In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — “Listen to the Pacific”: Pacific Civil Society tells World
2. PACIFIC — What happens in the Pacific matters to the World: Pacific Women
3. PACIFIC — We need you; Your voice matters, says Tonga Met Chief
4. FIJI — Vuvale Union will not affect Fiji-China ties, Parliament told
5. SOL — Solomon Islands domestic political squabbles could frustrate diplomatic engagement
6. SAMOA — Samoa death penalty on the consultation table for narcotics offenders
7. FIJI — Constitutional Review Commission review report to be tabled in special Fiji Parliament sitting
8. PACNEWS BIZ — FFA receives global award recognising Pacific fisheries leadership
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Starlink complements operators, says Vodafone chief
10. PACNEWS DIGEST — Putting Communities at the Centre of Sustainable Nature Finance: PCNC11 Event Overview
PAC – CSOS/CLIMATE CHAGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 10 Sep 2026
“Listen to the Pacific”: Pacific Civil Society tells World
FUNAFUTI, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Pacific civil society representatives are calling for their voices and the experiences of frontline communities to shape climate negotiations as they gather in Tuvalu ahead of the Pacific Pre-COP31 process.
Tuvalu’s Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Maina Vakafua Talia, opened the regional dialogue in Funafuti with a blunt warning about the stakes facing Pacific communities.
“This is not a romantic issue. It’s about the very survival of our people,” Talia said.
The Minister was speaking at a welcoming dinner for civil society representatives, regional organisations, development partners, faith-based organisations and community representatives ahead of the two-day Civil Society Regional Dialogue for Pacific Voices Ahead of Pre-COP31.
The dialogue brings together civil society voices from across the Pacific to discuss regional priorities and develop recommendations for the Pacific Pre-COP process and wider COP31 engagement.
Representing Tuvalu’s civil society organisations, Filiga Taukiei said Pacific communities were not asking others to speak on their behalf but wanted their experiences to be heard in global climate decision-making.
“We are not asking the world to save the Pacific.
We are asking the world to listen to the Pacific, stand with the Pacific and fulfil its responsibility to our people and future generations,” Taukiei said.
Regional civil society representative Joey Tau thanked Tuvalu for hosting the dialogue and said bringing together different Pacific civil society networks was critical.
“Tuvalu is the juncture where we ground ourselves,” Tau said.
The two-day dialogue will focus on sustaining the 1.5°C temperature goal, the ocean-climate nexus and access to climate finance.
The recommendations from the dialogue are expected to feed into the Pacific Pre-COP process and the region’s wider engagement ahead of COP31.
The meeting comes as Pacific countries push for stronger action on climate change, greater access to climate finance and recognition of the particular vulnerabilities facing small island developing states.
The gathering is hosted by the Government of Tuvalu and jointly coordinated by the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office, International Organisation for Migration, Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations Alliance, Pacific Conference of Churches, Pacific Community and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme……PACNEWS
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 10 Sep 2026
What happens in the Pacific matters to the World: Pacific Women
FUNAFUTI, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Women from across the Pacific have called for stronger recognition of their voices in climate decision-making, warning that the region’s climate challenges cannot be separated from the wider global crisis.
The call came at the conclusion of the Tuakoi Lei Regional Convening in Tuvalu, where women delegates adopted a Kalaga ke Fakatino (Call to Action) outlining their priorities ahead of global climate negotiations.
The Pacific Council of Churches (PCC) said the convening reinforced the need for women, girls, communities and churches to have a meaningful place in the global climate conversation.
Tuvalu’s Minister of Home Affairs, Climate Change and Environment, Dr Maina Talia, joined the closing session and responded to the outcome statement.
He encouraged women delegates staying on for the Civil Society Organisation meeting to continue carrying forward the Call to Action and ensure women’s voices remain part of the climate dialogue.
The Council said the convening took place against a backdrop of growing uncertainty, including geopolitical tensions and concerns over the region’s future.
Minister Talia reminded participants that despite this uncertainty, communities were called to act through “neighbourly love.”
The Council said this required a broader understanding of who a neighbour is and recognition that the impacts of climate change do not stop at national or regional borders.
“What happens in the Global South will ultimately impact those living in the Global North,” the statement said.
It said Pacific communities, oceans, economies and futures are deeply interconnected with those of communities around the world.
The Pacific Council of Churches said the Tuakoi Lei message captures the need for greater solidarity between communities facing shared challenges.
