In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — ‘Long memory’: Pacific faces decades of global warming
2. PACIFIC — Pacific calls for stronger support as shipping moves towards alternative fuels
3. FIJI — Fiji Acting A-G Turaga resigns from Cabinet, remains MP
4. FIJI — China rejects U.S cyberattack allegations as Fiji warned of network breach
5. FIJI — Fiji must strengthen cyber security amid China- U.S rivalry: Foreign Minister Ditoka
6. PACIFIC — Visa crackdown is not aimed at Pasifika workers, says NZ First
7. FIJI — 11 days not enough for Fiji constitutional consultations – FHRADC
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific meeting advances regional kava standards
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Green Climate Fund approves project preparation support for “Fiji Climate-Smart Agriculture Guarantee”
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Airways unveils five-year profit plan to protect Government guarantee
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific energy security cannot wait for the next fuel shock
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific must layer disaster funding, plan cash delivery and align aid systems, ADB official says
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Pacific Leads global push on Ocean Acidification – the “Invisible Twin” of Ocean Warming
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Pacific Islands are changing. What happens to cultural heritage when the people have to leave?
PAC – GLOBAL WARMING: AAP PACNEWS 1: Wed 14 Oct 2026
‘Long memory’: Pacific faces decades of global warming
MELBOURNE, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (AAP)—The Pacific Ocean could feel the effects of global warming for centuries after the world reaches net-zero emissions, a study has found, due to its “long memory”.
University of Melbourne researchers published the findings late on Tuesday in a peer-reviewed paper that also found rising temperatures could create persistent El Niño-like conditions in the region.
Cutting emissions sooner could limit the extent of the changes, they said, but some nations would need to adapt to warmer conditions.
The study comes weeks before ocean-related climate threats are expected to become a key issue at the United Nations’ COP31 talks in Antalya, Turkey, following calls for action from Pacific leaders at pre-COP31 in Fiji.
The research, published in the Communications Earth and Environment journal, analysed global climate simulations and used a CSIRO computer modelling system to project changes for 1000 years after emissions ceased.
The modelling showed ending emissions did not immediately reverse the effects of climate change in the tropical Pacific Ocean, University of Melbourne researcher and lead author Aditya Sengupta said, and the impact could continue for centuries.
“The atmosphere and the ocean surface can adjust relatively quickly, while the deep ocean absorbs and releases heat over hundreds or even thousands of years,” he said.
“This gives the ocean a long memory of previous greenhouse gas emissions.”
The modelling found global warming could cause a lasting shift towards El Niño-like conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
El Niño events are associated with hotter and drier conditions in Australia and an increased risk of drought and bushfires.
The findings did not mean the Pacific would be locked in a permanent El Niño event, researchers said, but would mean a long-term change to the ocean’s temperature patterns.
The results underlined the importance of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to curtail global warming, University of Melbourne associate professor and co-author Andrew King said – and to move swiftly.
“We found clear benefits from reducing emissions quickly,” he said.
“Reaching net zero earlier limits the changes occurring within the ocean and reduces the risk of leaving future generations with a substantially altered tropical Pacific.”
The COP31 event, which begins on 09 November, has listed 10 priorities for climate discussions, including ocean observation and greater resilience for coastal and marine ecosystems. ….PACNEWS
PAC – SHIPPING: SPREP PACNEWS 1: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Pacific calls for stronger support as shipping moves towards alternative fuels
BANGKOK, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—Pacific Island countries are calling for stronger international cooperation, technical assistance and support as the maritime sector transitions towards alternative fuels, with remote island nations facing distinct challenges in responding to potential marine pollution incidents.
The call was highlighted at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Research and Development (R&D) Forum on Marine Pollution Preparedness for Alternative Fuels, held in Singapore from 21–22 September 2026.
The forum brought together maritime administrations, technical experts, industry representatives and other stakeholders to share research, experience and knowledge on managing incidents involving alternative fuels.
Mara Tairi, Director of the Maritime, Cook Islands, said international cooperation, capacity building and technical assistance would be critical for remote Pacific islands as the maritime sector decarbonises.
“As the Pacific prepares for the transition to alternative fuels, support for remote island nations and communities is essential,” he said.
“The Cook Islands supports a safe and equitable transition to alternative marine fuels.
For remote Pacific islands, international cooperation, targeted capacity building, and technical assistance will be critical to ensuring our communities are prepared and resilient as the maritime sector decarbonises.”
The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) participated in the forum alongside representatives from the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tonga, providing an opportunity to bring regional and national Pacific perspectives into the discussions.
SPREP shared the Pacific Islands Marine Spill Contingency Plan (PACPLAN) and perspectives on the practical challenges of preparing for and responding to incidents involving alternative fuels, while also building connections with international and regional partners and learning from emerging research and developments.
The participation also enabled Pacific representatives to exchange experiences with international partners and learn from emerging research, technical developments and response approaches as shipping moves towards lower-emission fuels.
For Pacific Island countries, the transition to alternative fuels brings new technical and operational considerations, making access to knowledge, capacity building and appropriate response arrangements increasingly important.
