then the forecast for Tuvalu is quite doomed,” said Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo.
For low‑lying atoll nations, this is not a distant warning. Across the Pacific and Indian oceans, it’s a reality already happening. One that threatens land, livelihoods, and long‑term security for hundreds of thousands of people whose lives are shaped by the ocean.
Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu are among the most at risk. With land barely two to three meters above the sea in some cases, communities in these atoll nations are already living with the consequences: flooded homes eroding shorelines, freshwater becoming increasingly salty, and declining reefs and fisheries.
“At the moment, the current predictions said that in less than 24 years, more than 50% of our land territory would be regularly flooded,” shared PM Teo.
Long-term adaptation isn’t optional. The real question is how to deliver it—quickly, reliably, and at scale—and how to pay for it? These atoll nations require tens of billions of dollars–beyond their own financial capacity.
To help, ADB has established the Accelerating Atoll Adaptation Initiative or Triple-A. It’s designed to support atoll countries as they lead their own long-term adaptation pathways, bringing planning, investment, and delivery together.
“While each nation has its own particularly unique characteristics, as a whole they share many vulnerabilities particularly the longer-term risks that threaten livelihoods, threaten physical infrastructure, and in some cases even threatens the existence of these nations,” explained ADB Director General for Pacific Department Emma Veve.
“The Triple-A initiative does strengthen resilience not only at the national level but also across the region.”
The initiative helps governments plan for the long term – blending climate science with traditional knowledge – to deliver long-term adaptation programs at scale, so people and communities can stay safe and thrive in the future.
“The Triple-A initiative with ADB allows us to scale up financing and look at ways to protect our future, supporting nature-based solutions and piloting projects and protecting our culture and our environment.” stated Marshall Islands’ Climate Envoy Kathy Jentnil-Kijiner.
Led by atoll nations themselves, the initiative is already turning resilience into reality for generations to come. …. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Tue 09 Jun 2026
Fiji approves revised SPC host Country Agreement
SUVA, 09 JUNE 2026 (FIJI GOVT) — Fiji Cabinet has approved a revised Host Country Agreement between with the Pacific Community (SPC), a move aimed at strengthening Fiji’s long-standing partnership with one of the Pacific’s leading regional development organisations.
The revised Agreement updates and clarifies provisions covering privileges and immunities, taxation, operational arrangements, and support for SPC personnel and representatives based in Fiji. The changes are intended to bring the Agreement in line with international standards and support the effective delivery of SPC’s regional programmes and technical services.
The approval also reinforces Fiji’s position as a regional hub, ensuring continued access to specialist expertise, development initiatives, and opportunities generated through SPC’s operations in the country.
The strengthened partnership will enable Fiji to continue supporting regional cooperation and development while benefiting from the knowledge, services, and employment opportunities created through SPC’s presence in Fiji…. PACNEWS
PAC – CYBER CRIME: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Tue 09 Jun 2026
Pacific nations unite to strengthen cybercrime laws against growing digital threats
NADI, 09 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Pacific Island countries are stepping up efforts to combat cybercrime, with legal experts from across the region meeting in Fiji to develop a landmark framework aimed at strengthening cybercrime laws and boosting regional defences against growing digital threats.
The Pacific Islands Law Officers Network (PILON) Cybercrime Legislation Implementation Handbook Subcommittee is holding its third in-person meeting in Nadi to finalise a regional handbook designed to help countries strengthen their legal responses to cybercrime.
The meeting has brought together senior legal representatives from Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa, Nauru, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Australia, alongside experts from the Council of Europe.
Opening the meeting Monday, Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga said the handbook would help Pacific countries build stronger legal frameworks to tackle cybercrime and protect communities, economies and institutions.
“We are all dedicated to a shared and vital cause: safeguarding our digital borders and strengthening the rule of law across our Blue Pacific Continent,” Turaga said.
“The handbook elevates Pacific voices, and the work will protect our communities, secure our economies and empower our legal systems for generations to come.”
Turaga said the initiative complemented Fiji’s efforts to strengthen digital governance through the National Digital Strategy 2025-2030, the National Cybersecurity and Resilience Strategy 2026-2031 and the Cybercrime Act 2021.
He also highlighted Fiji’s accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime and the country’s signing of the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime last December as evidence of its commitment to tackling cyber threats through international co-operation.
