In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Fears unregulated mining could imperil Pacific nations
2. PACIFIC — Russia’s missile tests around disputed islands anger Japan
3. PACIFIC — Pacific nations detain Chinese, Indonesian boats for illegal fishing
4. AUST — Environment rules promise protection but raise concerns
5. VAN — Napuat: Pacific security is indivisible
6. FIJI — Five pathways set for Fiji’s plastics transition
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Australian travellers bound for Fiji to be hit with new tourism tax, travel industry slams ‘broken promise’
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Airways reassures no flight disruptions
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Citizenship applications go online
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji eyes 100 million dollar solar investment boost
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — Families globally are increasingly looking for resilience options; some are finding a solution in the Pacific
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Before Disaster Strikes: Why Early Warnings Must Reach Every Community
PAC – MINING: AAP PACNEWS 1: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Fears unregulated mining could imperil Pacific nations
CANBERRA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (AAP) — Commercial deep-sea mining in the Pacific could begin in months without policy guardrails due to increasing rivalry between the U.S and China over critical minerals, a new report warns.
Analysis by the Lowy Institute has found mining could start as early as 2027, with the floor of the Pacific Ocean holding vast quantities of prized resources.
The contest between the world’s two biggest economies is being is driven by demand created by batteries, weapons systems, and power grids.
The region’s nations are split between the promise of economic spoils and potentially irreversible damage to the ecosystem, fisheries, food security, livelihoods and culture, according to the research.
It argues the absence of an international governance framework for commercial deep-sea mining leaves Pacific states negotiating without internationally agreed protections.
This also leaves them dependent on individual agreements drafted by companies seeking to mine their ocean floor.
“For the Pacific Island nations caught in the middle of this great power battle for critical mineral supremacy, the economic proposition is difficult to refuse,” Dr Connor Graham writes.
“The problem is not that Pacific nations disagree, it is that they are being forced to negotiate individually against parties with vastly more resources, information, and legal capacity, and that the international framework designed to protect them has stalled.”
Dr Graham said while Australia was yet to take a clear position on deep-sea mining in the Pacific, it has the standing, relationships, and institutional presence to make an impact.
This includes its membership in the Pacific Islands Forum and as a long-standing ally of the U.S.
“A commitment to standards that have not been written as a condition for activity that is about to begin is less of a policy, and more of an abstention,” he said.
“But Australia cannot afford to abstain from this debate.”
Countries including Australia have started to enter into deals for critical minerals, which are crucial for a number for emerging technologies.
The federal government has announced a $1.2 billion (US$859.99 million) critical minerals strategic reserve to secure the supply of key minerals deemed crucial for Australia’s economy and national security…. PACNEWS
PAC – MISSILE: THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS 1: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Russia’s missile tests around disputed islands anger Japan
TOKYO, 24 AUGUST 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) — Japan has criticised missile tests carried out by Russia’s navy around the disputed islands visited by Vladimir Putin last week amid continuing tensions between the two countries.
Russia’s Pacific fleet said on Thursday that it had fired Bastion surface-to-ship missiles from Etorofu, the largest island in the disputed archipelago, simulating an attack on enemy vessels, hitting all of its targets approximately 300km away.
Officials said the drills included a nuclear-powered submarine and a guided-missile cruiser, according to reports.
Putin sparked a tit-for-tat summoning of ambassadors in Tokyo and Moscow with his first visit last week to Etorofu, the largest of the group of four islands. They are referred to as the Northern Territories or Four Northern Islands in Japan, and as part of the Kuril Islands in Russia.
Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan’s foreign minister, said on Thursday during a trip to Oman: “We cannot tolerate moves to strengthen military power on the Four Northern Islands because they go against our country’s stance [on the territories].”
Territorial rows over the islands go back to the 19th century. The Soviet Union seized them from Japan at the end of the second world war.
Exercises by the Russian fleet began on 4 August and Japan was informed in advance that they would include live-fire drills. Japan lodged a protest against the large-scale manoeuvres on 5 August.