Brian Fusimalohi, Senior Marine Environment Officer with the Tonga Maritime Administration Office, said alternative fuels present particular challenges for remote Pacific islands.
“Alternative fuels present new challenges for remote Pacific islands. We need the international community to consider our unique circumstances and provide the necessary support to strengthen preparedness and response capacity.”
The forum highlighted the importance of ensuring emergency arrangements, technical guidance and response capabilities continue to evolve alongside developments in the maritime sector.
SPREP’s participation forms part of its ongoing work to strengthen regional partnerships, share knowledge and support Pacific Island countries in addressing current and emerging marine pollution risks.
SPREP acknowledges the support of the International Maritime Organisation in sponsoring the participation of delegates from SPREP, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea and Tonga at the R&D Forum.
The support enabled Pacific participants to engage directly in international discussions and share regional perspectives on marine pollution preparedness and response as the use of alternative fuels grows.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Research and Development (R&D) Forum on Marine Pollution Preparedness for Alternative Fuels was held in Singapore from 21 to 22 September 2026….PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI SUN/FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Fiji Acting A-G Turaga resigns from Cabinet, remains MP
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji’s Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga has resigned from Cabinet.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed the resignation this afternoon following today’s Cabinet meeting and said he had accepted it.
Rabuka said Turaga remains a Member of Parliament and a member of the People’s Alliance Party.
No one has been appointed to act in the role at this stage, as Rabuka seeks advice from the Solicitor-General’s Office.
Meanwhile, former acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga attended deliberations of the Special Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, following confirmation of his resignation by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
Turaga’s attendance comes amid controversy surrounding an explicit video circulating on social media allegedly involving the former Cabinet minister.
The Special Committee on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill held deliberations Tuesday as part of its ongoing examination of proposed changes to Fiji’s Constitution.
In a statement, Parliament confirmed that the committee was preparing to begin public consultations on Thursday, 15 October.
“The Committee is preparing to begin public consultations this Thursday, 15 October 2026, providing members of the public with an opportunity to share their views, concerns and submissions on the proposed constitutional changes.”
Parliament said the consultations would allow the committee to hear directly from members of the public before considering the proposed amendments.
“The consultations will form an important part of the process, allowing the Committee to hear directly from the public as it considers the proposed amendments.”
The first public consultation is scheduled for the Suva Civic Centre on Thursday morning, followed by another session at Vunimono High School Hall in Nausori later that day.
Further consultations are scheduled for Navua, Nadroga, Nadi and Lautoka on Friday and Saturday.
Turaga’s continued participation in the committee’s proceedings comes as questions remain over the circumstances of his resignation and his continuing parliamentary responsibilities.
No official clarification has been provided on whether his resignation affects his membership of the Special Committee…..PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Wed 14 Oct 2026
China rejects U.S cyberattack allegations as Fiji warned of network breach
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—China has rejected U.S allegations linking it to cyberattacks, accusing Washington of politicising cybersecurity and making accusations without evidence, as the United States warns Fiji of a suspected cyberattack on a Suva-based regional organisation.
The U.S Embassy recently informed the Fiji Government and the affected organisation of a suspected compromise of its computer network between July and August 2026, alleging hackers linked to China maintained access for several days.
The embassy provided technical recommendations to help Fiji and the organisation secure their networks and address the suspected breach.
It said the incident reflected a broader pattern of cyber activity targeting Pacific governments, multilateral organisations and telecommunications networks by state-sponsored cyber threat actors linked to China.
The United States warned that information stolen through such operations could give Chinese intelligence services and other actors access to sensitive data and compromise communications between Pacific Island countries and territories.
The embassy said the activity was consistent with its assessment that China remained an active and persistent cyber threat.
Responding to U.S allegations of Chinese support for cyberattacks, a Chinese Embassy spokesperson said Beijing firmly opposed hacking and was committed to combating cybercrime in accordance with the law.
“China is a staunch defender of cybersecurity. China firmly opposes and combats hacking activities in accordance with law, and firmly opposes the practice of politicising cybersecurity issues,” the spokesperson said.
China also opposed what it described as the spread of disinformation for political purposes and accusations against other countries without evidence.
The spokesperson called on Washington to stop what Beijing described as double standards and political manipulation and instead work with China to address cybersecurity risks through dialogue and consultation.
“Cybersecurity is an issue of common concern for China and the U.S,” the spokesperson said.
China urged the United States to take a responsible and constructive approach and build a relationship in cyberspace based on peace, stability and mutual respect.
The U.S Embassy also raised concerns about alleged links between criminal networks, corruption and foreign influence in the Pacific, citing public reporting on individuals and networks operating across the region.
It referred to research describing what scholars call “systemic geocriminality” and alleged links between China’s United Front and criminal figures.
The allegations highlight growing concerns over cybersecurity and the protection of sensitive government and regional communications across the Pacific.