Tonga Attorney-General and PILON Cybercrime Working Group chair Linda Folaumoetu’i said the handbook would serve as a practical guide for countries at different stages of developing and enforcing cybercrime laws.
“It is a handbook that will enable those who are a little further behind to catch up quickly and become part of the international and regional effort to combat cybercrime,” Folaumoetu’i said.
She said work on the handbook began in 2024 after the PILON Cybercrime Working Group identified the need for practical guidance to support countries in developing, implementing and effectively using cybercrime legislation.
The handbook will cover policy development, legislative drafting and implementation, and is expected to be finalised before the 2026 PILON Annual Meeting…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – PALM WORKERS: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 09 Jun 2026
PALM workers unable to re-engage, encouraged to return home
SUVA, 09 JUNE 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — The Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Relations says it is aware of reports involving a disengaged Fijian worker in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme.
And disengagement has become a priority for the Australian government.
A spokesperson told Islands Business the issue had been the focus of a disengagement taskforce, after the department identified risks for workers who leave the programme.
“Disengaged PALM workers no longer have access to the protections of the programme, and this can lead to issues around their welfare, wellbeing and safety,” the spokesperson said.
“The number of workers disengaging from the PALM scheme has fallen, from around 10 percent in 2020-21 to three percent in 2024-25. Data for 2025-26 to date shows similar levels of disengagement to the previous year.”
The PALM scheme, which allows Pacific workers to take up short-term jobs of up to nine months and long-term jobs of up to four years, has a large Fijian cohort.
Fijians make up about 16 to 20 percent of the workforce, or roughly 5,300 to 5,500 workers at any given time.
“The Australian Government has introduced measures to strengthen protections for PALM scheme workers. This includes providing them with access to welfare and wellbeing support. A 24/7 support line is also available,” the spokesperson added.
“The department encourages workers or community members who have concerns to contact the PALM scheme support service line on 1800 51 51 31 or via PALM@dewr.gov.au.Country Liaison Officers are also available for guidance.”
The department believes the individual featured in the article is a disengaged PALM scheme worker and that workers who leave the scheme may re-engage, subject to a risk-based assessment. In contrast, those unable to re-engage are encouraged to return to their home country.
Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations, Jone Maritino Nemani, said workers in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme should stay connected to official support systems if problems arise overseas.
Nemani said the scheme offers opportunity but also carries responsibility. “Participation in the PALM Scheme is both an opportunity and a responsibility,” he said.
“Workers are selected through a competitive process and are expected to maintain satisfactory work performance, comply with workplace requirements, and uphold the values and reputation of Fiji while employed overseas.”
He said personal, family, financial or social pressures could emerge while workers were abroad, but disengaging from approved employment was not the answer.
“We recognise that challenges can arise while workers are overseas. However, disengagement from employment is not the answer,” he said.
The ministry says support includes country liaison officers, employer welfare representatives, counselling services and direct contact with officials.
It also works with Australian authorities, approved employers and community partners, including Empower Pacific and faith-based organisations.
Nemani said welfare interventions, counselling and, where appropriate, redeployment to another approved employer are available for workers facing difficulties.
“Workers are strongly encouraged to engage with these processes rather than disengage from the programme,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – EVALUATION: ADB PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 09 Jun 2026
ADB evaluation urges shift to long-term, tailored support for Pacific and other small Island states
MANILA, 09 JUNE 2026 (ADB) — A new independent evaluation by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department (IED) calls for more tailored support to address the distinct needs of Pacific and other small island developing states (SIDS), emphasising the bank’s institutional capacity as the foundation for resilience building.
The report, Waves of Resilience: Evaluation of ADB’s Support to Small Island Developing States, assessed ADB’s strategies and operations in SIDS across Asia and the Pacific during 2012–2024.
It finds that while ADB has made important strides, including increased concessional financing, expanded field presence, and stronger attention to climate and disaster risks, gaps remain in translating strategic intent into consistent operational practice.
“Supporting SIDS requires more than scaling up financing. It demands approaches aligned with country capacity, risk profiles, and long-term sustainability.
Our evaluation finds that capacity development remains insufficiently institutionalised, with gains often not embedded in systems and therefore difficult to sustain,” said IED Director General Emmanuel Jimenez.
ADB’s engagement across SIDS has grown over the years, but it can be misaligned with country capacity, vulnerability, or the need for sustained support.
The evaluation highlights that SIDS face deeply interlinked structural challenges: geographic isolation; high exposure to climate, disaster, and economic shocks; limited institutional capacity; and narrow private sectors.