In Tuvalu, Tuākoi Lei means “Good neighbour. Loving neighbour.”
The Council said the phrase should be understood as more than a cultural expression.
“It is an invitation — to see one another, to listen to one another, to care for one another, and to recognise that none of us can face the challenges of our time alone,” it said.
The statement called for a rethink of relationships between the Global South and Global North, arguing that the wellbeing and future of communities in both regions are connected.
“What happens to our neighbours eventually reaches us,” the Council said.
“What happens in the Pacific matters to the world. What happens in the Global South matters to the Global North.”
The convening was held as part of the lead-up to the next round of global climate negotiations and provided a platform for Pacific women and girls to contribute to climate discussions.
The Pacific Council of Churches said the meeting reaffirmed the importance of ensuring women and communities are not simply consulted but are able to speak, participate and contribute to global climate dialogue.
The Call to Action will now be carried into the wider civil society discussions and climate advocacy process.
The Council urged participants to leave Tuvalu with a renewed commitment to “rethink, reimagine and reconnect” and to become the neighbours the world needs.
“Tuākoi Lei. Good neighbour. Loving neighbour,” the statement concluded……PACNEWS
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Thu 10 Sep 2026
We need you; Your voice matters, says Tonga Met Chief
NUKU’ALOFA’, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Pacific media have been urged to turn weather and climate information into knowledge and warnings into action as the region prepares for the tropical cyclone season.
“Do not just report the weather. Tell the story of why it matters,” Laitia Fifita, director of Tonga Meteorological Services, told participants of the Pacific Media Master Class in Tonga.
“Translate science into stories our people can understand. Turn information into knowledge and turn warnings into action.”
Fifita said media coverage of political, social and economic stories, the daily lives of people in the islands, fishermen, farmers and women in villages weaving mats was “the voice that empowers our people” and protects lives and livelihoods.
“We provide the technical, the science, the early warning to advise our people, our leaders, but we cannot do that alone,” Fifita said.
“We need you. Your voice matters.”
He said the workshop was not simply to train journalists for one meeting, but to strengthen a network in Tonga and a network of Pacific reporters who could continue working with meteorological services and each other.
The network would be particularly important as the region encounters the tropical cyclone season, which Fifita said starts in November and continues until April next year.
The workshop was officially opened under the theme of empowering Pacific media to amplify weather, climate stories and resilience.
Science Must Be Understood, Trusted and Acted Upon
Elsie Fukofuka, regional director for Polynesia at the Pacific Community, said strong science alone was not enough.
“Scientific information only delivers real impact when it is understood, trusted, and acted upon by governments and communities,” Fukofuka said.
“That is where communications matter.”
She said Pacific communities faced increasingly complex challenges, including climate change, sea level rise, food and water security, disaster risks and environmental pressures.
“Scientific information could often be difficult to access or understand, making communications professionals essential in transforming technical information into stories relevant and accessible to everyday lives.”
Fukofuka said the Pacific Community had recognised media professionals not merely as observers of science, but as partners in the design, communication and application of scientific knowledge.
“By bringing journalists into the technical discussions and regional consultations, we created opportunities for science and storytelling to work hand in hand,” she said.
She pointed to the Pacific-led campaign for the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change as an example of evidence, advocacy and communication working together.
“The Pacific Community supported Pacific island countries through technical assistance, scientific evidence and regional coordination, while its communications team helped bring Pacific perspectives to global audiences through storytelling, digital media, video production and public engagement.
“As the principal scientific and technical organisation in the Pacific region, SPC has proudly served our members since 1947,” Fukofuka said.
The organisation is owned and governed by 27 member countries and territories, with work spanning climate change, the ocean, public health, fisheries and agriculture.
Fifita said the work required collaboration among meteorological services, media, and technical partners, including SPREP, SPC, Australia, and New Zealand.
“Use the power of the Pacific media to help build a safer and more resilient Blue Pacific,” he said…..PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Vuvale Union will not affect Fiji-China ties, Parliament told
SUVA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has rejected concerns that the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union is drawing Fiji into an alliance against China.
The issue was raised by Opposition MP Rinesh Sharma during questioning of Acting Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs Anare Leweniqila at the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.
Sharma asked whether Fiji was being indirectly drawn into a grouping involving the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.
“Is Fiji being indirectly pulled into the pool of U.S, UK, Australia and other countries against China, when China is the globe’s biggest trading partner?” he asked.