The Chinese spokesperson’s remarks did not specifically address the suspected compromise of the Suva-based organisation’s network…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Wed 14 oct 2026
Fiji must strengthen cyber security amid China-US rivalry: Foreign Minister Ditoka
SUVA, 14 OCTIOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —- Fiji is not worried about China-U.S rivalry but must strengthen its capabilities and be clear about where it stands.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiasi Ditoka made the comment following a statement by the U.S Embassy in Suva that China-linked hackers breached the network of a Suva-based regional organisation between July and August 2026.
Ditoka said he had not been informed about the embassy’s notice and would respond once he arrived at his office.
“What we need to do is just up our game, to make sure that we know exactly where we stand and the principles that we abide by,” he said.
“I think that’s what we need to work on.”
He said Fiji’s ties with all its international partners remained intact.
“We also value them very much, and we’d like to continue to strengthen those commitments that we have with our overseas partners,” Ditoka said.
The embassy said it had informed the Fijian Government and the organisation about the breach.
Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica said he was not familiar with the details of the incident.
He said the matter should be referred to Policing Minister Ioane Naivalurua and the Cyber Security Unit for investigation.
Kamikamica said cybercrime was common in Fiji, with government agencies and many local companies among the targets.
“The more protection mechanisms we introduce, the safer it will be for the country and for everyone,” he said.
He said Fiji was developing its cybersecurity framework through the Ministry of Policing…..PACNEWS
PAC – VISA CRACKDOWN: PMN PACNEWS 1: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Visa crackdown is not aimed at Pasifika workers, says NZ First
WELLINGTON, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (PMN)—New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says his party’s plan to scrap the Accredited Employer Work Visa is not aimed at Pacific people.
He says the system is being misused by people from other parts of the world.
The party wants to replace the visa with a “shortage-led” Skilled Work Visa, with entry based on the job, region and proven need for workers.
Under this policy, employers seeking migrants for routine roles should have to prove they have made a serious effort to employ or train New Zealanders. Pointing to about 171,000 unemployed people and an underutilisation rate of 13.8 per cent.
NZ First says New Zealand should not be “an international labour-hire agency with a flag.”
Asked by PMN News whether the change would make a tangible difference for Pacific workers, Peters says it would not.
“It’s not going to make a tangible difference for the Pacific workers because that’s not where it’s being misused. It’s coming from other parts of the world where it’s being used massively,” he said.
“We want a credible, honest system where people are coming here who are genuine and where the shortages are genuine, not made up to get around a bureaucracy and then trafficking people, which effectively is going on.”
Peters says NZ First wants to tighten the system but when pressed on what it would do to improve Pacific people;s access to Aotearoa, he points to passport access, faster processing and regional and seasonal work schemes.
“All those things are going to be looked at and the numbers may change. We think it will be increased going forward.”
He says any changes would be discussed with Pacific leaders country by country, and New Zealand would not push through a policy that island governments did not support.
Visa access becomes an election battleground.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has pledged visa-free entry for citizens of Pacific Islands Forum countries, using an NZeTA for visits of up to three months.
NZ First, meanwhile, has offered a two-year window for Pacific overstayers to regularise their status. Labour’s deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni has questioned the proposal.
“It worries me that they’re saying they’ll give this two years clemency,” she says.
Peters defended the offer, telling media: “Cousins don’t rip off cousins.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has not committed to visa-free travel. When asked in Apia in March why Sāmoans could not be given visa-free access, he pointed to changes already introduced by his Government.
“First and foremost, we’ve made a two-year multi entry visitor visa available,” Luxon said. “We’ve sped up the processing by about three times and lowered the cost by around 25 per cent.”
The Greens have also signaled support for a Pacific visa waiver. The party backs an amnesty for overstayers and wants to end visas that tie migrant workers to a single employer.
ACT has not committed to a Pacific visa waiver. In February, the party’s Parmjeet Parmar told PMN News it had to weigh diplomatic relationships against immigration risks. She also warned against stereotyping Pacific communities because of the actions of a few.
Dr Suliana Mone, from the University of Auckland’s Law School, told PMN News last month that coalition deals can narrow or remove policies.
“The legal mechanism we have, the accountability mechanism, is voting at the next election,” she says.
Pacific survey puts NZ First to the test.
Peters says he is seeing growing interest in NZ First, pointing to meetings in Auckland and the South Island.
He says the party drew more than 500 people in Invercargill and more than 650 in Mosgiel.
The PMN-Horizon Research Pacific Issues Election Survey suggests NZ First faces a challenge in winning Pacific support.
Fifty-nine per cent of Pacific respondents said NZ First does not understand Pacific communities well while seven per cent said they would give the party their vote.
The survey also found cost of living would influence the vote of nine in 10 respondents, making household pressures a major issue for Pacific voters.
Peters has also criticised foreign aid cuts proposed by National and ACT, calling them “a comedy”. He argues the programmes under threat were set up by National-led governments.
“If you’re going to attack foreign affairs, then you make a dramatic mistake and none of it will be enough to fund your programme anyway.”
New Zealand’s general election is on 07 November, with advance voting opening on 26 October….PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Wed 14 Oct 2026
11 days not enough for Fiji constitutional consultations – FHRADC
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES) —The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission has raised serious concerns over the 11-day public consultation period for the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026, warning that the rushed process could undermine meaningful public participation.
