In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — GCF approves US$250m grant for climate resilience in 14 Pacific countries
2. FIJI — Fiji secures US$35.2m GCF grant to protect Great Sea Reef
3. PACIFIC — Fiji hosts Pacific dialogue on nuclear testing harm and justice
4. PACIFIC — Fiji Defence Minister Tikoduadua calls on nuclear test nations to help fund veterans’ care
5. PACIFIC — Tonga Christian group backs Israel’s Pacific Islands Forum partnership
6. USA — U.S, Tonga discuss stronger economic and energy ties
7. FIJI — Rokoika denies involvement in missing $50m cocaine case
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Forum SG Waqa urges PTI to turn Pacific trade commitments into business opportunities
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Australia, PNG business councils push for more investment
10. PACNEWS DIGEST — Fiji calls upon global community to turn commitments into action for nature and for generations to come
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — Tonga applies a Nexus Approach in taking action for nature
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Strengthening Pacific Environmental Data: Regional Project Consultation Gets Underway in Fiji
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 29 Oct 2026
GCF approves US$250m grant for climate resilience in 14 Pacific countries
By Pita Ligaiula
SEOUL, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Fourteen Pacific Island countries will benefit from a US$1.06 billion regional climate programme backed by a US$250 million Green Climate Fund (GCF) grant to strengthen infrastructure and essential services against climate change.
The Regional Programmatic Approach on Climate Action (RPACA) will combine the GCF grant with about US$809 million in Asian Development Bank(ADB) co-financing to support climate-resilient infrastructure, improve adaptation planning and expand access to climate finance over the next decade.
GCF Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Hemant Mandal said the programme would support up to 26 infrastructure and adaptation financing sub-projects over 10 years, reaching about 3.7 million people, or 18 percent of the Pacific population.
“RPACA is a landmark regional programme that will enable 14 Pacific island countries to invest in climate adaptation and resilience of infrastructure and critical services.
“The programme is Pacific-owned and led and reflects the scale of partnership required to meet the Pacific’s climate challenge,” Mandal said.
The programme covers Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Naoero, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Pacific island countries face growing risks from sea-level rise, tropical cyclones, flooding and drought, with transport, water, energy and health infrastructure often located in exposed areas.
However, access to adaptation finance remains fragmented, while countries face gaps in climate-risk assessments, investment planning, project preparation and financing options.
RPACA aims to address these barriers through two linked areas of work: strengthening public financial management and climate finance systems, and preparing and implementing climate-resilient infrastructure projects.
The programme will support improvements in fiscal risk analysis, adaptation investment planning and the design of climate finance instruments. It will also develop a regional blended-finance approach to expand adaptation lending for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Infrastructure investments are expected to include coastal and flood protection, water systems, transport networks, energy facilities and health infrastructure.
The programme will help Pacific governments turn national adaptation plans into costed, investment-ready project pipelines, improving their ability to secure funding for priority climate measures.
It will also support assessments of interconnected climate risks affecting infrastructure and essential services, rather than treating individual projects and hazards in isolation.
The programme is designed to link national financial reforms with infrastructure investment, using shared regional approaches while allowing implementation to respond to each country’s needs.
Its expected benefits include stronger community livelihoods, improved health, food and water security, more resilient infrastructure and protection of ecosystems and the services they provide.
The GCF grant and Asian Development Bank financing will provide the funding base for the regional programme, which aims to strengthen the ability of Pacific countries to plan, finance and deliver adaptation measures at scale……PACNEWS
FIJI – CORAL REEF PROJECT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 29 Oct 2026
Fiji secures US$35.2m GCF grant to protect Great Sea Reef
By Pita Ligaiula
SEOUL, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Fiji’s efforts to protect the Great Sea Reef and strengthen coastal communities against climate change will receive a US$35.2 million grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) under a US$42.6 million Coral Reef Resilience Project.
The project will restore more than 3,000 hectares of mangroves and riparian forests, strengthen climate-resilient management across 2.58 million hectares of coral reefs and support communities whose livelihoods depend on coastal ecosystems.
GCF Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Hemant Mandal said the investment would benefit 40 percent of Fiji’s population.
“The Fiji Coral Reef Resilience project will restore more than 3,000 hectares of mangrove and riparian forest ecosystems and strengthen climate-resilient management across 2.58 million hectares of coral reefs, benefiting 40 percent of the population.
“This investment shows what Pacific leadership, country ownership and partnership at scale can deliver, reinforcing GCF’s role as the Pacific’s climate partner of choice,” Mandal said.
