In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific urges the World to turn Climate commitments into Action
2. PACIFIC — Millions secured, but structural gaps delay Climate action, warns GCF official
3. PACIFIC — Timing is Everything: Solomon Islands Minister urges faster Climate payouts at COP31
4. PACIFIC — Niue takes ocean conservation agenda to COP31
5. PACIFIC — Tabuya calls for COP31 action to protect Pacific homes, food and livelihoods
6. NAURU — Unified Parliament ushers in new era for Naoero
7. AUST — Aust PM jets off for COP talks amid overseas trip criticism
8. FIJI — Fiji PM Rabuka wants all 21 People’s Alliance MPs to contest election
9. PACIFIC — Pacific leaders complete Taiwan training programme
10. VAN — Vanuatu no-confidence motion withdrawn
11. FIJI — El Niño water shortages trigger assistance at 69 locations in Fiji
12. PACNEWS BIZ — World Bank reviews FFA’s US$9 million fisheries programme
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Marshall Islands ocean programme earns highest performance rating
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji tourism passes one million visitors as growth hinges on Australia
15. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — States like Samoa face brutal 2027 storm season – every dollar of ‘climate cash’ counts for small islands
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — COP31: church leader’s prayer opens Pacific’s Moana Pavilion
17. PACNEWS DIGEST — Strong El Niño and active cyclone season ahead for the Cook Islands, Met Service warns
PAC – COP31: PIFS PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Pacific urges the World to turn Climate commitments into Action
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PIFS)— The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is reaffirming its longstanding climate leadership at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), held from 9–20 November 2026.
The Forum is calling for greater global ambition and a decisive shift from commitments to action, supported by the resources, implementation, and accountability needed to deliver results.
The President of Palau and Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Surangel Whipps Jr, says that the Pacific arrives in Antalya with a clear mandate from Forum Leaders, set out in the Belau Declaration, and with Pacific-led solutions ready to scale.
“Our islands cannot afford another decade of promises. Every year of delay is measured in our coastlines, our reefs and our homes. In Palau, at the 55th Forum Leaders Meeting, we agreed that Pacific leadership must be shown through action, and we now ask the same of the world. The International Court of Justice has confirmed that climate obligations are binding. COP31 must be where commitments become delivery.”
President Whipps says the region has already built part of the solution.
“The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) is Pacific-owned, treaty-backed and ready to deliver directly to our communities, but it remains more than US$300 million short of its first target. Antalya is where our partners can close that gap. We come united, and we ask the world to meet us with action.”
This leadership is reinforced by regional commitments, including the 2019 Kainaki II Declaration for Urgent Climate Change Action Now, endorsed at the 50th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tuvalu, and the Belau Declaration for Urgent and Inclusive Climate Action to Keep 1.5°C Within Reach, endorsed at the 55th Leaders Meeting in Palau.
Together, they reflect the Pacific’s sustained call for urgent global action, stronger ocean protection and accessible climate finance.
From Pre-COP meetings hosted in Fiji and Tuvalu to COP31 in Antalya, these priorities remain central: driving ambitious global emissions reductions; securing accessible, predictable and adequate climate finance; and placing ocean and community resilience at the heart of climate action.
At the Pre-COP meetings hosted in October and here at COP31, the BELAU Declaration priorities remain central: driving ambitious global emissions reductions; securing accessible, predictable and adequate climate finance; and placing ocean and community resilience at the heart of climate action.
Strong international partnerships are essential to translating these priorities into Pacific-led solutions, including through the full capitalisation of the PRF.
The Pacific Islands Forum will continue to advance a united Pacific voice at COP31, working with partners to deliver outcomes that safeguard the Blue Pacific Continent and future generations.
Central to this effort, the Pacific Political Climate Champions will continue to amplify the region’s collective voice and build momentum for greater ambition and meaningful climate action. …PACNEWS
PAC – COP31: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Millions secured, but structural gaps delay Climate action, warns GCF official
By Charley Piringi in Antalya, Turkiye
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)—Although the Solomon Islands has unlocked over USD120 million in global climate finance, structural gaps force reliance on foreign intermediaries and delays urgent disaster relief.
Speaking exclusively to In-depth Solomons in Antalya, Exley Taloiburi, Green Climate Fund (GCF) Head of Multilateral Governance and Observer Engagement based in South Korea, cautioned the country’s current financial architecture.
He said, while celebrating major investments like the $86 million Tina River Hydropower Project and the $25 million SOLCAS initiative, Taloiburi warned that the Solomon Islands is missing a crucial piece of the puzzle _”a domestic accredited implementing entity.”
“Right now, the Green Climate Fund disburses funds directly to an accredited entity. In the Solomon Islands, we currently have a gap in that space—we do not have a national implementing entity,” Taloiburi said.
This structural void means the Solomon Islands must rely on international middlemen, such as the Asian Development Bank or foreign NGOs, to manage its climate funds.
Taloiburi pointed out that neighboring nations like Fiji and the Cook Islands have successfully accredited their own development banks and finance ministries, granting them direct control over international disbursements.