Commissioner Alefina Vuki says the timeframe, coupled with the proposed December 9 national referendum, raises serious questions about whether Fijians will have sufficient opportunity to understand and contribute to constitutional reform.
The Special Committee reviewing the Bill issued a notice on October 12 inviting written submissions, with a deadline of 23 October.
“An eleven-day submission period simply is too inadequate for a process of such national significance. It is also not fair on the people,” Vuki said.
She questioned how many Fijians had actually read and understood the proposed amendments before being asked to provide feedback.
“The Constitution belongs to all Fijians. As the supreme law of the land, it is a complex legal framework and not ordinary legislation.”
Vuki said the public needed sufficient time to examine both the Constitution Review Committee’s draft and the Government’s revised version, which contained substantial changes.
She warned that simply publishing the Bill and inviting submissions did not constitute meaningful consultation.
“The constitution-making process must be genuine by including public participation and not reduced to a procedural and administrative function to meet an official requirement or a pre-determined objective.”
The Commission also raised concerns that rural and maritime communities could be excluded because of limited internet connectivity, transport difficulties and restricted access to information.
It said people with disabilities, older persons, women, young people and economically disadvantaged communities must also be given appropriate assistance to participate.
Vuki further questioned the urgency surrounding the proposed referendum, warning that voters needed comprehensive civic education before making decisions on constitutional changes.
“A referendum is more than a voting exercise. It requires sustained civic education, impartial and accessible information, and adequate time for voters to make informed choices.”
She said Fiji’s obligations under Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights required meaningful public participation without unreasonable restrictions.
The Commission considers the 11-day consultation period and proposed 09 December referendum an unreasonable restriction on that right.
“Democracy is not measured by how quickly decisions are made. It is measured by whether people have been given the information, time and opportunity to participate meaningfully in decisions that affect their future.”
The Commission is calling on Parliament to extend the submission deadline, undertake comprehensive public education and ensure consultations reach rural, maritime and marginalised communities.
It also wants transparency on how public submissions will influence the final constitutional decisions…. PACNEWS
PAC – PRE COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Pacific meeting advances regional kava standards
NADI, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Pacific officials are working to develop harmonised kava standards to strengthen product quality, safety and authenticity and improve access to regional and international markets.
The work is being advanced at the third Technical Committee Meeting on Regional Kava Standard Development, held in Nadi from 12 to 14 October under the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Initiative (PQII).
The meeting is focused on developing practical and robust regional standards to improve the consistency and quality of Pacific kava and strengthen confidence in the product across markets.
Speaking at the opening, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Team Leader Trade Natalia Patternot said the committee’s work was directly aligned with the region’s Kava Declaration and Regional Kava Development Strategy.
Patternot emphasised the importance of incorporating national circumstances into regional discussions to ensure the standards were practical and could be applied across Pacific countries.
She said harmonised standards and stronger quality infrastructure were essential to building confidence in Pacific kava and supporting access to regional and international markets.
The development of regional standards also supports the Pacific Aid-for-Trade Strategy 2026–2030 and the vision of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
These frameworks aim to strengthen regional cooperation, expand export opportunities, support sustainable livelihoods and preserve the cultural heritage of Pacific kava.
The technical committee’s work is part of broader regional efforts to strengthen the kava sector and improve the quality and competitiveness of Pacific products in international markets.
Kava is an important cultural and economic commodity for many Pacific Island countries, supporting livelihoods and providing export opportunities for producers across the region.
The meeting brings regional stakeholders together to advance a common approach to kava standards while ensuring national contexts are considered in the development proces…..PACNEWS
FIJI – AGRICULTURE: GCF PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Green Climate Fund approves project preparation support for “Fiji Climate-Smart Agriculture Guarantee”
NADI, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (GCF)—The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved Project Preparation Facility (PPF) support for the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) to develop the Fiji Climate-Smart Agriculture Guarantee, a proposed initiative that aims to expand access to climate finance for Fiji’s agricultural sector and strengthen resilience to climate change.
Through this support, GCF will provide specialised project preparation support to prepare a full funding proposal for potential consideration by the GCF Board, subject to GCF’s review and appraisal process. The project preparation process is expected to be implemented over nine months and will support the development of a robust investment programme for Fiji’s climate-smart agriculture sector.
The proposed project is being developed to help address financing barriers across Fiji’s agricultural value chains and support investment in climate-smart technologies and practices, including through the integration of traditional knowledge and mobilization of additional investment across climate-resilient agricultural value chains.
Under the approved preparation support, technical studies and stakeholder consultations will be undertaken to assess climate vulnerabilities, identify priority agricultural value chains, evaluate financial and economic viability, and develop the environmental, social and gender assessments/frameworks required for a full funding proposal submission to the GCF.
The project preparation work will also support the design of the proposed guarantee mechanism, including its operational arrangements, risk management systems, monitoring frameworks and eligibility criteria for climate-smart investments. Indicative technologies and practices to be assessed include climate-resilient crops, solar-powered water pumping systems, water management technologies, cooling and ice-making equipment, biodigesters and cyclone-resilient agricultural infrastructure.