Although ADB has sought to address these challenges, support is often delivered through separate interventions, which limits its impact on resilience—particularly in areas with severe capacity constraints and geographic dispersion.
“In SIDS, lasting impact requires a more coherent mix of support tailored to country-specific constraints, rather than relying primarily on stand-alone operations,” said Senior Evaluation Specialist and team leader of the report Nassreena Baddiri.
“Stronger results depend on delivery models that link financing, capacity, and implementation within longer time horizons and realistic design ambitions.”
Private sector engagement in SIDS remains limited and in its early stages. The evaluation recommends that ADB adapt its approach by linking private sector work more closely with country priorities and reforms, and by focusing on longer-term, repeat engagement rather than stand-alone transactions.
The report concludes that achieving stronger and more durable outcomes in SIDS will require aligning strategy, incentives, and operations with a shift toward longer term, system level engagement and deeper institutional strengthening…. PACNEWS
FIJI – HIGH COST OF LIVING: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 09 Jun 2026
IMF flags cost of living crisis, says Fiji needs productivity boost
SUVA, 09 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — High living costs, labour shortages and outward migration are emerging as major threats to Fiji’s long-term development goals, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In its latest assessment of the Fijian economy, the IMF said living standards are under increasing pressure due to the high cost of essential goods, particularly food and transport, while wage growth has struggled to keep pace.
The report noted that outward migration continues to create labour shortages in key sectors, affecting both private businesses and the public sector’s ability to implement reforms and infrastructure projects.
The IMF said Fiji’s ambition of becoming a high-income economy by 2050 remains achievable but will require sustained investment, stronger productivity growth and major improvements in infrastructure, governance and climate resilience.
The Fund also highlighted the need for reforms to address skills shortages, improve the business environment and strengthen public investment management.
It warned that repeated climate-related disasters continue to damage infrastructure and divert resources away from development priorities, making resilience-building investments increasingly important.
The IMF concluded that stronger governance, better implementation of development plans and continued structural reforms will be critical if Fiji is to raise living standards and achieve its long-term economic objectives…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Q&A: ADB’s Role in Mitigating Energy Impacts of the Middle East Conflict
MANILA, 09 JUNE 2026 (ADB) — The Middle East conflict is having a corrosive impact on Asia and the Pacific’s developing economies, particularly in the energy sector. Fuel costs are soaring, and economic growth is slowing as countries grapple with higher commodity prices and the prospect of widening unemployment.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is helping its member countries to stabilize their economies and maintain essential services, while taking steps to protect the region against future shocks.
A core part of ADB’s efforts to strengthen the region’s long-term energy resilience is its plan to mobilize $50 billion in support for the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative (PAGI). This will enable cross-border power trade and integrate renewable energy at scale, making electricity in the region more reliable, affordable, and sustainable.
Priyantha Wijayatunga, ADB Senior Director for Energy, explains how the Middle East conflict is affecting Asia and the Pacific’s energy landscape and ADB’s role in mitigating its impacts.
The Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) takes place amid acute global uncertainty and economic volatility. How is this affecting Asia’s energy outlook?
Around 60 percent of Asia and the Pacific’s crude oil comes from the Middle East, so supply disruptions are causing significant price hikes for diesel and gasoline in many countries. It’s a reminder that governments need to diversify energy sources and invest more in renewable energy. The situation has also highlighted the need for policies and concerted efforts—from industries to households—that encourage energy efficiency and conservation.
Some countries are already taking steps in the right direction. Cambodia and the Philippines, for example, are implementing policies to ease the importation, purchase, and use of electric vehicles as well as renewable energy sources like solar technologies. India has embarked on a program to distribute induction (electric) cookers to low-income households to move them away from liquid petroleum gas (LPG) based cooking. Other countries in the region have implemented work-from-home or reduced work week arrangements to help reduce fuel and energy needs.
How is this reshaping the region’s energy future?
We’ve seen in recent months how tighter energy supply can slow down economic activity and derail growth prospects. We need to move quickly to enhance energy efficiency, expand renewable energy such as solar and wind, and enable regional energy trade. ACEF is an ideal platform to share and discuss innovative ways to make these changes happen.
More importantly, the current situation is pushing a mindset change. Embracing clean energy and energy efficiency is no longer an option. It’s a crucial step that must be taken to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future.