Having a local entity, he explained, would help the Solomon Islands gain “more national ownership over the resources, rather than relying heavily on regional or international organisations to access funding for us.”
The lack of domestic financial machinery also has devastating consequences during natural disasters. “While nations like Tuvalu operate a dedicated survival fund capable of deploying assistance within 48 hours of a cyclone, the Solomon Islands lack such a rapid-response facility.”
“Right now, we have to wait for international resources to arrive before we can support our communities,” he said. “We lack such a facility and have to wait weeks for support.”
He highlighted a severe accountability blind spot, saying while projects are being implemented, the country lacks the robust monitoring and evaluation systems needed to verify the tangible impact of the millions already accessed at the community level.
He also cautioned communities that grassroots needs must be officially recognised by the national government to receive global money.
“The GCF cannot just come in and assist with any project; we are guided by the government’s priorities,” Taloiburi warned. “If your priority is not included in the government’s national policies and plans, it will be very, very difficult for you to access climate finance.”
Despite these hurdles, Taloiburi commended the current government’s proactive steps to close these gaps, specifically their legislative efforts to establish a dedicated National Climate and Resilience Fund and to seek GCF accreditation for the National Transport Fund and Ministry of Finance….PACNEWS
PAC – COP31: INDEPTH SOLOMONS PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Timing is Everything: Solomon Islands Minister urges faster Climate payouts at COP31
By Georgina Maka’a in Antalya Turkey
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (INDEPTH SOLOMONS)—Solomon Islands Climate Change Minister Wayne Ghemu has called on global financial institutions to streamline operational processes and accelerate disbursements to Pacific Island nations before disaster strikes.
Speaking at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion during a panel hosted by the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC)—titled “Finance That Reaches the Pacific: Connecting Loss and Damage”—Ghemu emphasised that the real impact of climate funding hinges directly on its delivery speed.
To illustrate the problem, Ghemu pointed to Tropical Cyclone Maila, a Category 5 system that devastated parts of the Solomon Sea in April 2026. Simbo Island in Western Province was hardest hit, affecting roughly 2,247 residents, displacing 268 people, and contaminating vital groundwater supplies.
He said the relief efforts gained rapid momentum after PCRIC disbursed USD$500,000 to the Solomon Islands government within 10 days of the disaster.
“It arrived when it was needed, and it did exactly what it was designed to do,” Ghemu said. “The value of a dollar is shaped by timing. The same funding can yield a vastly different impact depending on when it arrives and how it is deployed.”
He also highlighted local microinsurance initiatives, noting that the Central Bank’s TrigaCash initiative compensated all 35 policyholders within two weeks of the cyclone.
Ghemu added while rapid insurance payouts supply immediate liquidity, he stressed that rebuilding essential infrastructure including schools, clinics, housing, and water systems requires sustained funding across the entire disaster management cycle:
*Preparedness (Before Impact): The Global Shield initiative partners with governments through PCRIC to subsidize insurance premiums and strengthen regional resilience.
*Simultaneously, the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) provides direct grants for community resilience. Solomon Islands hosted the PRF Treaty signing in Honiara, ratified the agreement, and pledged USD$1 million.
*Immediate Relief (After Impact): PCRIC supplies rapid, pre-arranged liquidity to cover urgent emergency expenses.
*Recovery and Reconstruction: The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) functions as the long-term reconstruction layer to restore infrastructure and support displaced communities.
Ghemu warned that cumbersome accreditation processes, complex project preparation requirements, and multi-year reviews by international funding bodies continue to compromise overall climate financing objectives.
“By the time funds receive approval, the cyclone has passed, costs have escalated, and the planned project no longer meets community needs,” Ghemu stated.
“Finance arriving after the moment of need fails its purpose.” Administrative delays push recovery costs directly onto national budgets and development reserves, converting natural shocks into severe fiscal crises for Pacific nations.”
With the Pacific cyclone season beginning in November, Ghemu urged global financial institutions, the FRLD, Global Shield, PRF, and PCRIC to establish pre-agreed hand-off protocols immediately.
“How do we ensure the right finance reaches Pacific communities at the right time and for the right purpose? Maila showed it can be done,” Ghemu concluded.
“Let us make it the normal way the Pacific is supported, not the exception,” he said…..PACNEWS
PAC – COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Niue takes ocean conservation agenda to COP31
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi has called for sustainable and predictable financing to support long-term ocean protection, as the Pacific nation opened its COP31 engagements in Türkiye.
Tagelagi delivered a keynote address at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion, highlighting Niue’s progress in implementing its Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) initiative and Ocean Conservation Commitments (OCCs).
He said Niue was pursuing a country-led and community-driven approach to ocean stewardship, recognising that effective conservation required long-term financial support.
Through the NOW Trust, the OCCs support the protection of the 127,000-square-kilometre Moana Mahu Marine Protected Area, while strengthening climate resilience, community stewardship and sustainable development.
The session also featured a panel discussion involving Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr, Tofia Niue President and NOW Trustee Coral Pasisi, Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC) Commissioner Dr Filimon Manoni, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Senior Climate Change Specialist Rawleston Moore, and Deputy Secretary to Government and NOW Trustee Gaylene Tasmania.