Filimone Waqabaca, Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Development Bank, said: “This approval represents an important milestone in FDB’s efforts to expand climate finance to Fiji’s natural sectors that we intend to do by listening to our farmers, fishers, foresters, agribusiness entrepreneurs and other relevant stakeholders to develop an innovative guarantee facility that can unlock greater investment in climate-smart agriculture and strengthen livelihoods across Fiji.”
To date, GCF has provided more than USD$12 million in Project Preparation Facility support across 19 grants for single country projects in Small Island Developing States, and another USD$15.5 million PPF support for multi-country projects that include SIDS. This underscores the PPF’s role as an important entry point to climate finance.
Hemant Mandal, the Green Climate Fund’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific said: “Small Island Developing States face some of the most acute climate risks yet often face the greatest barriers in accessing finance. This project preparation support will help develop a high-quality investment proposal that can channel climate finance to those who need it most, while demonstrating how national institutions such as the Fiji Development Bank can play a leading role in delivering climate action on the ground.”
FDB and GCF acknowledged the support of the Government of Fiji, Fiji’s National Designated Authority, and key partners that have contributed to the development of the initiative to date, including the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN).
The approved project preparation support is intended to facilitate the development and submission of a full funding proposal to the Green Climate Fund within two years of approval of the PPF application.
GCF is the world’s climate fund for developing countries, mobilising and delivering capital at scale, strengthening institutions and supporting transformative change, and bringing together our extensive partnership networks to deliver impact.
GCF is mandated as the primary operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and serves the 2015 Paris Agreement.
To fulfill its role in supporting global climate ambition, GCF is focused on delivering high-impact climate finance at scale, underpinned by a country-owned approach focused on system-wide change.
The fund has over USD$20 billion committed across 134 developing countries through a wide range of adaptation and mitigation projects.
The Fiji Development Bank is Fiji’s national development bank and a Direct Access Entity to the Green Climate Fund. FDB mobilises finance to support sustainable economic development, climate resilience and inclusive growth across Fiji…..PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Fiji Airways unveils five-year profit plan to protect Government guarantee
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—Fiji Airways has developed a five-year plan to return the national airline to sustainable profitability and ensure the Government is never required to honour its financial guarantee.
Chief Executive Officer Paul Scurrah told the Standing Committee on Social Affairs that the airline’s board had approved a strategy focused on reducing costs, expanding operations and generating sufficient profits to reinvest in the business.
He clarified that the Government guarantee was not a direct financial contribution from taxpayers but provided the airline with backing to secure financing from institutional banks.
“So that government guarantee isn’t a government grant, or doesn’t come out of government coffers. It provides us the backing to go to institutional banks,” Scurrah said.
However, he stressed that the airline must demonstrate to lenders that it has a credible plan to achieve sustainable profitability.
“In order to do that, we need to be able to demonstrate to them that we have a plan to turn Fiji Airways into a sustainably profitable airline.”
Scurrah said recent changes to the airline’s cost structure had already enabled it to announce an additional 125,000 seats on flights into and out of Fiji.
He described the expansion as a significant development that demonstrated the airline’s ability to grow while maintaining financial discipline.
“You would have seen recently with a number of the changes we’re making and getting the cost base into a more sustainable position, that we were able to announce another 125,000 seats, a massive expansion of the amount of seats we’re flying in and out of Fiji.”
He said the expansion formed part of the airline’s broader strategy to demonstrate financial stability and reassure lenders that the Government guarantee would not need to be activated.
“That is part of the story that we need to tell in order to have confidence that we are in a position that the government will never be asked to call on that guarantee.”
Scurrah said the five-year plan outlined clear milestones for profitability and reinvestment, which financial institutions would closely monitor.
“And so that five-year plan, which has been approved by the board, shows the path to profit and reinvestment in this airline.”
He stressed that banks would still require evidence of the airline’s financial performance despite the existence of the Government guarantee.
“Even though the government guarantee is there, because no banker wants to have to call on that guarantee.”
Scurrah said the airline’s leadership and board were committed to raising service standards while keeping operations affordable.
“The team and I, with the board’s backing, have a plan to make this airline world-leading in every aspect.”
He said the airline was resetting its standards to meet the expectations of Fijians and international passengers while ensuring sufficient funds remained available for future expansion.
Scurrah reiterated that the success of the five-year strategy would be critical to protecting the Government from potential financial exposure.
“But we know that plan is integral to making sure that that guarantee that has been provided is never called upon.”…PACNEWS
PAC – ENERGY SECURITY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Pacific energy security cannot wait for the next fuel shock
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —The World Bank Group report, Toward a Secure, Affordable, and Resilient Energy Future: Roadmaps for the Pacific Islands, makes clear that Pacific Island Countries should treat energy security as an urgent economic priority, not as a distant climate goal.
Heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels leaves electricity costs high and volatile, while scattered communities across vast ocean distances make power systems costly and difficult to extend. Diesel imports provide 85 per cent to 95 per cent of power generation, and fuel reserves are often less than a month’s supply.