According to the Russian news agency Tass, the drills involved “approximately 60 surface ships, submarines, and support vessels, about 30 aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial systems of the Pacific fleet’s naval aviation, as well as over 13,000 service members”.
Putin observed some of the exercises from the Varyag on 12 August as part of his trip to the disputed islands and to Sakhalin, the large undisputedly Russian island north of Hokkaido.
“The region is unfortunately becoming increasingly prone to conflict, with Nato seeking to gain a foothold here and the emergence of new military and political blocs,” said Putin, speaking aboard the flagship. “There are efforts and plans to deploy new weapons systems here, which creates threats for our country.”
The Russian drills are scheduled to continue through 29 August…. PACNEWS
PAC – ILLEGAL FISHING: AFP PACNEWS 1: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Pacific nations detain Chinese, Indonesian boats for illegal fishing
CANBERRA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (AFP) — Pacific island authorities arrested a number of Chinese and Indonesian boats for illegal fishing this month in a crackdown across the vast ocean, officials have told AFP.
Four vessels were detained or taken to port by authorities in Kiribati, Palau and Papua New Guinea for illegal fishing or breaches of fishing licenses, the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) said in a statement to AFP.
They included Chinese and Indonesian vessels, according to the statement.
A surveillance crackdown by 11 island nations this month saw more than 100 vessels boarded across 28 million square kilometers of ocean between 3 and 14 August.
Half of the world’s tuna is caught in the region, but only 15 percent of this catch is processed or handled by Pacific Island countries, fisheries officials said.
The fish generates $500 million in access fees and $1.2 billion in export earnings for the Pacific islands annually while also supporting the livelihoods of a third of Pacific households, the FFA said.
Most tuna is shipped to Asian markets by the long-distance fleets that ply the exclusive economic zones of small island states for a license fee.
An annual meeting of 18 Pacific Island leaders beginning Aug. 30 in Palau is expected to discuss a new strategy to protect fishing rights and lift revenue as climate change threatens stocks.
The FFA declined to give details of another 16 vessels identified as “of interest” during the two-week Operation Island Chief, which involved aerial surveillance by an Australian military aircraft and patrols by a U.S Coast Guard vessel and Pacific maritime police.
Authorities in Palau and Papua New Guinea did not respond to requests for comment, while Kiribati’s maritime police declined to comment on the operation.
Naming Chinese fishing boats suspected of illegal activity is a sensitive issue in a region where Chinese companies operate large long-distance fleets and have fisheries joint ventures with several Pacific islands.
Last month, Tuvalu authorities arrested a Chinese vessel caught illegally fishing in its waters while transmitting a false location.
Tuvalu holds diplomatic ties with Taiwan and not Beijing.
The Chinese boat was fined and released after 24 days in detention, said Peter Hammarstedt, captain of the conservation vessel Sea Shepherd, which transported the Tuvalu police on maritime patrol.
Between 2008 and 2026, 278 penalty notices were issued to Chinese fishing boats by inspectors for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, the second-largest tally behind Taiwan with 319 infringements…. PACNEWS
AUST – ENVIRONMENT RULES: AAP PACNEWS 1: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Environment rules promise protection but raise concerns
CANBERRA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (AAP) — Australia’s first environmental standards, designed to toughen protections and tighten offset rules, have drawn a mixed reaction from development and green groups.
The four standards, announced by Environment Minister Murray Watt and published on Friday, set national frameworks for development decisions involving major environmental issues, offsets and community engagement, and could accelerate approvals.
Their launch follows a 2020 review into Australia’s environment laws, led by former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Graeme Samuel, which found existing rules were ineffective.
National Environmental Standards were the centrepiece of Professor Samuel’s recommendations, in addition to greater enforcement, more involvement from states, and a focus on environmental recovery.
The new standards will require developers to avoid, mitigate and repair significant environmental damage before they can consider compensation or environmental offsets.
Offsets must also achieve a net gain under the rules, and be feasible, measurable and provide a tangible benefit.
The standards would apply to agreements with states and territories within days, Senator Watt said, but would not be used to assess individual projects until December.