Without affordable energy economic growth is constrained, and without clean energy economic growth can significantly damage the environment. There’s an obvious dollars and cents argument as well. Energy diversification and connectivity within Asia and the Pacific will reduce the region’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and exposure to price fluctuations in the world market.
Why is it important that countries in the region cooperate on energy security and connect their energy systems?
The time has come for countries to work together more closely to safeguard their economies and communities against shocks. There is a degree of cooperation now, but we need to think bigger so even the most remote communities’ benefit. An example of this bigger thinking is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Power Grid, which ADB is supporting.
The ASEAN Power Grid aims to connect power networks across ASEAN countries by 2045 to enable energy trading. By enabling the integration of diverse energy resources including renewable energy, it can minimize Southeast Asian countries’ reliance on imported fossil fuels and their vulnerability to global energy shocks. When realised, the ASEAN Power Grid will help provide reliable and affordable energy for the region’s 700 million people and power sustainable economic development.
How will the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative support regional energy connectivity efforts?
The Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative will build on subregional energy connectivity efforts like the ASEAN Power Grid to accelerate cross-border power trade and provide more reliable and affordable electricity across Asia and the Pacific. ADB will work with governments, utilities, the private sector, and development partners to mobilise US$50 billion by 2035 for cross-border power infrastructure that can unlock renewable energy at scale.
The initiative will focus on transmission and grid integration, including cross-border lines, substations, storage, and grid digitalisation. It will also support power generation linked to electricity trade, including renewable energy export projects, regional renewable hubs, and hybrid generation-storage facilities.
It’s a complex undertaking, but it can be done with strong political will, sustained coordination, and greater investments from governments, the private sector, and development partners such as ADB.
By 2035, PAGI aims to integrate about 20 gigawatts of renewable energy across borders, connect 22,000 circuit-kilometers of transmission lines, improve energy access for 200 million people, create 840,000 jobs, and cut regional power sector emissions by 15 percent.
How is ADB helping Asia and the Pacific expand access to reliable and affordable energy?
As a multilateral development bank rooted in Asia, ADB is best placed to provide the financing, policy, and technical support needed to upgrade the region’s energy security. Regional cooperation is essential to achieve this, and ADB can be the honest broker that convenes policymakers to help countries find common ground and ensure they all benefit from regional energy connectivity. ADB can also be the bridge connecting the public and the private sector, forging crucial linkages required for smart investments.
From 2015 to 2025, our loans and grants to increase energy supply and expand energy access in Asia and the Pacific amounted to over US$37.3 billion. We’ve significantly ramped up our support for clean energy, investing US$3 billion in clean energy in 2025 alone.
ADB has been working for more than 40 years to increase access to electricity given its critical role in poverty reduction and economic growth. Still, there’s work to be done. Our focus is on improving energy access for the region’s poorest, promoting clean energy, fostering regional cooperation to meet energy demand, and helping governments to improve policies, laws, capacity, and institutions to efficiently manage and regulate the energy sector.
What policies guide ADB’s work in the energy sector?
Making sure that our commitments remain relevant and responsive to Asia and the Pacific’s evolving needs is a key priority. This is why we updated our energy policy in 2025. ADB’s updated energy policy provides a clear operational framework to prioritise investments in clean energy, strengthen electricity transmission and distribution, making energy systems smarter and foster regional cooperation and integration, among others.
The updated energy policy paves the way for the bank to support nuclear power investments for the first time, subject to rigorous assessments and the highest standards of safety, security, and environmental and social safeguards. It also recognises ADB’s role in enabling the development of diversified and responsible critical minerals-to-manufacturing value chains which are crucial to scale clean energy technologies for the region and the rest of the world…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
What Fit in a Suitcase – and What Didn’t
HONIARA, 09 JUNE 2026 (FFA) — The most valuable thing Michaela McGlade took home from Operation Tui Moana didn’t fit inside a suitcase. It wasn’t a training manual or a certificate – it was the relationships.
For three weeks, from 04 to 22 May, fisheries officers from across the Pacific trained together in Honiara, under Operation Tui Moana 2026, led by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). They came from different countries, backgrounds and cultures, but shared a common purpose. Among them was Michaela McGlade, an International Adviser for International Monitoring and Intelligence within Fisheries Compliance, Monitoring and Intelligence at New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries, based in Wellington.
For Michaela, those daily interactions became one of the highlights of the operation.