Leweniqila said the Vuvale Union would not affect Fiji’s relationship with China.
“We do not see that this will affect our relations with China,” he said.
He added that the Vuvale Union remained open to other countries wishing to join.
The questioning also covered Australia’s AUKUS submarine programme and whether it could eventually have a presence in Fiji or Pacific waters.
Sharma asked whether Fiji could see hubs for nuclear-powered submarines under Australia’s 10-year plan and raised concerns about radioactive waste polluting Fiji’s waters.
Australia is developing nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS from the 2030s.
Leweniqila said Australia remained a member of the Treaty of Rarotonga “in solidarity” with the Pacific.
He said the Ministry did not foresee nuclear expansion into the region.
Sharma also questioned Australia’s reliability, referring to changes in AUKUS funding commitments after a change in government.
Asked how confident the Ministry was that Australia’s promised $1.5 billion(US$1.08 billion) over 10 years would hold, Leweniqila said: “It’ll be up to subsequent governments.”…PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS/DIPLOMACY: INDEPTH SOLOMONS/RFA PACNEWS 1: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Solomon Islands domestic political squabbles could frustrate diplomatic engagement
HONIARA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS/RFA)—Volatile domestic politics in the Solomon Islands has the potential to be the Achilles heel of U.S and Australian security strategy in the Pacific, experts said, after Prime Minister Matthew Wale was nearly ousted less than four months into his term.
Wale was forced to abruptly abandon an annual meeting of leaders of member nations of the Pacific Islands Forum, or PIF, in Palau last week to scramble back to Honiara after his Home Affairs Minister, Manasseh Maelanga, launched a surprise no-confidence motion in his leadership.
Although Maelanga withdrew the motion at the last minute, sparing the nation from inaugurating its third head of government in a single calendar year, the chaos effectively paralyzed crucial momentum on a regional security architecture designed to counterbalance China that was to have been discussed at the PIF meeting.
High-stakes international diplomacy remains perpetually hostage to the volatile domestic politics of small island states, Alexander Vuving of the Hawaii-based Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Centre told RFA.
“The nature of Solomon Islands politics is that it’s primarily personality-driven,” Vuving said.
“Given the heightened great power competition over the country, this geopolitical factor is likely to be involved. But it must be ‘filtered’ through domestic personality politics.”
Wale’s election in May was lauded by the U.S, Australia, and others as it was taken to mean that the country would enact policies more in line with Washington and Canberra than his predecessors Jeremiah Manele and Manasseh Sogavare, widely seen as having had pro-Chinese leanings.
Since coming to power, Wale has ordered a review on a controversial and secretive security pact with his predecessors signed with Beijing in 2022, and started negotiations with Canberra on a bilateral security and economic treaty.
Meanwhile, Honiara in July signed a shiprider agreement with Washington, which allows Solomon Islands law enforcement to patrol the seas on U.S Coast Guard vessels.
Vuving noted that while Prime Minister Wale’s pivot to the West remains active, its momentum will be highly unpredictable in the coming months.
In a 50-seat parliament dominated by personality-driven coalitions rather than ideology, prime ministers exist in a permanent state of survival mode, he said.
When executive leadership is consumed by maintaining numerical supremacy, long-term statecraft is routinely discarded for short-term transactional survival. Agreements signed in the spring risk becoming obsolete by autumn, Vuving added.
This structural paralysis carries major global implications due to the Solomon Islands’ strategic location, Vuving said.
“It controls critical undersea telecommunication cables routing between Asia and the Americas, alongside massive Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) rich in seabed minerals required for future defence and green-tech industries,” he said.
“Great powers are aggressively competing to secure these networks and exclude rivals, yet domestic instability opens the door wide for deep-pocketed foreign actors to deploy ‘chequebook diplomacy’ to buy backbench loyalty or tear coalitions apart.”
For countries looking to engage with the Solomon Islands, consistency is key, Kathryn Paik, deputy Australia Chair director at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told RFA.
“While Solomon Islands domestic politics can make diplomacy with Honiara challenging, it also makes having consistent diplomatic engagement with the Solomon Islands that much more critical,” she said.
“Without a confirmed U.S. ambassador on the ground in Honiara, the U.S will struggle to stay effectively engaged in this dynamic environment.”
The last U.S Ambassador responsible to the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu ended her term in January, and a replacement for her duties has not yet been nominated.