“Ultimately, our reforms to national environment law are about restoring trust in the system,” he said.
“It’s about turning around nature’s dire trajectory while simplifying the process to approve the new homes, energy and minerals projects Australia needs.”
The standards have been welcomed by the Property Council and Urban Development Institute of Australia, which said greater clarity should accelerate approvals.
Changes made after consulting with industry groups would make the standards more efficient, UDIA national president Oscar Stanley said, although a lot would depend on how rules were applied in practice.
“These changes are important steps towards an environmental approvals system that delivers strong environmental outcomes while being practical for industry to navigate,” Stanley said.
Several environment groups criticised the final standards, with the Australian Conservation Foundation saying they delivered modest changes.
The framework also fell short of protections recommended in the Samuel Review, Environmental Justice Australia co-chief executive Nicola Rivers said, and lacked sufficient clarity.
“The rules are too vague and leave decision-makers too much wriggle room,” she said.
“Following the process can count as getting the right result for nature. Those are not the same thing.”
The true test of the standards would be whether they could limit deforestation, Greenpeace Australia Pacific nature head Glenn Walker said, which threatened native species including koalas, greater gliders and swift parrots.
“Unless these standards deliver protection for the Great Barrier Reef from deforestation run-off and ensure the healthy recovery of wildlife under threat then they will have failed,” he said.
“There’s clear improvement on the draft standards that were released, which we welcome, but what we have today still falls well short of what would be optimal.”…. PACNEWS
VAN – SECURITY: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 1: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Napuat: Pacific security is indivisible
PORT VILA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Vanuatu’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Solomon Napuat, has called for stronger cooperation between Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to address growing security threats facing the two countries and the wider Pacific region.
Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on police cooperation between the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) in Honiara this week, Minister Napuat said the security of the two neighbouring countries was closely connected.
“Our security is indivisible,” he said, stressing that neither country could effectively confront emerging threats alone.
Napuat said criminal organisations operating across the Pacific did not recognise national borders and were increasingly exploiting the region’s vast maritime space.
He identified illicit drugs, illegal fishing, people smuggling and cybercrime among the challenges facing Pacific countries.
“These threats challenge us all. They demand a collective response built upon trust, cooperation and shared responsibility,” he said.
The Minister said the police cooperation agreement should therefore be seen as more than an agreement between two institutions.
He described it as a commitment by the Governments of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands to stand together in protecting their people, defending their sovereignty and preserving peace and security in the region.
Minister Napuat highlighted the historical and cultural connections between Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.
He said the two countries had been connected long before modern borders were established, with their ancestors travelling across the ocean for trade, friendship, family and opportunities.
“The ocean that separates our islands has never truly divided us. Rather, it has always united us,” he said.
He said the ocean continued to provide food, support economies, connect communities and form an important part of Pacific identity.
However, the same maritime environment was increasingly being targeted by criminal activities.
Napuat said stronger cooperation between the two police forces would help protect the countries’ maritime borders and marine resources.
One of the key areas he highlighted was the sharing of police maritime platforms to support each other’s Exclusive Economic Zone patrols under the SOLVAN maritime cooperation arrangements.
He said sharing maritime assets and coordinating patrols would strengthen the ability of both countries to respond to illegal activities at sea.
“Every joint patrol undertaken under this partnership sends a powerful message that our oceans will never become safe havens for criminal activity,” he said.
Napuat said the cooperation demonstrated that Vanuatu and Solomon Islands stood together in defence of their sovereignty and the Blue Pacific.
The Minister also stressed the importance of intelligence sharing between the two police forces.
He said effective policing in the modern era depended on timely, reliable and actionable information.
Intelligence sharing, he said, could help prevent crimes before they occurred, disrupt organised criminal networks and protect vulnerable communities.
Through the MOU, the VPF and RSIPF will strengthen information sharing and cooperation in dealing with emerging security threats.
Napuat also placed strong emphasis on community policing, saying the agreement recognised the importance of exchanging community policing officers between the two countries.
He said policing was not only about enforcement but also about building public confidence and trust.