The panel discussed ways to advance ocean conservation, strengthen climate resilience and support sustainable development across the Blue Pacific.
The discussions provided an opportunity for Niue to share lessons from its conservation efforts and explore partnerships to advance Pacific-led approaches to ocean protection and climate action.
Niue’s participation at COP31 will continue with a programme of high-level meetings, bilateral engagements and official events throughout the week.
The delegation is also expected to advocate for the priorities of Small Island Developing States and the wider Blue Pacific region, including stronger international support for climate action and ocean protection…..PACNEWS
PAC – COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Tabuya calls for COP31 action to protect Pacific homes, food and livelihoods
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific leaders must unite at COP31 to push for stronger climate action, faster access to climate finance and protection of the 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit, Fiji’s Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya says.
Opening the Moana Pavilion and Pacific Delegation Office in Antalya, Türkiye, Tabuya said climate change was already threatening Pacific homes, food security and livelihoods.
She said Pacific communities were experiencing saltwater intrusion into drinking water supplies, damaged crops, declining fish stocks and rising sea levels threatening coastal settlements.
“COP31 is about our homes, our food and our future,” Tabuya said.
Tabuya, who is also Chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS), called on Pacific countries to stand united and speak with one voice in the climate negotiations.
She outlined three key priorities for the region: keeping the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature limit within reach, placing the ocean at the centre of climate action and ensuring climate finance reaches vulnerable communities faster.
Tabuya said limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was critical to protecting Pacific lives, livelihoods and islands.
She also stressed the importance of protecting marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, fisheries and coastal communities, through stronger ocean-focused climate action.
On climate finance, Tabuya said funding must reach communities to support secure water supplies, climate-resilient homes and recovery from natural disasters.
She urged Pacific delegates to ensure the experiences and concerns of their people were reflected in every negotiation and that international commitments translated into practical support on the ground.
Tabuya acknowledged Australia, New Zealand and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for supporting the establishment of shared Pacific spaces at COP31.
The Moana Pavilion and Pacific Delegation Office will provide a platform for negotiators, technical experts, youth, women and community leaders to coordinate positions and strengthen the region’s voice during the negotiations.
“One Pacific. One voice. Real results for our people,” Tabuya said……PACNEWS
NAOERO – GOVT: NAEORO GOVT PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Unified Parliament ushers in new era for Naoero
YAREN, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (NAOERO GOVT)—For the first time since achieving independence in 1968, all 19 elected members of the Naoero Parliament have united in support of one government.
Pyon Deiye MP and ason Bingham Agir MP have been appointed deputy ministers, with Deiye taking on responsibilities for police, justice and border control, and Bingham set to look after Eigigu Holdings Corporation and sports.
President David Adeang said the appointments reflect a shared commitment among elected representatives to put the interests of Naoero and its people first.
“We may represent different districts and bring different perspectives and experiences to this House, but we share one home, one people and one future,” he said.
“Today, we recognise a truly historic moment in our nation’s parliamentary journey; a moment of unity, stability and shared purpose; a moment when we stand together as one Parliament, one Government and one people, united by one heart, one vision and one common commitment to the progress, prosperity and sustainable development of our beloved nation, Naoero,” the President told parliament.
However he declared that unity alone was not enough.
“Our success must not be measured by the number of members standing together, but by the positive difference we make in the lives of our people.”
He said economic security, better living standards, quality education, reliable healthcare and opportunities for the children were not simply expectations but “responsibilities entrusted to us as leaders.”
President Adeang said the government since its inception had been willing to take different paths, explore new opportunities and lead with boldness.
“Our future decisions must continue to strengthen essential services, protect our national resources and create a sustainable future that does not leave the next generation carrying the burdens of today.”
He said history has “presented us with a rare opportunity” and called on MPs to “embrace it with humility, wisdom, and determination.”
“(Let us) make this moment one that future generations of Dei-Naoero will remember with pride,” he said.
“We are always guided by our national motto, ‘God’s Will First.’
“Let us move forward with determination in our hearts, wisdom and faith in our decisions, and trust in God’s guidance as we work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and sustainable future for our beloved nation.”….PACNEWS
AUST – COP31: AAP PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Aust PM jets off for COP talks amid overseas trip criticism
CANBERRA/ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (AAP)—The prime minister has defended his upcoming appearance at the UN’s annual climate summit, as Australia prepares to spearhead negotiations.
Anthony Albanese flew out on Tuesday for COP31 in Turkey, which will form part of a two-week trip through the Philippines and China for the ASEAN and APEC summits respectively.
It will be the first time an Australian prime minister has attended a COP summit since Scott Morrison in 2021.
Albanese said the appearance at the climate talks would be crucial for the region.
“In Australia’s interconnected world, it is absolutely in Australia’s national interest that we stay engaged,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“If we’re not showing that leadership with the Pacific, then there are national security implications as well that will be far more costly.”
But opposition leader Angus Taylor said the prime minister should be more concerned with economic conditions domestically.