The 2026 global fuel price shock made the risk immediate. Costlier or scarce shipments strained household budgets and government finances, while utilities struggled to maintain supply. Disruptions or price spikes can quickly lead to higher tariffs or blackouts.
The report says continued dependence on diesel is likely to remain a persistent source of economic pressure across the Pacific.
The case for renewable energy is both practical and environmental. Pacific Island Countries contributed less than 0.05 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2025, yet face some of the world’s highest electricity costs and limited access to power.
The transition’s core objectives are economic resilience, energy security, reliability, and financially sustainable utilities; lower emissions are an important co-benefit.
Governments have set ambitious goals, but targets alone will not deliver reliable power. The five countries covered in the report aim to raise renewables to between 40 per cent and 70 per cent of generation by 2030.
The roadmaps call for clear regulatory frameworks, competitive procurement, stronger utilities, grid upgrades and plans to guide least-cost investment. Each is necessary to turn national priorities into implementable projects.
The investment scale is substantial: an estimated US$2 billion is required across the five countries by 2030 for renewable generation, resilient grids, storage, and electricity access.
Concessional finance can support early reforms and reduce investment risks; as risks decline and projects demonstrate lower costs and improved energy security, private capital can mobilise at greater scale.
The immediate test is whether governments, utilities and development partners can move from planning to implementation. Strengthening energy security through an accelerated transition is a resilience imperative.
Delaying action leaves Pacific communities exposed to the next price shock; delivering it can reduce reliance on imported fuels and support more stable electricity costs….PACNEWS
PAC – DISASTER FUNDING: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 14 Oct 2026
Pacific must layer disaster funding, plan cash delivery and align aid systems, ADB official says
SUVA, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS)—Pacific governments should combine domestic reserves, contingent credit, and insurance to finance disasters, while preparing in advance to deliver money and aid to affected communities, the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific director general, Emma Veve, said.
Veve set out three priorities: layering financial protection against disaster risk, planning how funds and resources will be deployed, and aligning government and development-partner systems.
She spoke after the Tuvalu Prime Minister discussed available disaster support mechanisms, during the PRECOP31 side event earlier this month.
“Clearly, relying on yourself is always the best option,” Veve said, pointing to national disaster trust funds and budget allocations for emergency response as a government’s first line of support. Development partners, including the World Bank and bilateral partners, could provide additional help, she said.
Countries could also arrange contingent lines of credit, choosing their size and whether to draw on them when a disaster strikes, Veve said.
Insurance could cover other risks, but premiums vary: less likely events can be cheaper to insure, while frequent events attract relatively high premiums.
That makes choosing the right mix essential, she said. “This is the point of layering, making sure what you’re spending to prepare yourself for risk is good value for money.”
In other parts of the world, catastrophe bonds are used for very infrequent risks. The bank recently completed one in Central West Asia, Veve said, but catastrophe bonds require significant conditions and information. Work on what would be needed to make them viable in the Pacific showed “there’s still some way to go until we get to that stage,” she said.
When a crisis is especially severe, Veve said, bilateral partners and neighbouring countries can also be called on to help.
Her second priority was planning to ensure money and practical assistance can reach where they are needed. Governments should arrange procurement ahead of time so people and bulldozers are available to clear roads after cyclones, and establish institutional responsibilities, committees and standard operating procedures for cyclones, earthquakes and other disasters, she said.
Such preparation helps set priorities for spending and establish the systems needed to deliver funds, Veve said. Work across the Pacific has also focused on improving direct payments to affected people and targeting those most in need, rather than distributing assistance broadly to everyone in a geographically affected area, she said.
Social welfare payments are important alongside physical assistance, Veve said.
Her third priority was coordination among governments and the many organisations responding to a disaster. Harmonising partner systems with government systems, using government systems where available, and routing funds through national budgets instead of separate donor projects can move money faster, she said.
Veve summarised the approach as “the risk layering, the planning ahead and the aligning our systems.”…..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
Pacific Leads global push on Ocean Acidification – the “Invisible Twin” of Ocean Warming
As the world’s ocean acidification community gathers in Wellington, Pacific governments, scientists and finance institutions lay out how the region is turning science into climate action ahead of COP3
WELLINGTON, 15 OCTOBER 2026 (OCEAN ALLIANCE) —While El Niño and marine heatwaves dominate headlines across the globe, their less visible counterpart – ocean acidification – is quietly changing the chemistry of the waters that feed and protect millions.
The Pacific – a region of large ocean states and thousands of islands – is among the most exposed to its effects and among the least contributing to its cause. Yet far from resigning itself to the impacts, it is leading the response at international and local scales.
Monday in Wellington, regional governments, scientists, intergovernmental bodies and financial institutions gathered to drive the region’s response to climate-ocean change forward, at a special meeting convened by the International Alliance to Combat Ocean Acidification (OA Alliance) and the International Atomic Energy Agency, OA Coordination Centre.