The strength of a Police Force is not measured solely by its equipment, its legislation or its enforcement powers. Its true strength lies in the confidence and trust that it earns from the people it serves,” he said.
He said officers participating in exchanges would have opportunities to work with chiefs and traditional leaders, churches, women’s groups, youth organisations, schools and village communities.
Napuat said such exchanges would help officers learn from each other and return home with stronger partnerships and a deeper understanding of community-based policing.
The Minister said the agreement also reflected the wider relationship between the Governments of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.
He pointed to cooperation on shared maritime borders and boundary arrangements, saying the common border should not be viewed as a division between the two countries.
“The border between our countries should never be viewed as a point of division. Instead, it should be recognised as a place where cooperation begins,” he said.
He said both countries had a responsibility to work together to preserve peace, protect marine resources, facilitate lawful movement and support regional stability.
Napuat said the success of the MOU should not be measured by the signing ceremony or the document itself, but by the lives and communities protected through the cooperation it creates.
He gave examples of a fishing family returning home safely because of joint maritime operations, dangerous drugs being intercepted through intelligence sharing and criminal networks being dismantled through cooperation between investigators.
“These are the true outcomes of this Memorandum,” he said.
He said such outcomes might never make newspaper headlines but could quietly transform lives, strengthen communities and create a lasting legacy for future generations.
Napuat said the agreement reflected what he described as the “Melanesian Way” — family, mutual respect, solidarity and the belief that neighbours should not stand alone during difficult times.
“Today, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands send a powerful message to our region and to the world. We affirm that when challenges arise, we will face them together,” he said.
He said the two countries had chosen cooperation over isolation and partnership over division.
Napuat expressed hope that the MOU would become a lasting symbol of friendship and cooperation between the two Governments and police forces, contributing to a Pacific that is safer, stronger, more resilient and more united…. PACNEWS
FIJI – PLASTIC TRANSITION: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Five pathways set for Fiji’s plastics transition
SUVA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji has identified five key pathways to reduce avoidable and problematic plastics and move towards a circular economy.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and with funding support from the Government of Japan, is implementing the Promoting Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency in Plastic Value Chains in Fiji project.
The Fiji Plastic Transition Action Plan Co-Design Workshop followed the Roadmap Co-Design Workshop held on Tuesday, which focused on developing the strategic direction for Fiji’s transition towards a circular plastics economy.
Speaking during the workshop at the Novotel Conference Room in Lami Thursday, Technical Director-Circular Economy Tania Hyde said the five pathways had been refined following five months of research, interviews and consultations.
She said the pathways were considered the areas that could make the biggest difference over the next 14 years.
The pathways focus on preventing avoidable and problematic plastics, expanding reuse, refill and alternative delivery models, and strengthening infrastructure for the collection, sorting and circulation of materials within Fiji.
She said they also included enabling circular opportunities for all Fijians, with a focus on job creation and economic opportunities for villages, cities and businesses.
The fifth pathway focuses on strengthening partnerships and data transparency to improve leadership, coordination and understanding of purchasing and environmental impacts.
Hyde said the roadmap established where Fiji wanted to go, while the action plan would identify what needed to be done, when it needed to be done and who would be responsible.
She said partnerships between Government ministries, businesses and communities would be important to ensure no one was left behind.
The roadmap would also include an enabler covering communication, financing and coordination.
Hyde said action plans would be sequenced across different horizons, including initiatives for 2027-2028.
She said suitable alternatives needed to be available before products such as plastic bags were removed…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – TOURISM TAX: NEWS.COM.AU PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Australian travellers bound for Fiji to be hit with new tourism tax, travel industry slams ‘broken promise’
CANBERRA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (NEWS.COM.AU) — A major tax hike in one of the country’s favourite overseas holiday havens could be set to hit Aussie travellers in the pocket, experts have warned.
Fiji, which ranks in the top 10 holiday destinations for Australians, will introduce a new 5 percent levy on major tourism businesses next month.
The hike will apply to any tourist business, including holiday and cruise providers, with an annual turnover of more than FJ$2m (AU$1.3m/US$1m).