“The most memorable part was working closely with officers from different Pacific countries,” she said. “We shared knowledge, built relationships, and learned from each other’s experiences.” Those connections mattered, she adds.
While the operation focused on strengthening fisheries monitoring and compliance, it also created an opportunity for participants to learn from one another and build professional networks that will continue long after the training ends.
With roots in both New Zealand and the Cook Islands, Michaela grew up around the ocean. Fishing, diving and waterskiing were part of her childhood, and that connection to the ocean eventually led her to study Marine Biology.
Her path into fisheries grew from a desire to help protect the ocean and support the communities that depend on it.
“I wanted to contribute to protecting that resource and supporting sustainable livelihoods,” she said. “Over time, I developed a strong interest in monitoring, compliance and regional cooperation.”
Representing her country during Operation Tui Moana was something she described as both an honour and a responsibility.
“I was proud to represent my country while working alongside others who shared the same commitment to protecting our region’s resources,” she said.
The pace of the training was demanding, but it also provided opportunities to put theory into practice. Some of Michaela’s proudest moments came when she was able to apply new skills and contribute to team exercises alongside colleagues from across the region.
“Being able to apply what I’d learned and contribute effectively to the team made me feel proud, especially when working collaboratively across cultures,” she said.
The experience reinforced something she already believed: Pacific countries are stronger when they work together.
Michaela with other two Secondees who were also part of OPTM26, Turia Biriti Katarake Teroba and Kayla Nitzberg psoing with their certificate at the end of the operation. Photo: FFA
“Seeing Pacific countries unite shows the strength of our region,” she said. “Collaboration like this gives me hope that we can effectively manage and protect our shared resources.”
Back home, Michaela returned with new skills, new knowledge and lasting connections with colleagues from across the Pacific.
She also hopes people gain a better understanding of the work fisheries officers do behind the scenes.
“Fisheries officers play a crucial role in protecting marine resources, ensuring compliance, and supporting sustainable development across the region,” she said.
“But at the end of the day, fisheries officers are people too, people who chose this line of work because they genuinely care and share a deep love for the ocean.”
For Michaela, the lasting value of Operation Tui Moana wasn’t measured by the training completed or the certificates earned.
It was measured by the partnerships formed, the lessons shared and the reminder that across the Pacific, no one works alone.
“The most valuable thing Michaela McGlade took home from Operation Tui Moana 2026 didn’t fit inside a suitcase. It wasn’t a training manual or a certificate – it was the relationships.” Group photo of Michaela and fellow secondees from the Pacific
About Operation Tui Moana
Operation Tui Moana 2026, led by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), brought together fisheries, maritime and law enforcement personnel from across the Pacific to strengthen efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other transnational maritime crimes.
The three-week operation covered the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of 10 Pacific Island countries and adjacent high seas areas, combining maritime patrols, aerial surveillance, intelligence analysis and compliance monitoring. At its centre was the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) in Honiara, where 21 secondees from FFA Members, partner agencies and monitoring, control and surveillance organisations worked together to coordinate intelligence, planning and surveillance activities.
During the operation, authorities conducted 61 vessel inspections, verified more than 200 vessel detections, identified four vessels of interest and made two apprehensions linked to suspected fisheries-related offences.
Operation Tui Moana also strengthened regional cooperation under the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement through joint surveillance activities, boarding exercises and intelligence sharing. As fisheries compliance challenges continue to evolve, operations such as Tui Moana play a vital role in protecting Pacific fisheries resources, supporting the sustainable management of tuna stocks and ensuring the benefits remain with Pacific people, in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Extreme heat and coral reefs: What it means for Asia and the Pacific
BANGKOK, 09 JUNE 2026 (UNESCAP) — Recent discussions on El Niño and World Reef Awareness Day underscore the importance of one of the ocean’s most vital ecosystems. Coral reefs cover less than 0.1 percent of the ocean floor yet support over 25 percent of marine life and provide food, income and protection for millions.
This is especially true in Asia and the Pacific, home to the Coral Triangle, which holds 76 percent of known coral species and more than half of the world’s reefs. However, between 2009 and 2018, the world lost about 14 percent of its coral reefs, over 11,700 km². Warming oceans are a major driver of this loss. When water temperatures stay too high, corals bleach, losing the algae that sustain them. While not immediately fatal, prolonged heat can kill them. By 2100, under a worst-case climate scenario, severe bleaching conditions could occur every year across reef systems, leaving little to no time for recovery.