The session, “Advancing Priority Science and Policy Action on Ocean Acidification in the Asia-Pacific Region”, opens the second week in which the Pacific hosts the world. It sets the stage for the 6th Ocean in a High-CO₂ World Symposium (13-16 October), the largest global gathering of ocean acidification practitioners, held every four years.
It also follows last week’s Pre-COP31 in Nadi, Fiji, where Pacific leaders made the case for putting the ocean at the heart of the climate agenda. The OA Alliance took part as an invited observer to the meeting and screened the short film, Changing Waters, which features Fiji’s leadership on connecting ocean acidification into domestic and international climate policy action.
An invisible but mounting threat
Ocean acidification is the result of the ocean absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making seawater more acidic and stripping it of the carbonate that corals, shellfish and plankton need to build shells and skeletons.
Surface ocean acidity has risen by around 30% since the Industrial Revolution and has already breached its planetary boundary, or what scientists consider to be outside a safe operating space for a healthy and stable Earth.
Unlike seasonal patterns that are amplified by climate change such as El Niño, acidification is a trend that keeps building. In ecosystems such as coral reefs, the two form a harmful combination: El Niño warming triggers bleaching, and acidification makes it harder for reefs to rebuild.
“The ocean has been quietly absorbing our excess carbon dioxide for a long time, and that service to the planet has a limit and a cost. We are now beginning to see increases in ocean acidification that should worry policymakers. As the ocean rises up the climate agenda, governments can no longer overlook this impact of carbon on global food security and on human health and wellbeing,” said Jessie Turner, Executive Director of the OA Alliance.
Understanding what is at stake for the Pacific requires dedicated regional science For Pacific Islanders, the ocean is a source of identity, wellbeing and livelihoods.
Fish provide 50-90 percent of the animal protein eaten by its coastal communities, and healthy coral reefs can absorb up to 97 percent of the wave energy that would otherwise hit shorelines. But regional assessments now rate both reefs and food security as highly vulnerable to acidification.
While the cultural, environmental, and economic significance of marine resources are well documented, how different locations or key species will respond to increasing global ocean acidification is still being studied. As a field of research, ocean acidification has been evolving to become increasingly regionalized, though disparities in targeted knowledge that aid in effective response are a problem.
“The impacts of acidification vary locally and threaten marine life of ecological, cultural, and economic importance here in the Pacific and around the world. It’s important that regional and local science is connecting back to communities and decision makers to help identify where the most effective adaptation strategies can be deployed and guided by local priorities,” said Christina McGraw, University of Otago.
A region not waiting to take action
The Pacific’s response has been well underway for more than a decade. Regional bodies such as the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), have come together with Earth Sciences New Zealand to drive the science, monitoring and policy work.
In 2014, the Pacific Partnership on Ocean Acidification – coordinated by SPREP with SPC and the University of the South Pacific, and funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Principality of Monaco – identified which locations should be monitored for ocean acidification, building baselines across the Pacific in Fiji, Tokelau and Vanuatu. Communities planted mangroves, restored coral, and set up locally managed marine areas.
This led to the creation of the OA Centre now hosted by Pacific Community, which is outlining best opportunities for expanding baseline research and studying key species, like oysters, skipjack and yellowfin tuna larvae.
From community nurseries to high-tech monitoring, local action to build resilience to climate change and acidification is varied and gathering pace: On Taveuni in Fiji, a village women’s group raised more than 2,500 mangrove seedlings. On Tarawa in Kiribati, a first-of-its-kind locally managed marine area restores coral, mangroves, and seagrass together. And in Palau, a monitoring buoy tracks the changing chemistry of local waters around the clock.
Finance is starting to move too. The Asian Development Bank is carrying out ocean acidification vulnerability assessments across the region in three locations: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia – a sign that the institutions responsible for supporting the Pacific’s response to the impacts of climate change on marine resources, fisheries, and food systems are starting to account for the risk.
“In response to ocean acidification’s significant environmental and economic risks, ADB has launched a study to assess the region’s exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The study will strengthen the evidence base, monitoring, and management, and help integrate ocean acidification into planning and decision-making,” said Mary Kim, Asian Development Bank.
What comes next: COP31
World leaders and climate negotiators will be meeting for COP31 in Anatalya, Türkiye in less than a month. There, countries will grapple with how to centre the ocean in the climate change agenda, specifically as relates to curbing our greenhouse gas and carbon emissions as well as responding to the impacts already accruing in our ocean and along coastlines.
Acidification is central to that case, not only as one of the clearest signs of how carbon emissions are changing the sea, but as an instructive case study for how regions have already begun responding and the support needed to continue. Collaborative locally led efforts to monitor, identify research priorities and build resilience – such as the Pacific’s – offer a model for ocean-climate action more widely.
Dr Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Fiji said: “Ocean acidification caused by excess CO2 further clarifies the critical need to deliver rapid emissions cuts and has always been part of Fiji’s rationale on the need to limit global average temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees. At the recent Pre-COP negotiators meeting in Nadi, we’ve called for strong ocean outcomes at COP31.”
He added, “We want to see a global commitment to integrating ocean mitigation and adaptation solutions into NDCs and NAPs and commitments that ensure climate finance mobilised under the UNFCCC supports national efforts to protect our oceans from climate harm.”