“The problem is, the prime minister and this government have wrecked the economy,” he told reporters in Victoria.
“In a normal set of circumstances, the prime minister should do these overseas trips, but it’s not a normal set a circumstances.”
Australia had sought to host the 2026 COP summit with the Pacific to showcase the impact of rising temperatures and emissions on the region.
However, the hosting rights were given to Turkey, with Australia helping to lead negotiations at the summit as part of a compromise deal.
Climate Minister Chris Bowen will be president of negotiations.
In a speech kicking off the event, he urged countries to take firmer action on climate change.
“We must move faster. We have the tools. The technologies we need are proven, commercial and scalable. What we need is to speed up deployment,” he said.
“We must help countries prepare for, withstand and recover from climate impacts.
“We must ensure that countries most exposed to climate risk have access to the partnerships, support and finance required to build resilience, both before and whenever disaster strikes.
Bowen said the flooding from glacial collapses in Nepal or recent heatwaves in Europe were signs of climate change already impacting countries.
“It is not a forecast. It is not a prediction. It is the lived reality for billions of people. Its impacts are growing more frequent and intense.”
The climate summit is expected to have leaders sign a pledge for 35 percent of the world’s energy to come from electricity by 2035.
Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who is also travelling to attend COP, said Australia needed to have tricky conversations at the summit.
“We have a really interesting dilemma. We are on path to electrify and switch our energy to renewables, but we’re also one of the largest exporters of fossil fuels in the world,” she told ABC Radio……PACNEWS
FIJI – ELECTION/POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Fiji PM Rabuka wants all 21 People’s Alliance MPs to contest election
SUVA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka wants all 21 People’s Alliance Members of Parliament to contest the next General Election.
“I’d like to see them all run,” he said .
Rabuka said he had left candidate selection “totally up to the selection committee”, but the committee had given him the option of indicating whether he wanted the 21 MPs to contest the election again.
“And I said yes,” he said.
However, he said MPs could still choose not to stand for re-election.
Rabuka said he was “very confident” of his party’s support heading into the election.
“We will have to work on that because we saw we didn’t get the 50 percent plus to form a government outright on our own,” he said.
Asked whether he hoped to form a government without coalition partners, Rabuka said:“I’m hoping to get as many votes as possible. If that pushes over the 50 percent mark, then we have the right to govern on our own.”
Deputy Prime Minister and People’s Alliance deputy leader Manoa Kamikamica said the party would introduce new candidates.
He described the party’s 2022 candidates as “very high caliber” and said it hoped to field another strong line-up.
“My suggestion to Fiji is just keep watching the space,” he said.
The People’s Alliance announced its first batch of candidates online on Monday, a public holiday.
They include Rabuka, Kamikamica and Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
Other candidates named were Fiji National University Acting Dean Associate Professor Dr Lavinia Tiko, Nadi paediatrician Dr Sailasa Misimisi and lawyer Ratu Lavolevu Soro Toutou of Colo-North.
The list also includes former diplomat Kolinio Gata Takali, former Provincial Administrator Ruth Estella Mikatoa of Rotuma, Ratu Apenisa Qiolevu of Naitasiri and Joni Rayawa of Kadavu.
The People’s Alliance won 21 seats in the 2022 General Election.
A party needs at least 28 of Parliament’s 55 seats to form a government on its own.
The next General Election must be held by 06 February 2027….PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: CNA PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Pacific leaders complete Taiwan training programme
TAIPEI, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (CNA) — Twenty participants from nine Pacific Island countries have completed a leadership training programme in Taiwan aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, human resource development and resilience.
The 2026 Pacific Islands Leadership Programme (PILP) concluded in Taipei on 4 November, with Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) highlighting the importance of building stronger connections with Pacific partners.
Vice Foreign Minister Ger Bau-shuan congratulated the participants on completing the intensive programme, which covered diplomacy, gender equality, technological innovation, medical care, public health and Austronesian culture.
Ger said the participants also experienced the challenges of extreme weather during their visit to eastern Taiwan, where they encountered a typhoon.
He said Taiwan was committed to working closely with the United States and Pacific partners to safeguard democracy and peace, strengthen regional resilience and share its experience in education, disaster preparedness and sustainable development amid climate change and geopolitical tensions.
Ger encouraged the participants to apply the knowledge and connections gained through the programme in their respective countries.
He reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to its Pacific partners, saying it would remain a loyal friend to the region.
Tuvalu Ambassador to Taiwan Lily Tangisia Faavae said the programme supported the objectives of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, particularly its focus on resilience, peace and prosperity.
She said the initiative also strengthened human capital by developing the skills of young professionals and creating opportunities for cross-border connections.
Acting Deputy Director of the American Institute in Taiwan Mike Pignatello said the programme gave participants opportunities to experience Taiwan’s technological capabilities, innovation, resilient medical system and Indigenous culture through field visits.
Jaimee Neel, Deputy Director of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Centre, encouraged participants to use the knowledge and experience gained in Taiwan when they returned to their home countries.