Fiji’s Great Sea Reef faces growing pressure from rising sea temperatures, cyclones and sea-level rise, compounded by overfishing and sedimentation. The degradation of reefs, mangroves and other coastal ecosystems threatens natural coastal protection, fisheries, food security and community livelihoods.
The project will adopt a ridge-to-reef approach, addressing environmental pressures across both land and marine areas.
Planned activities include restoring mangroves and riparian forests, establishing living shorelines and creating a Locally Led Adaptation Fund to support at least 12 community-led projects.
The initiative will also establish a Great Sea Reef Management Unit and develop a 10-year land and marine management plan.
Fisheries management plans will be developed for 20 community fishing grounds, while national and provincial adaptation plans will be updated to strengthen climate resilience.
The project will also work with business support providers and financial institutions to improve access to finance for enterprises that protect and sustain reef ecosystems.
Margaret Tabunakawai-Vakalalabure, Great Sea Reef Programme Manager for WWF-Fiji, said the funding would help translate years of collaboration into practical action.
“This landmark investment gives Fiji a powerful opportunity to protect the Great Sea Reef while strengthening the livelihoods and resilience of coastal communities,” she said.
WWF-Fiji would work with the Government, communities and partners to implement locally led measures that benefit people and the environment, she said.
The Locally Led Adaptation Fund is designed to channel finance directly to communities, giving them greater scope to identify and implement solutions suited to local climate risks.
The project combines community-level adaptation measures with longer-term improvements in reef and land management, aiming to address the causes of ecosystem degradation while strengthening the resilience of communities that depend on the Great Sea Reef….PACNEWS
PACIFIC – NUKE TEST/DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 29 Oct 2026
Fiji hosts Pacific dialogue on nuclear testing harm and justice
SUVA, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) —-Pacific representatives are meeting in Suva to push for nuclear justice, victim assistance and environmental remediation decades after more than 300 nuclear tests were conducted by the United States, Britain and France in Australia and the Pacific.
The three-day dialogue, From Testing Ground to Healing Grounds: Advancing an Ocean of Peace, runs from 28 to 30 October and brings together government officials, nuclear test survivors and civil society representatives.
The meeting is hosted by the Fiji Government and the Fiji Nuclear Veterans and Families Association, with support from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), ICAN Australia and the Nuclear Truth Project.
Organisers say the dialogue aims to strengthen regional action to address the health, environmental, cultural and social consequences of nuclear testing, including impacts passed down through generations.
“The Pacific carries interconnected legacies of nuclear weapons testing, military participation and radioactive harm,” said Mere Tuilau, an organiser representing Fijian nuclear test veterans.
She said affected communities in Fiji, Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Māòhi Nui (French Polynesia), Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand continued to experience the consequences.
“Their lived experience, knowledge and priorities must guide responses to this legacy,” Tuilau said.
A key focus of the discussions is the implementation of Articles 6 and 7 of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which require states parties to provide assistance to victims of nuclear weapons use and testing and take steps towards environmental remediation in contaminated areas.
The treaty was negotiated in 2017 and entered into force in 2021. It is the only global treaty to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons and establish specific obligations addressing the harm caused by their use and testing.
The outcomes of the Suva dialogue are expected to be presented at the first TPNW Review Conference in New York from 30 November to 04 December.
Pacific island countries played a significant role in negotiating the treaty and securing its entry into force, with regional governments continuing to advocate for nuclear disarmament and recognition of the legacy of testing.
Fiji’s own experience with nuclear testing is central to the discussions.
Between 1957 and 1958, Fijian soldiers participated in Britain’s nuclear testing programme at Malden and Kiritimati (Christmas) Islands, now part of Kiribati. The tests raised concerns about radiation exposure and long-term health consequences for military personnel and affected communities.
The Fiji Government has previously acknowledged the “tragic health circumstances” of citizens who took part in the tests. In 2015, it announced one-off grants for veterans and their families while maintaining that proper compensation from the British Government was still needed.
Fiji ratified the TPNW in 2020, reaffirming its position that nuclear radiation and waste have consequences beyond national borders and across generations.
ICAN executive director Melissa Parke told the dialogue in a video message that nuclear testing decisions had been made by governments far removed from the communities exposed to the consequences.
“These governments did not represent Pacific islanders, nor the Indigenous Australians on whose traditional lands they tested their weapons of terror,” Parke said.
She said Pacific states had helped shape the treaty’s provisions on the consequences of nuclear testing and urged governments and civil society to continue working towards nuclear disarmament and justice for affected communities.