It will come into force on 1 September.
The move has sparked warnings from industry experts that the new levy could end up being absorbed by Aussies looking to visit the South Pacific island nation.
The Australian Travel Industry Association has hit out at the change, insisting it is the wrong move.
The industry body has argued the move will cause confusion for holiday-makers who have already booked trips from September onwards.
“The design and rollout reflect a complete lack of understanding of how the travel booking ecosystem works, and it is travellers and travel businesses who will pay the price for that failure,” chief executive Dean Long said.
“Retrospective application is an absolute no-go. Once a customer has paid, that price is fixed.
“Sending a fresh bill after the fact is not tax collection, it is broken promise dressed up as policy.”
It will come as a major blow to holiday-makers – particularly those with pre-existing bookings.
“That is not how you treat people who chose Fiji in good faith,” he added.
Julie White, chief executive of the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand, joined him in criticising the move.
“Grandfathering existing bookings is the fairest outcome,” she said.
The changes have been introduced as part of wider changes to taxation as part of Fiji’s 2026-27 national budget, which passed last month.
Fijian authorities say that additional tax revenue produced by the levy would be ring-fenced to support Fiji Airways, which is continuing to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is expected to generate around $FJ70m ($A44.7m/US$35m) for the airline…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE: FBC NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Fiji Airways reassures no flight disruptions
SUVA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Fiji Airways says it has secured alternative jet fuel supplies to avoid flight disruptions following a temporary fuel constraint at Nadi International Airport.
The airline says a recent fuel delivery from one of its suppliers cannot currently be used.
While responding to questions from FBC News, Chief Operations Officer Aaron Dean says the situation is being managed and flights are expected to continue as normal.
Dean says safety remains Fiji Airways’ absolute priority, with all fuel required to undergo strict testing and clearance before it can be used.
Fiji Airways is working with government agencies, Fiji Airports Limited and other industry partners to maintain normal operations and minimise any impact on passengers…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CITIZENSHIP: FBC NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Citizenship applications go online
SUVA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Fijians living overseas can now apply for and receive approval for citizenship online, as the Government expands digital access to Immigration services.
Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto says citizenship applications can now be lodged and approved through the Immigration online portal.
He says the service will particularly benefit Fijians living overseas who want to register their children as Fiji citizens.
Naupoto says that once citizenship is approved, applicants can then proceed with their passport application.
“For now, for the first time, all our applications for all the different types of permits, including citizenship, are now available online. First time. So it’s available online. For passports, we are upgrading the system now. And when it is completed, it will mean that you can launch your application online.”
Naupoto says citizenship and passport services are important services for Fijians, with citizenship generally being a once-in-a-lifetime process and passports renewed every 10 years.
The Minister says the move is part of Government’s effort to make Immigration services more accessible and reduce the need for people to physically visit Immigration offices.
Fiji currently has 413,827 valid passport holders, according to Immigration data from August 2026…. PACNEWS
FIJI – SOLAR: FBC NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 24 Aug 2026
Fiji eyes 100 million dollar solar investment boost
SUVA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Fiji could attract up to $100 million (US$50 million) in private-sector investment in solar energy over the next two years.
The estimate comes from International Solar Alliance Director General Ashish Khanna, as work progresses to establish the Solar Technology Application Resource Centre, or STAR-C, at Fiji National University’s Samabula Campus.
Khanna says solar and energy storage will be critical if Fiji is to achieve its target of 100 percent renewable energy within the next five years.
“So, one of our key objectives is, how can Fiji accelerate to meet its target of 100 percent renewable energy in the next five years, where solar and storage will be very critical across all elements, whether it is solar rooftops… about 300 islands… reducing the reliance on diesel through solar. And to do it all you need good local capacity”.
He says achieving this target will require stronger local expertise across the energy sector, including engineers, technicians, policymakers, utility companies, the private sector and financial institutions.
Khanna says the STAR-C at FNU is intended to help build that local capacity and develop scalable renewable energy business models.