The programme brought together representatives from nine Pacific countries, providing opportunities for professional development, cultural exchange and stronger links between Taiwan and the Pacific….PACNEWS
VAN – POLITICS: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Vanuatu no-confidence motion withdrawn
PORT VILA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) —The Vanuatu Opposition Bloc has withdrawn its no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Jotham Napat in Parliament.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Malekula and mover of the motion, Gracia Shadrack and seconder of the motion and Leader of Opposition, Ishmael Kalsakau, both withdraw the motion during yesterday’s morning session.
Before the withdrawal, Luganville MP Matai Seremaiah reminded Parliament that some of the issues riased in the no-confidence motion were already before the court and should not be debated in Parliament.
At Monday’s sitting, 40 MPs were on the government, while 12 were on the Opposition side.
On the eve of the parliament session, presidents of five political parties in the government met and reaffirmed their commitment to the coalition.
An Opposition source told the Daily Post on Friday that they had secured enough support to pass the motion, claiming they had more than the required simple majority of 27 MPs. However, they were still undecided about who should become the next PM.
The same source informed that political parties within the government who were allegedly supporting the motion had withdrawn their support due to disagreements over who should replace PM Napat.
The motion required the support of at least 27 MPs in the 52-member Parliament. This meant the Opposition needed at least 15 MPs from the government side, representing at least three political parties….PACNEWS
FIJI – WEATHER WATCH/ELNINO: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 11 Nov 2026
El Niño water shortages trigger assistance at 69 locations in Fiji
SUVA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Prolonged dry conditions linked to El Niño have prompted water assistance at 69 locations across Fiji, including schools, health facilities and communities struggling with water shortages.
The National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) confirmed that assistance had reached 23 schools, 31 communities, six health facilities, six nursing stations, two police stations and one weather station.
The response comes as Government agencies step up assessments to determine the extent of the dry spell’s impact and identify areas requiring further assistance.
In the Western Division, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, through its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster, has begun preliminary assessments to identify emerging water, sanitation and hygiene needs.
A divisional team has also been deployed to monitor water levels and gather updates from affected communities.
The Government is planning joint, multi-sectoral assessments across the remaining divisions to establish the extent of the impacts, identify priority needs and determine what further assistance is required.
Meanwhile, emergency water supplies have been delivered to Druadrua and Macuata-i-Wai islands, where communities are experiencing shortages.
The operation was carried out by the MLC Vatulawa through the Divisional Commissioner Northern Office under the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Risk Management.
It involved collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, Fiji Meteorological Services and the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF).
Authorities are continuing to coordinate with relevant agencies and stakeholders to monitor conditions and provide assistance, particularly to rural and maritime communities.
Households have been urged to conserve water, manage available supplies carefully and maintain safe water storage practices.
Despite the prolonged dry spell, Minister for Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna said Fiji’s food supplies had not yet been significantly affected.
“We still have a lot of food available. There’s still a lot of vegetables in the markets,” he said.
Tunabuna said the ministry was monitoring conditions through regular contact with farmers and by checking produce available at markets.
“There’s still a lot of positive indication that we’re still managing very well,” he said.
He said farmers had been warned months earlier about the expected dry conditions.
“As compared to hurricane, for El Niño we had quite a lot of time for us to communicate on what we should be doing,” he said.
“The response from farmers is very positive.”
Tunabuna said uncontrolled burning in the Western Division was a greater immediate concern for farmers.
“That’s contributing to a lot of damage on our farms,” he said.
He said the fires were not caused by farmers’ land management practices.
Sugarcane farmers were particularly concerned about how long it would take to recover from fires during the dry conditions.
The ministry had advised farmers against burning this year because leaving plant material on the land could help retain soil moisture.
“I don’t know what intention, but it’s creating a lot of problems for our farmers,” he said.
Ministry officials were scheduled to meet to discuss sugarcane and other agricultural concerns.
Tunabuna said water tanks had already been distributed across the main islands to assist with the dry conditions.
Water pumps for irrigation and pipelines would be deployed once conditions reached a critical stage.
With farmers unable to plant under the current conditions, the ministry had begun purchasing planting materials to support agricultural rehabilitation when conditions improved……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
World Bank reviews FFA’s US$9 million fisheries programme
HONIARA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS/FFA) — The World Bank has completed a week-long review of the implementation of a US$9 million programme supporting sustainable management and development of Pacific oceanic fisheries.
The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) hosted World Bank Director of Strategy and Operations for the East Asia and Pacific Region, Elisabeth Huyben, at its headquarters in Honiara on Monday, marking the conclusion of the mission.
The mission reviewed FFA’s progress under the Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program – Second Phase for Economic Resilience (PROPER).
Through PROPER, FFA has received grant financing of up to US$9 million from the World Bank for a five-year project running from 2023 to 2028.
The project aims to strengthen regional capacity for the sustainable management and development of oceanic fisheries across the Pacific.
FFA said it valued the World Bank’s continued financial and technical support and looked forward to further strengthening the partnership.
The programme is part of wider efforts to support Pacific countries in managing ocean resources sustainably while strengthening economic resilience….PACNEWS
MARSH – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/NIMRA PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Marshall Islands ocean programme earns highest performance rating
MAJURO, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS/NIMRA) —The Marshall Islands’ regional oceans programme has received a “Highly Satisfactory” rating for progress towards its development objectives, recognising strong implementation progress and achievements.