At present there are no U.S ambassadors in the Pacific region.
Wale’s abrupt return to Honiara from the PIF leaders meeting in Palau drew blunt criticism from New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who condemned the political maneuvering, because it stalls collective Pacific security actions.
Peters told Solomon Islands media outlet Tavuli News that Wale’s departure was disappointing for other leaders at the Forum.
“He had to get the next plane, and President Whipps had to take him,” he said, referring to Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr “That shows how saddened Whipps was by that, we all were, that Wale had to go home. But at least they’re trying.”
He said Wale’s absence could affect discussions on regional security.
In July, while serving as PIF chair, Wale said there was “growing consensus” among Pacific countries for a regional security treaty.
Peters said the proposal was likely to be discussed during the Leaders Meeting, but described Wale’s absence as a “setback.”
Wale was one of six PIF leaders – one third of the entire group – that did not attend the meeting.
Though many different factors played a roll in preventing their attendance, the absence of so many of the leaders was “unfortunate,” Paik said.
“For Prime Minister Wale, domestic politics required his absence, which meant that he was not able to promote his vision for regionalism and for a more formalized regional security pact with other leaders,” she said.
Honiara and Canberra over the past few months have drawn closer together under Wale’s leadership – classified correspondence between high ranking officials in each government that recently surfaced across digital platforms in Honiara indicates that Australia and the Solomon Islands have secured a preliminary consensus on a transformative bilateral security pact.
The leaked messages verified by ABC News show that the Australian government has committed a substantial financial injection exceeding $980 million(US$707 million) in supplementary aid—a move widely interpreted as an effort to stabilise Wale’s ruling coalition and finalise the strategic security agreement.
But political rivals have cast the correspondence as foreign interference. In a public statement, former Prime Minister Sogavare, as leader of the opposition wrote that it was “deeply concerned by communications that appear to reveal an extraordinary attempt to use prospective Australian financial assistance and bilateral treaty negotiations to influence the outcome of Solomon Islands’ domestic political processes.”
According to the statement, the messages suggested the two countries “stand together” to defeat the no confidence motion.
Sogavare said that no confidence motions are not instruments of foreign policy, and a government’s survival or failure must be determined by the consciences of members of parliament, not by the “prospect of foreign funding.”
Deputy Prime Minister Sade firmly rejected suggestions that the communications were politically motivated, describing them as routine updates on the Community Partnerships Program and treaty discussions.
“If there is good progress that benefits our country, why should petty politics be used to disadvantage or undermine such welcoming news?” Sade said, emphasising that positive developments should be shared with fellow Members of Parliament rather than turned into political ammunition…..PACNEWS
SAMOA – DEATH PENALTY: TALAMUA MEDIA PACNEWS 1: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Samoa death penalty on the consultation table for narcotics offenders
APIA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TALAMUA MEDIA)—The death penalty will be one of the issues up for consideration when the Samoa Criminal Procedures Act 2016 is up for review.
This was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration (MJCA), Papalii John Taimalelagi who was presenting on behalf of the Ministry at the launch of the Lalaga Le Va Programme this week.
After his presentation, the public was given a chance to ask questions and most of the questions were on the penalty for drug offenders and the repeat offending by the same people.
Papalii explained that the court based its decision on the severity of the offence and the highest penalty is imprisonment for life.
However, with the high incidence of methamphetamine in the country, the Government is looking at reviewing the Act especially with the number of very young people now affected.
Papalii said before anything is endorsed, there will be a public consultation on amendments to the Act and this is where recommendations and public feedback will be placed on the table.
Some of the recommendations already up for consideration are the years served by an offender before granting parole.
Currently the Act allows an offender to serve half of the sentence before applying for parole, but the intended review has already looked at a non-parole opportunity for drug offenders.
“Perhaps 40 to 50 years imprisonment if not a life sentence, but if things get worse, then perhaps another alternative should be considered,” said Papalii.
He confirmed that the death penalty sentence is only for murder offenders but has not been activated for decades.
The Ministry is currently working with the Office of the Attorney General and other stakeholders in preparing legal documentation for the review…..PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW REPORT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Constitutional Review Commission review report to be tabled in special Fiji Parliament sitting
SUVA, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —The Fiji Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) report could be tabled in a special sitting of Parliament within the next couple of weeks, but the date is yet to be set.
Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya said the process was now awaiting the return of Speaker Filimone Jitoko, who is in Tahiti attending the Pacific Inter-Parliamentary Association’s inaugural General Assembly.