The OA Alliance and its members bring that work into climate negotiations. The Alliance is calling on governments to:
● Join the OA Alliance and nominate an ocean acidification focal point in their ministry
● Commit to reporting on SDG indicator 14.3.1 on ocean acidity
● Bring ocean acidification into their next Nationally Determined Contribution or National
Adaptation Plan
● Back ocean action across mitigation, adaptation and finance at COP31, including funding
for monitoring and regional coordination on ocean acidification measurement and
response…..PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Pacific Islands are changing. What happens to cultural heritage when the people have to leave?
By Thomas Cooper-Johnson, Nicholas Foulcher
FUNAFUTI, 14 OCTOBER 2026 (THE CONVERSATION)—On Lakina, a small, uninhabited islet in the Pacific nation of Tuvalu, a lone church stands among the coconut palms and pandanus trees.
It is the only building on the islet. Yet the church, known as Lotolelei, has not been forgotten. Families still travel from the neighbouring island Nanumea for occasional services and family gatherings.
Built in the early 20th century using timber brought from Kanton Island in what is now Kiribati, the church carries generations of community history and connection to place.
As Tuvalu, a nation of 9,646, invests in protecting its islands from rising sea levels, while creating opportunities for people to migrate to Australia, Lakina raises an important question: what happens to cultural heritage when the people that gave it meaning move away?
Stay or leave: Tuvalu’s changing future
Earlier this month, leaders visiting Tuvalu for the Pacific pre-COP climate meetings saw the country’s coastal adaptation and land-reclamation efforts. These projects will ultimately add around six hectares of land to the main island of Funafuti.
Meanwhile, the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union treaty provides a pathway for Tuvaluans to live, work and study in Australia. Up to 280 permanent residency places are currently available through an annual ballot.
Tuvalu is investing in its future, while expanding options available to those who choose to, or have to, move abroad due to climate change.
What buildings can tell us
At the conclusion of the pre-COP meeting, COP31 President Murat Kurum said limiting global warming to 1.5°C was about the survival of “cultures, history, memories, your homeland, your homes”.
This comment highlights why cultural heritage deserves greater attention in adaptation and migration planning.
Our ongoing research focuses on endangered architecture and traditional building practices across Tuvalu.
Working alongside Tuvaluan community members, we have documented buildings on several islands, using photographs, architectural drawings, interviews and 3D models to record their construction and histories.
On the northern island of Niutao, the Makaili Hut is now a modest family space used for cooking, resting and storytelling. But its origins stretch back to the late 19th century.
Its predecessor, the Faleomanuka (or “house of wisdom”), was a communal storehouse and gathering place. It held supplies for ceremonies and emergencies, later becoming a council meeting house, and eventually providing timber for a family dwelling.
Following successive rebuilding efforts, including after cyclone damage, much of the original timber remains. Carved joints and coconut fibre lashings reveal construction skills handed down over generations.
In Funafuti, two classrooms tell a similar story. Each draws on building traditions from different Tuvaluan islands – evident in their roof forms and construction techniques. Locals describe these differences as expressions of island identity.
How heritage is already changing
Buildings in Tuvalu have long been repaired and adapted after storms. Rising seas and changing environmental conditions now add to those pressures, alongside shifts in materials, livelihoods and building practices.
The use of corrugated metal roofing illustrates the compromises involved. It provides an effective surface for collecting rainwater, which is particularly valuable during droughts. But it can also leave interiors hotter than traditional thatched roofs, which offer shade and insulation.
As construction techniques change, there are fewer opportunities for young people to learn the skills needed to build and maintain traditional structures. This knowledge may be gradually lost, even as the buildings themselves remain standing.
Close-up of a woman preparing long, dried fronds for traditional roof thatching.
Digital documentation can help
Our project also asks whether digital records can help Tuvaluans maintain connections to architectural heritage as places and communities change.
A model can’t replace a building, or the knowledge associated with it, but it can be a valuable tool for sharing stories and construction techniques.
We produced 3D models alongside photographs, drawings and interviews. At a community workshop, participants explored some of these models through virtual reality headsets.
Although some initially found the immersive experience unsettling, they generally saw the value in using digital records to share heritage with younger generations and Tuvaluans living abroad.
The discussion quickly evolved. Participants wanted canoes, oral histories, gathering places, beaches and other meaningful landscapes documented, too.
Some highlighted traditional canoes, which are being replaced by motorised boats, as an example of cultural knowledge becoming less common.
Protecting more than land
Tuvalu’s choices about new land, existing settlements and mobility will shape more than where its people live.
Heritage should have a place in those decisions, with local communities determining which sites and traditions need protection, what should be recorded, and how building knowledge can continue to be practised.
The Lakina Church – and the families that continue to return to it – remind us why this matters, as they keep their connection to a place they no longer call home….PACNEWS
Thomas Cooper-Johnson is Lecturer, Construction Management and Disaster Risk Reduction, University of Newcastle
Nicholas Foulcher is Senior Lecturer in Architecture, University of Newcastle