The rating upgrade was confirmed following the successful completion of the sixth Implementation Support Mission (ISM) for the Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program – Second Phase for Economic Resilience (RMI PROPER).
The five-day mission was conducted by the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) in collaboration with the World Bank.
It brought together the World Bank task team, MIMRA management, the Project Management Unit and technical divisions to assess implementation progress, achievements, challenges and priorities for the next phase.
The upgrade to ‘Highly Satisfactory” reflects the project’s progress towards achieving its Project Development Objectives (PDOs) and the collective efforts of MIMRA, the World Bank and other stakeholders.
The mission also provided an opportunity to review implementation challenges and identify priorities to maintain progress.
RMI PROPER is part of the Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Programme, which supports sustainable ocean management and economic resilience in Pacific Island countries….PACNEWS
FIJI – TOURISM INDUSTRY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Fiji tourism passes one million visitors as growth hinges on Australia
SUVA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—More than a million visitors have graced Fiji’s shores over the past year, according to research conducted by ANZ, who published their update in September.
The rolling annual total reached 1,013,565, while year-to-date arrivals climbed to 762,352 — up 3.7 percent for the same period last year. September recorded 95,970 arrivals, a 3.9 percent increase year-on-year, continuing a steady upward trend that has been the case since the pandemic
“The numbers confirm that Fiji has turned a corner from recovery to growth, pointing to a July peak of 105,791 arrivals and six consecutive months of year-on-year gains since April.
Although positive, the growth has been narrow with Australia accounting for 48.2 percent of September arrivals — 46,302 visitors, up 4.8 percent — meaning nearly one in two travellers now comes from a single market.
The situation of Fiji’s second-largest source market, New Zealand, is standing at 23.1 percent. NZ arrivals fell 2.7 percent in September and are flat year-to-date at -0.4 percent, sitting below 2024 levels. Australian outbound traffic to Fiji, by contrast, rose 13.7 percent in August.
Long-haul markets are growing quickly but remain small. Continental Europe jumped 20.3 percent, Japan 77.7 percent, the UK 37.6 percent, Korea 25 percent and India 21.2 percent. Norway, Sweden, Italy and Finland posted the strongest European gains. Yet Europe supplies just 3.5 percent of arrivals and Japan 1.4 percent, leaving little room to offset any Australian slowdown.
People mainly come to Fiji for a holiday, making up 80.4 percent of arrivals, with visiting friends and relatives at 8.1 percent and business travel at 2.1 percent. The majority of visitors are in the 65+ age bracket 11.7 percent.
Competition is intensifying. Vietnam drew 30.3 percent more Australian visitors in August, Vanuatu 33.1 percent, and Bali remains a far larger destination for Australians overall. From New Zealand, Vietnam grew 23 percent and Vanuatu 124 percent, against Fiji’s 1.1 percent. Fiji is still growing in absolute terms, but its share of Australian and New Zealand travel demand is in noticeable decline.
The clear picture is that Fiji is performing well at this stage, but dependent on one market for momentum. With New Zealand flat and long-haul growth still at a low level, Fiji’s near-term outlook rests largely on continued Australian demand…. 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
States like Samoa face brutal 2027 storm season – every dollar of ‘climate cash’ counts for small islands
By Emily Wilkinson, George Carter
APIA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (THE CONVERSATION)—Every nation is grappling with climate change, but a super El Niño is about to collide with the 2026-27 South Pacific cyclone season. This presents one of the toughest challenges yet for the world’s small island nations.
Samoa is on high alert. These islands have had a turbulent recent history with drought, heat and cyclones. In the 1980s, the El Niño cycle (when certain parts of the Pacific are warmer than usual) caused severe drought and acute water shortages, plus a heightened risk of tropical cyclones. In Samoa, families still recall the unbearable heat that withered once-lush green forests into tinder-dry matchsticks, sparking fires across the villages of Asau and Aopo.
As Samoans contend with the complex effects of El Niño in the coming months, they’ll also be experiencing the everyday consequences of climate change: 70 percent of the population and infrastructure are located in low-lying coastal areas. Sea levels have risen by as much as 31cm over the last three decades. This puts islanders at greater risk from flooding, more frequent and severe cyclones and saltwater intrusion (whereby dense, saline seawater infiltrates freshwater) damaging their crops.
In talanoa (story‑based dialogue, common in the Pacific) with family in Vaisala, Utusamia Barbara Carter told one of us (George Carter) how “today, the challenge is different but no less alarming. The sea is slowly rising, and our homeland is gradually being swallowed by the ocean”.
Perversely, in the short term, El Niño can lead to both high and low sea levels. During the cycle extremely low sea levels (referred to in Samoa as taimasa) can expose shallow reefs, which cause coral to die off, while the long-term trend of sea-level rise is caused by climate change.
Samoan traditions and identity are deeply tied to the land, ocean, sky and people (kinship). They and other Pacific Islanders want to stay put and maintain their way of life.