Speaking to the media outside the Prime Minister’s Office after Cabinet met Wednesday,Tabuya said President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu had already issued a warrant providing the pathway for the report to be tabled in Parliament.
“We await the Secretary-General to Parliament before we can set that date for that special sitting,” she said.
Tabuya said the Government wanted the report tabled “as soon as it’s possible”, with the special sitting expected “in the next couple of weeks”.
The next scheduled sitting of Parliament is from 28 September to 02 October.
The report will become public only after it is tabled in Parliament.
“It needs to be left tabled in Parliament. Then everyone can have their views on it,” Tabuya said.
She said Cabinet had discussed the process of tabling the report, but not its substance.
Tabuya said the Government remained committed to filing a Constitutional Amendment Bill within the current parliamentary term, targeting the September 28 sitting or the one that follows.
The Bill would go through three readings before being referred to a bipartisan special committee comprising Government and Opposition MPs.
Tabuya described the process as “historic” for her and many members of Parliament and Cabinet.
She said that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was the only Cabinet member who had previously been through a constitutional review process, in 1997…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 10 Sep 2026
FFA receives global award recognising Pacific fisheries leadership
ROME, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FFA)—The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has received the Margarita Lizárraga Medal from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), recognising the collective leadership of Pacific Island countries in responsible fisheries management.
FAO Director-General Dr QU Dongyu presented the medal to FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop during the opening of the 37th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI37) at FAO Headquarters in Rome.
José Luis Delgado, Representative of Mexico, whose government supports the award, attended the presentation.
The Margarita Lizárraga Medal is awarded biennially to a person or organisation that has served with distinction in applying the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
Accepting the award on behalf of FFA Members and the Secretariat, Mr Pakop said the recognition belonged first and foremost to the Agency’s 17 Members.
“For more than four decades, they have demonstrated what can be achieved when Pacific nations stand together, share responsibility and act collectively to safeguard their sovereign fisheries resources,” the FFA Director-General acknowledged.
“This award also belongs to the generations of Pacific fisheries leaders, officials, scientists, observers, enforcement officers and communities who have worked tirelessly to make sure that our ocean continues to sustain our people.”
Pakop also acknowledged the contribution of past and present FFA Secretariat staff, whose technical expertise and commitment have supported the Agency’s work with its Members.
The Pacific is home to the largest tuna fishery globally. The fishery supports national economies, food security and livelihoods and remains closely connected to the cultures and identity of Pacific people.
Through regional cooperation and backed by sustained investment in fisheries data, science, monitoring and enforcement, FFA Members have helped keep the Pacific region’s major tuna stocks healthy.
Pakop recognised the contributions of the Pacific Community (SPC) as the region’s fisheries science provider and the partnership of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA).
Over its 47-year history, FFA has supported its Members to develop cooperative approaches to tuna fisheries management, strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance, combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and uphold their sovereign rights over fisheries resources.
The FFA Director-General said the medal recognised past achievements but also highlighted the work that remains ahead.
“Climate change, economic pressures, emerging technologies and increasingly complex maritime threats require us to remain vigilant and united,” he said.
“FFA accepts this honour with humility and renewed determination. We remain committed to working with FAO, our regional partners and the wider international community in support of sustainable fisheries and the wellbeing of our people.”
Pakop added he hoped the recognition would strengthen international commitment to protecting oceans and fisheries and advancing the principles of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
“On behalf of the FFA Membership and Secretariat, I extend our sincere appreciation to the Committee and FAO for this distinguished honour,” he said.
“Iumi tugeda – together we can.”
The FAO established the Margarita Lizárraga Medal in honour of Dr Margarita Lizárraga, a Mexican fisheries specialist who played a central role in promoting the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
The medal is presented biennially to an individual or organisation that has served with distinction in applying the Code…..PACNEWS
PNG – STARLINK: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 10 Sep 2026
Starlink complements operators, says Vodafone chief
PORT MORESBY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)–Vodafone regional chief executive officer Pradeep Lal says operators look at Starlink as a complementary solution.
Lal said after the launching of the 5G licence by the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (Nicta) last Friday that many operators and people thought that Starlink would take away business from the operators.
He said: “We looked at Starlink as a complimentary solution.
“Today, in terms of connectivity, you can be anywhere in PNG – which means 100 per cent of the land mass – and Starlink is able to provide that.