“The first is we are at FNU on the inauguration of a regional centre of excellence that we call STAR-C. This is just a start of a journey of building local capability which is very essential for an ecosystem… engineers, technicians, policy practitioners, EFL staff, private sector and financing people to be learning how to do scalable business models.”
Globally, about 95 percent of clean energy projects are financed by private capital.
Experts say Fiji will need clear policies, streamlined approval processes and strong governance to attract more private investment.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the shift to renewable energy can also reduce Fiji’s exposure to imported fossil fuels and the economic shocks they can cause.
“The transition to renewable energy can reduce exposure to the imported fossil fuel and the shocks that those can cause on an economy isolated like ours here in the Pacific. Strengthening domestic renewable energy capacity is therefore not only an environmental priority, it is an economic and national resilience priority.”
The government says strengthening renewable energy capacity is not only an environmental priority, but also an economic and national resilience priority…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Families globally are increasingly looking for resilience options; some are finding a solution in the Pacific
YAREN, 24 AUGUST 2026 (NAOERO GOVT) — With a recent report highlighting that wealthy families across the globe are looking to build greater resilience and more options for the future, a citizenship by investment programme in the Pacific focused on economic and climate resilience is tapping into their increased desire to invest into programmes that make a difference.
Edward Clark, CEO of the Naoero Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme, said he isn’t surprised that the 2026 UBS Global Family Office Report, based on 307 family offices across more than 30 markets, found 60 per cent plan to change their strategic asset allocation over the next 12 months, and are increasingly focused on “building resilience for a wider range of potential outcomes.”
“The current global instability continues to bring increased enquiries from families wanting to protect against government decisions, compulsory conscription and other factors that could challenge their future,” he said.
“The Naoero citizenship option offers families a way to diversify geographically, while contributing to a nation working to build greater economic and climate resilience.”
He said the programme is helping families strengthen their future without having to move or change where they live, while contributing to the resilience of a country highly vulnerable to climate change.
Naoero’s economic progress provides a strong foundation for that investment, with recent independent analysis from Professor Stephen Howes, Director of the Development Policy Centre at The Australian National University, finding its national income grew by an average 4.9 per cent per person between 2009 and 2024.
Between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, employment in Naoero increased from 47 per cent to 64 per cent of the population and unemployment fell from 23 per cent to just 5 per cent.
“If any other boom worldwide has delivered similarly stunning results in such a short period, I am not aware of it,” Professor Howes said in his research.
Clark said the tightly-controlled and highly regulated programme meant that both families and Naoero can benefit from the same investment.
“Citizenship by investment in Naoero creates what I believe is the most unique opportunity in the world to join the priorities of families looking to build greater resilience and options for the future, with those of a nation actively working towards greater economic and climate resilience for its people,” he said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Before Disaster Strikes: Why Early Warnings Must Reach Every Community
SUVA, 24 AUGUST 2026 (UNDP) — When a cyclone forms offshore or floodwaters begin to rise the effectiveness of an early warning system depends on more than a forecast. It depends on whether communities receive the right information and the right time and are able to act on it.
Fiji has made significant progress in strengthening the systems and institutions that support early warnings. Government agencies, emergency responders, humanitarian organisations, telecommunication providers and community networks all play a key role in ensuring warnings move from detection to action.
But one critical question remains: Can warnings consistently reach the last mile, including remote maritime communities and vulnerable populations before disaster strikes?
The answer lies in understanding the entire warning chain.
Detection and Coordination
Every early warning begins with detecting a potential hazard and the rapid assessment of the risks it presents.
Fiji is strengthening this process through efforts to enhance its Multi-Hazard Early Warning System and introduce the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), which can enable warnings to be disseminated consistently across multiple platforms, including radio, television and mobile phones.
For the Fiji Police Force, coordination is critical to turning warning information into action. With officers stationed across the country and longstanding links with communities, schools and faith groups, the force also plays an important role in disseminating information, particularly in remote and maritime areas.
“Coordination is very important because it triggers timely decision-making. It is also about ensuring safe community actions and safeguarding our people,” said Assistant Superintendent of Police and Officer in Charge of Police Command Coordination Centre, Koroi Seduadua.