Samoa is one of 39 island nations known as small island developing states, a group that is recognised by the UN as being exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. What is new is the scale and intensity of the risk, given the compounding effects of climate change, which are occurring at a time when international cooperation on climate action is fraying.
Small island developing states continue to struggle to access adequate levels of funding to boost their climate resilience and adapt their infrastructure. The implementation of this climate finance involves long delays and red tape. Many of them feel that the world’s powers are increasingly treating them as a marginal concern, compared to more pressing issues of economic prosperity, peace and global security.
This is a big mistake. The resilience of small island developing states is increasingly bound up with all three of these issues.
These nations are spread out across the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean and South China Sea. They make up less than 0.5 percent of the world’s total land mass and less than 1 percent of the global population. Individually, they have little economic or military power.
These island nations may be small in landmass and population, but they govern vast ocean territories; and many sit at the centre of intensifying geopolitical competition.
Small island developing states represent 38 out of a total of 193 UN member states so they account for around 20 percent of votes at the UN. They have repeatedly exercised influence far beyond their economic weight. The 1.5°C temperature goal at the heart of the UN’s Paris climate agreement might never have been secured without sustained pressure from the Alliance of Small Island States, the negotiating bloc representing these island nations.
Similarly, the landmark judgment on climate change and state responsibility by the International Court for Justice in July 2025 was spearheaded by the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. Small island developing states are, by and large, among the most successful post-colonial democracies, and their regions remain largely peaceful.
The vast ocean spaces that small island nations oversee are known as exclusive economic zones. Within these zones, countries govern everything from fishing to deep-sea mining. The exclusive economic zones that small island developing states govern span 30 percent of the world’s oceans. On average, that is 28 times their combined landmass. These waters encompass precious marine ecosystems like seagrasses and coral reefs that regulate the climate, support fisheries and absorb carbon.
Even with their vulnerability to extreme weather many small island developing states have built successful economies with high levels of per capita income since independence. Entrepreneurs in small island developing states are producing green technologies and digital services with applications beyond their domestic economies.
Island states at Cop31
Australia plans to use its presidency of the UN climate summit Cop31 to highlight the special circumstances of small island developing states, but it must also achieve some tangible results.
One big step forward would be to improve access to existing flows of already pledged climate cash that isn’t reaching the right places fast enough. Island states need low-interest loans and grants, known as concessional finance, so they can invest in their own resilience without getting deeper into debt.
The new Pacific Resilience Facility is a climate finance mechanism owned and led by Pacific people that launched earlier this year. It is a good example of how wealthier countries might help islands like Samoa prepare for the new reality.
Wealthy nations could also recognise specific small island vulnerabilities by ensuring there is a “climate exception”. Small island nations whose income levels mean they are no longer eligible for official development assistance, could be made eligible again but just for assistance that is for building climate resilience. This would mean that highly vulnerable small islands with higher incomes don’t get shut out of aid budgets that will be essential to their survival in years to come….PACNEWS
Emily Wilkinson is Principal Research Fellow, Global Risks and Resilience, ODI Global
George Carter is Senior Fellow and Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
COP31: church leader’s prayer opens Pacific’s Moana Pavilion
For Pacific peoples, the ocean does not separate the islands. It joins them. With this image of the Moana, Rev. Faaimata (Mata) Havea Hiliau of the Uniting Church in Australia opened the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion on 9 November.
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (WCC)—The Moana Pavilion is the shared space of Pacific countries at COP31, the UN climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye. Her reflection and prayer came before the speech of Chris Bowen, the Australian minister who leads the negotiations. Her church is a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and of the Pacific Conference of Churches.
“I come as a woman of faith and as an ordained minister,” said Havea Hiliau, who leads her church’s Synod of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory as moderator. She called herself “a daughter of Tonga and the daughter of the Pacific.”
“I want to offer a reflection from my Christian faith tradition, but also an invitation that I believe speaks to all of us, regardless of your faith tradition, your culture,” she said.
Pacific countries hold their events at the Moana Pavilion, outside the negotiating rooms. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme manages it, with support from Australia and New Zealand.
Havea Hiliau built her reflection on three points. She started with the name of the Moana Pavilion. “Moana for Pasifika people isn’t just waters and oceans between islands, but they are what joins and connects us, from island to island, from culture to culture, from faith to faith,” she said. She added that “the Moana is what joins the whole of the world.”
Next she spoke of the groaning of creation, the apostle Paul’s image, in his letter to the Romans, for an earth that suffers and waits to be set free. She named rising sea levels and the effort to keep global warming to 1.5°C, the goal of the Paris Agreement. “Climate justice is not about us protecting the environment, but it’s about us protecting our culture, our life, and our community,” she said.
She kept her third point for what happens after COP31. She quoted the prophet Micah on what God requires: “to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.” She also pointed to the book of Revelation, with its tree whose leaves heal the nations. “Caring for creation is not someone else’s responsibility, but it is ours,” she said. She closed with three questions: “Are we caring for the gift that has been entrusted to us? Are we listening to the most vulnerable and most impacted by climate change? And are we prepared to turn our words into action?”