El Niño, a recurring climate pattern, shifts warm ocean waters from the western Pacific toward the central and eastern Pacific, lasting nine to 12 months. For coral reefs already stressed by rising temperatures, this additional heat can significantly increase the risk of bleaching, making both short- and long-term monitoring essential.
Analysis by ESCAP, using NOAA Coral Reef Watch data, tracks this risk on reefs using Degree Heating Weeks (DHW), which measures accumulated heat stress. Levels above 8°C-weeks signal severe bleaching and possible coral loss. In early 2026, the highest stress was concentrated in the western Pacific, particularly around Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
As El Niño emerges (June-August), heat is projected to intensify and shift eastward, placing Kiribati, Nauru, and the Marshall Islands at the highest alert levels. This is further validated by the Pacific Islands Climate Outlook Forum’s recent statement that bleaching alerts are expected to strengthen around Nauru, Kiribati, southern Marshall Islands and northern Tuvalu. This shift has serious implications: although fewer reefs may be affected overall, the intensity of stress increases sharply. The share of reefs (out of total reefs under warning and stress) facing the most severe bleaching risk rises from under 7 percent before El Niño to over 56 percent during El Niño onset.
Looking at longer trends, a recent ESCAP analysis funded by the UK’s Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) highlights a stark shift in reef condition projections for the Asia-Pacific region. Historically, 91 percent of the region’s reef area was under very low risk. Under SSP2-4.5, by 2040, almost all will remain at very low/low risk levels, while by 2100, half of reefs will shift to moderate and half to high or very high stress. Looking at worst-case-scenario projections, by 2100, 87 [ERCENT percent of Asia-Pacific reefs could fall into the highest stress classes.
In the Pacific, under SSP2-4.5, about 94 percent of the reef area in Kiribati (~4800 km) will be under moderate stress by 2040. By 2080, 81 percent and 18 percent of these reefs will be under high and very high stress. The Solomon Islands (~14,200 km²) and the Marshall Islands (~6,700 km²) shift more gradually from mostly low stress in 2040 to very high stress by 2080. Under the worst-case scenario (SSP5-8.5), the shift from low to high stress is much faster: by 2080, all reefs in Kiribati and the Solomon Islands and about 91 percent of reefs in the Marshall Islands face very high stress.
The Maldives offers another clear example of how these trends are unfolding. Historically, the most devastating bleaching event occurred in 1998, when an El Niño-driven heatwave killed up to 90% of corals. More recent events in 2016, 2019 and 2020 have further reduced recovery time and accelerated reef decline.
In the Maldives, the change begins gradually from a very low stress level for 87 percent of the reef area, to 50 percent moderate and 50 percent high stress by 2080 under the moderate emission scenario (SSP2-4.5), starting from the south and gradually spreading across the country. Under the worst-case scenario (SSP5-8.5), the shift is much faster. While by 2040, almost the entire Maldives reef area will remain under very low and low stress, by 2080, 93 percent of the Maldives reef area will shift to high stress.
Targeted Action towards Reef Resilience
Across Asia and the Pacific, governments, communities and scientists are adopting diverse strategies to protect and restore coral reefs. A better understanding of risks and exposure can help countries strengthen these efforts, while collaboration at local, national and regional levels remains essential.
In the Pacific region, community led Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) in Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands demonstrate how traditional knowledge, combined with scientific monitoring, can support reef recovery. Initiatives such as the Protection and Conservation of Mangroves, Ecosystems, and Coral Reefs in Fasitootai, Samoa are connecting reef conservation with mangrove protection and community resilience.
In the Maldives, NGOs like Muraka Farm work alongside communities, using coral gardening techniques such as growing coral fragments in nurseries and transplanting them to degraded reefs to actively restore damaged ecosystems. In addition to these efforts, the government is running a National Coral Reef Monitoring program, which was initiated in response to the 1998 mass bleaching event. It provides a Coral Reef Monitoring Framework and a database developed for marine monitoring.
At the regional level, the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) provides a platform for coordinated action among six countries. By connecting reef conservation with fisheries management and food security, it highlights the critical role reefs play in sustaining livelihoods, nutrition and coastal resilience across the region.
As sea temperatures rise, coral reefs are facing rapid and severe impacts. The goal is clear: protecting reefs means protecting biodiversity, coastlines, and the livelihoods of millions of people…. PACNEWS