The recent Fiji Multi-Hazard Early Warnings System and Common Alerting Protocol workshop highlighted broad stakeholder consensus on the need for stronger governance arrangements, clearly defined institutional roles and improved coordination mechanisms to support warning generation, dissemination and response.
Response Mobilisation
Once a warning is issued, emergency services must mobilise quickly.
For Fiji’s National Fire Authority, timely information allows firefighters and emergency personnel to prepare resources, coordinate with response partners and position teams ahead of a disaster.
“As first responders, the sooner we receive the warning, the faster we’ll respond and the more lives will be saved,” said Station Officer for the National Fire Authority Command Centre, Rokowati Crocker.
While tropical cyclones can often provide several days of lead time, other hazards such as earthquakes and tsunami threats may leave only a narrow window for action. In these situations, delays at any point in the warning chain can reduce the time available for communities to respond.
Workshop participants identified resilient communication systems, interoperability between agencies and stronger telecommunication infrastructure as priority investments to improve warning dissemination and emergency response capabilities.
Community-Level Delivery
The greatest test comes at the end of the chain and whether a warning reaches people in time and in a form they can understand and act upon.
Discussions reinforced the importance of maintaining redundancy through multiple communication channels, including mobile networks, social media, radio broadcasts and community-based communication systems, and ensuring that the communications must be inclusive and accessible to all and in multi-lingual format.
For the Fiji Red Cross Society, strong local networks are essential.
“The information needs to cascade right down to the last person or the last mile. It is also important that we are not only focused on one type of hazard, but prepared for all,” said Disaster Management Resilience Coordinator at the Fiji Red Cross Society, Unaisi Baro.
The workshop also recognised the ongoing importance of traditional governance structures in supporting the last mile communication. Turaga-ni-Koro networks, provincial councils, and communication-based organisations continue to play a crucial role in sharing information and helping communities take proactive and protective action.
The Evidence Gap
The importance of strengthening every link in the warning chain is underscored by Fiji’s growing exposure to climate and disaster risks.
According to the Fiji National Anticipatory Action Framework for Tropical Cyclones 2025-2027, Fiji Government estimated that by 2050, over 6.5 per cent of Fiji’s gross domestic product could be lost due to tropical cyclones and floods, with the number of people being pushed into poverty every year increasing by 25 per cent.
Early warnings are therefore more than simply a technical investment but are also a critical tool for reducing disaster losses, protecting development gains and supporting anticipatory action before impacts occur.
Inclusion Remains as a Gap
Receiving a warning does not necessarily mean being able to understand or act on it.Participants highlighted that the need for warning system that are inclusive and accessible to all users, including persons with disabilities, women, older persons, children, non-English speakers, and communities in remote locations.
For many vulnerable groups, receiving a warning does not automatically mean being able to understand it, access it or action it. Addressing these barriers remains one of the most significant challenges in achieving effective last mile early warning coverage.
Closing the Gap
Fiji has built strong foundations for a more coordinated and effective warning system.
The challenge now is ensuring that these improvements translate into reliable last mile reach.
This is at the heart of Fiji’s work under the he global Early Warnings for All initiative, launched by United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, with the goal of ensuring that every person is protected by life-saving multi-hazard early warning systems by 2027.
Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Mosese Bulitavu said:
“The Common Alerting Protocol offers Fiji an opportunity to modernise and strength our warning dissemination arrangements. By enabling alerts to be created once and distribute simultaneously across multiple communication channels, it can improve consistency, reliability, and speed in emergency communications. More importantly, it supports a coordinated national approach that ensures no community is left behind.”
Fiji’s next challenge is therefore not simply generating warnings faster, but strengthening the infrastructure and systems that carry those warnings to the last mile. This means investing in resilient telecommunications, ensuring backup communication channels are available when primary networks fail, improving interoperability between agencies, and making alerts accessible to people regardless of location, language or disability.
Because in the face of disaster, time only saves lives when information reaches the people who need it most…. PACNEWS