“We are one of the resellers of Starlink.
“Also, many companies require it for backup services for reliability purposes, and all those.
“Uptake has been reasonably good, we are quite pleased and it’s complementing our business and all operator business, so which is good for the country.”
Lal welcomed the 5G license rollout as good for the country.
“It will bring a lot of transformation, provide better connectivity as customer demand increases,” he said.
“We the operators are aligned.
“We need to start somewhere and we are very happy for Nicta to issue the spectrum for this product to be made available to PNG.
“There is a lot of work required by all the operators which means having the equipment, bringing in and making sure that handsets, the 5G devices, are working.
“We have been preparing well.
“There were trial spectrum issued to all the operators.
“So from that perspective, we have done the trial and now is to expend,” he said…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Putting Communities at the Centre of Sustainable Nature Finance: PCNC11 Event Overview
NOUMEA, 10 SEPTMBER 2026 (SPREP)—From biodiversity credits and blended finance to conservation trust funds and community-led investment, delegates at the 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas (PCNC11) explored how sustainable financing can help secure a future where both people and nature thrive across the Blue Pacific.
As Pacific nations confront the dual challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change, securing long-term financing for conservation remains one of the region’s most pressing priorities. During a cross-cutting session on Sustainable Financing for Nature, delegates examined how innovative financing mechanisms can support conservation outcomes while ensuring Pacific communities remain at the centre of decision-making and benefit-sharing.
Held at the iconic Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia, the session brought together government representatives, community leaders, NGOs, conservation practitioners, development partners and finance experts to share lessons and explore pathways for increasing investment in Pacific conservation.
The discussion formed the second part of a broader dialogue on sustainable finance at PCNC11, focusing on tools and mechanisms that support long-term ecosystem management while remaining grounded in Pacific values, equity and customary stewardship.
Opening the session,Kalara McGregor, Director of Pacific Partnerships at the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, encouraged participants to reflect on the intersection of conservation and finance, drawing on her experience working with private investors, tourism development and philanthropic partners across the region.
“The true conservation is not about separating people from nature. It is about supporting sustainable livelihoods that allow both to thrive.”
Her remarks echoed a key theme of PCNC11 of successful conservation must strengthen the relationship between people, culture and environment rather than treat them as separate objectives.
Grounding the discussion within the framework of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, McGregor highlighted the importance of Pacific leadership in shaping future investments and conservation priorities. “Our region is defined not by the land that separates us, but by the vast ocean that connects us.’
Reflecting on the setting of the Tjibaou Cultural Centre, she drew inspiration from the site’s indigenous landscape, where native vegetation guides visitors through a journey of culture and place. “Like the indigenous landscape that introduces this building and guides visitors through the site, we must ensure that Pacific people continue to drive and underscore what happens in our region.”
A central theme throughout the session was the challenge of balancing two critical objectives of attracting investment while ensuring conservation initiatives remain equitable and community-led.
Historically, conservation efforts across the Pacific have relied heavily on philanthropy and development assistance. While these investments remain essential, delegates acknowledged that grants alone are unlikely to meet the scale of financing needed to achieve lasting biodiversity and climate outcomes.
“To achieve permanence, we increasingly hear that we must unlock private capital and design initiatives that are investable.”
At the same time, participants recognised that Pacific communities operate within realities that often differ from investor expectations. Community-managed marine areas, sustainable fisheries, blue carbon projects and ecosystem restoration programmes generate significant social and environmental benefits but may struggle to meet conventional investment criteria designed for larger commercial ventures.
McGregor noted that investors often focus on scale, risk mitigation, governance arrangements and measurable financial returns. However, delegates agreed that conservation finance in the Pacific must also account for cultural values and customary ownership systems.
This led to a broader discussion on equity and benefit-sharing. Participants stressed that conservation projects cannot be considered successful if communities lose control over their resources or receive only a small share of the benefits generated. Equitable governance, meaningful participation and transparent benefit-sharing arrangements must be embedded from the outset.
Participants explored a range of emerging financing mechanisms, including conservation trust funds, biodiversity credits, carbon markets, domestic resource mobilisation, crowdfunding and blended finance approaches that combine public, philanthropic and private capital.
A key question was how public and philanthropic investment could be used to de-risk smaller, community-led conservation initiatives and attract greater private-sector participation. Delegates also challenged traditional concepts of return on investment, arguing that conservation finance should capture broader outcomes, including biodiversity protection, cultural resilience, community wellbeing and sustainable livelihoods.