Then she prayed. “We particularly hold before you our Pacific communities, our First Nations people, and all those whose voices are too often unheard,” she said. For the leaders and negotiators at COP31 she asked: “Give them your wisdom, courage, and integrity.”
“For Pacific peoples, climate change is not a distant threat,” said Rev. Charissa Suli, president of the Uniting Church in Australia and a member of the WCC delegation, who was at the opening and commented afterwards. “Our Pacific communities deserve more than words. They deserve a future.”
The next to speak was one of the leaders Havea Hiliau had prayed for. Chris Bowen, Australia’s minister for Climate Change and Energy, leads the talks as COP31 president of negotiations, while Türkiye hosts the conference. He began by greeting “Reverend Mata” by name, then recalled the Paris talks of 2015. “Let us never forget, the Pacific insisted, no, two degrees is not good enough. We’re not leaving until we commit to 1.5,” he said.
He turned to money for island countries. It was not good enough, he said, that “0.2 percent of the world’s climate finance goes to small island developing states for adaptation,” the work of coping with climate impacts that are already happening. “That has to change,” he said.
Bowen said he could not promise what talks among more than 190 countries would produce. “I can promise you this: the Pacific will be right there with us at the heart of the negotiations every single day,” he said.
A WCC delegation is in Antalya until 20 November as part of the Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action (2025–2034), a ten-year commitment of the churches. On 15 November, delegates will join the COP31 Ecumenical Service at St Alypios’ Church…PACNEWS
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The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Strong El Niño and active cyclone season ahead for the Cook Islands, Met Service warns
RAROTONGA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (SPREP)—- Communities across the Cook Islands are being urged to prepare now for the months ahead, despite the rain of recent days, following the release of the 2026/27 seasonal climate and ocean outlook at the National Climate and Ocean Forum (NCOF) in Rarotonga.
The forum, hosted by the Cook Islands Meteorological Service (CIMS) at the Edgewater Resort on Monday 9 November, brought together stakeholders from a range of sectors to hear the latest information on climate and ocean conditions and what they may mean for the season ahead. More than fourty participants attended the forum, online and in person. The forum was supported by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through its Climate Science and Information Programme.
Participants heard presentations on climate impacts and extreme weather events over the past year, the current status of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), the 2026/27 Tropical Cyclone Outlook, and the outlook for rainfall, temperature and drought. The CIMS ocean team presented the latest sea surface temperature forecasts, coral reef watch status and sea level trends, and participants were also updated on improvements to the national weather observation network under the Green Climate Fund CIS-Pac5 project.
Climatologist Mr Sunny Seuseu of the SPREP Climate Services Team presented the regional El Niño status and cautioned against reading too much into the recent wet weather.
“We are in a strong El Niño phase, and that is the signal people need to pay attention to. The showers we have seen over the last few days are largely orographic rainfall, which happens when moist air is pushed up over high ground, cools and falls as rain. On an island like Rarotonga, that kind of rainfall is still likely during El Niño, but it is localised and short-lived. It does not mean the rain will continue,” said Seuseu.
“My message is simple: do not let a few wet days give a false sense of security. This is the time to take precautions, to conserve and store water, and to plan for the conditions the outlook is pointing to, not the weather we happen to be seeing this week.”
Director of the Cook Islands Meteorological Service, Maara Vaiimene, said the 2026/27 Tropical Cyclone Outlook points to an active season, particularly for the Northern Cook Islands.
“We are expecting one to three named tropical cyclones for the Cook Islands this season. The Northern Cook Islands face an elevated risk, with two to three cyclones predicted, while the risk for the Southern Cook Islands is normal to above normal, with one to two predicted. We have already had one, with Tropical Cyclone Wati affecting us in October,” said Vaiimene.
“The official tropical cyclone season runs from 1 November to 30 April, but cyclones do not always keep to the calendar. We saw that with Tropical Cyclone Martin at the end of October 1997, and again last month with Tropical Cyclone Wati. Cyclone activity for the Cook Islands usually peaks from December to March, and El Niño is still strengthening, with a strong event likely through January to March 2027. All communities need to remain vigilant and well prepared.”
Vaiimene also encouraged participants and communities, particularly in the Pa Enua, to engage actively with the outlook, because although the conditions may not be so severe in some cases, their impacts can be devastating.
“The outlook is intended for our people to understand it and act on it. I encourage everyone, especially our people in the Pa Enua, to ask questions. If something in the outlook is not clear, or you want to know what it means for your island, contact us. There is no such thing as a silly question when it comes to keeping your family and community safe. Our aim is to keep our communities safe and informed,” said Vaiimene.
“Our outer islands often feel the impacts first and have the least time and resources to respond. By taking heed of the outlook now, Island Governments and communities can be prepared, know what actions to take, and put plans in place before conditions change, rather than after.”
Participants were invited to complete a feedback survey to help CIMS improve how climate and ocean information is produced and shared with each sector and island. CIMS will continue to provide regular climate and ocean updates throughout the season through the CIMS Facebook page and local media outlets…..PACNEWS