Following the keynote discussion, participants broke into working groups to examine practical challenges and opportunities associated with conservation finance across the Pacific. While financing options continue to expand, discussions revealed that access remains a significant challenge for many communities.
One group explored biodiversity credits, noting that the concept remains relatively new across much of the Pacific, including Papua New Guinea and other Melanesian countries. Participants highlighted uncertainty around how communities can engage in biodiversity markets and what frameworks are needed to support participation.
Delegates also discussed barriers to accessing climate and biodiversity finance. Papua New Guinea’s Biodiversity and Climate Fund was cited as an example where resources exist but can be difficult for communities to access due to technical application processes, accreditation requirements and limited capacity at the local level.
Participants expressed concern that highly centralised systems can reduce the proportion of funding reaching community conservation efforts. Discussions focused on how financial mechanisms can be redesigned to ensure local communities, who contribute land, traditional knowledge and labour, receive the greatest share of benefits.
Several delegates pointed to the Micronesia Conservation Trust as a model that could offer lessons for more decentralised and community-responsive financing systems. Similar approaches may improve accessibility in geographically dispersed countries such as Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
Across all working groups, participants emphasised that consultation is fundamental to sustainable finance. Many noted that funding frameworks are often developed without sufficient engagement with local communities, resulting in resources flowing disproportionately to organisations that already possess technical expertise and institutional capacity. This creates barriers for grassroots organisations and emerging conservation leaders.
Delegates agreed that sustainable financing requires more than funding projects. Long-term success depends on strengthening local governance systems, supporting community institutions and investing in ongoing capacity development. Several participants advocated for greater use of traditional and community governance structures rather than creating parallel systems that may disappear when projects or governments change.
Another recurring theme was the importance of diversifying funding sources.
Participants agreed that no single financing mechanism can address the varied ecological, economic and governance contexts found across the Pacific.
Examples discussed included national biodiversity funds, UNDP Small Grants Programmes, bilateral assistance, carbon trading initiatives, trust funds, blended finance mechanisms and innovative tools such as parametric insurance, which may offer opportunities to support both climate resilience and conservation outcomes.
Delegates also highlighted the importance of political will in establishing the legal and institutional frameworks needed to attract investment and scale successful conservation initiatives. National Biodiversity Finance Plans, accreditation pathways for local organisations and supportive governance arrangements were identified as critical building blocks for success.
Throughout the session, participants repeatedly returned to the importance of creating direct pathways for communities to access funding. Examples were shared where resources were allocated directly to local communities, strengthening decision-making authority, improving accountability and ensuring benefits remained closer to those delivering conservation outcomes.
Delegates called for simplified application processes, improved coordination between governments and development partners, and increased awareness of financing opportunities beyond traditional grant funding. Many also highlighted the need to move beyond short-term project cycles towards financing models that build long-term community resilience and economic opportunity.
Bridget Kennedy, a climate and environmental professional who collaborates with Rare and other international organisations to develop locally-led, gender-inclusive ocean and climate solutions while also serving as the Deputy Director of the Pacific Ocean and Islands Program at Conservation International commented that, “Pacific communities possess invaluable expertise drawn from generations of environmental stewardship and resource management.”
“The challenge moving forward is to ensure that conservation finance systems recognise, value and support that knowledge.”
She reminded participants that while biodiversity credits, blue carbon, conservation bonds and trust funds represent exciting opportunities, financial innovation alone will not guarantee conservation success.
Financing8
“The effectiveness of any financing mechanism ultimately depends on how well it engages communities, respects customary governance and delivers fair and equitable benefits.”
The Sustainable Financing for Nature session at PCNC11 reinforced a powerful message that the future of conservation finance in the Pacific will not be measured solely by the amount of money mobilised, but by who shapes the decisions, who receives the benefits and how effectively investment strengthens the enduring relationship between people, culture and nature across the Blue Pacific.
The 11th Pacific Islands Conference for Nature Conservation and Protected Areas is held from 7 to 11 September 2026 at the Tjibaou Culturel Centre in Noumea New Caledonia. Bringing together over 400 delegates from across the Pacific, the conference is organised by New Caledonia, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, and the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation with the support of partners…..PACNEWS
For more information please visit: https://www.pacificislandsroundtable.com/pacific-nature-conference