The Suva meeting comes ahead of the treaty’s first review conference, where states parties will consider progress and further action on its obligations.
For Pacific communities affected by decades of nuclear testing, the priority remains ensuring survivors receive appropriate assistance, contaminated environments are addressed and the long-term consequences are recognised….PACNEWS
PACIFIC – NUKE TEST/DIPLOMACY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 29 Oct 2026
Fiji Defence Minister Tikoduadua calls on nuclear test nations to help fund veterans’ care
SUVA, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Fiji Defence and Veterans Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua has called on countries responsible for past nuclear testing in the Pacific to contribute financially towards the welfare of affected veterans and communities.
He also urged Pacific nations to stand united against future nuclear testing, saying the region must not be used as a testing ground by nuclear-armed countries.
“The Pacific must come here and say no, stop; if it’s safe enough, they should test it in their doorstep,” he said.
Tikoduadua made the remarks at the Pacific Regional Dialogue on the Implementation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which began at the Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre in Lami Tuesday.
The three-day dialogue has given families of former servicemen deployed to nuclear testing programmes, particularly those sent to Christmas Island, an opportunity to share the lasting effects on their lives.
Tikoduadua said the Government had a responsibility to care for former servicemen, including those who survived nuclear testing operations.
“In 2015, the Government then had reached a decision to pay them a small allowance, in addition to the allowances paid monthly under the aftercare fund,” he said.
He acknowledged the need for greater efforts to address the welfare of surviving veterans.
“Given the interest and the expressions here yesterday, there needs to be a greater and more concerted effort to look after the immediate welfare of the surviving veterans.”
Tikoduadua also called on countries responsible for past nuclear tests to provide financial assistance for affected veterans and communities.
Tikoduadua said preventing a repeat of the Pacific’s nuclear testing history required stronger multilateral cooperation and a united regional position.
“We understand everyone is using the international rules and the conventions to allow them to test it, but they would not test it in their own spaces,” he said.
He said Pacific nations must speak with one voice in opposing nuclear testing in the region.
“We want an ocean of peace; we do not want any nuclear testing by anybody in our neighbourhood,” he said…PACNEWS
PACIFIC – CHURCH/DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 29 Oct 2026
Tonga Christian group backs Israel’s Pacific Islands Forum partnership
NUKU’ALOFA, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) —- The Tonga branch of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) has welcomed Israel’s inclusion as a Pacific Islands Forum partner, saying the relationship could create opportunities for cooperation in water management, agriculture and sustainable development.
In a statement, ICEJ Tonga said it fully supported the decision by Pacific leaders at their summit in Palau to include Israel in the Forum’s sectoral partnership stream.
The organisation said the partnership aligned with its mission to raise awareness of Israel, promote understanding of its history and modern contributions, and strengthen ties between Tonga and Israel.
ICEJ Tonga vice-director Sinai Tu’itahi said Israel’s expertise could help Pacific countries address climate and economic challenges.
“The inclusion of Israel within the Forum’s Sectoral Partnership Stream opens doors for sustainable regional advancement,” Tu’itahi said.
She identified climate change adaptation, water management, agricultural innovation and sustainable development as potential areas of cooperation.
These could include desalination and water infrastructure for island nations, agricultural technology to strengthen food security, and technology exchanges to support Pacific communities and young people, she said.
ICEJ Tonga also acknowledged Pacific leaders and countries, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Nauru, for their support for Israel.
The organisation called on governments, civil society and the media to support engagement with Israel through the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
The statement reflects the position of ICEJ Tonga and does not represent an official position of the Tongan Government or the Pacific Islands Forum.
ICEJ Tonga said its support was also based on the religious and cultural connections its members associate with Israel and Jerusalem.
The branch was officially launched on 20 June 2023. ICEJ is a non-denominational Christian ministry supported by voluntary contributions from members and supporters.
The statement said ICEJ Tonga had previously sent letters to the Tongan Government and provided briefings outlining its support for Israel….PACNEWS
USA – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Thu 29 Oct 2026
U.S, Tonga discuss stronger economic and energy ties
WASHINGTON,29 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — The United States and Tonga have discussed strengthening economic and commercial ties, including cooperation on digital and energy infrastructure, during talks between U.S Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua in Washington.
The meeting continued discussions between the two leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting in September.
According to a U.S State Department, Landau and Fakafanua reaffirmed the strong and longstanding friendship between the two countries.
Their discussions focused on ongoing cooperation to expand economic and commercial relations, with digital connectivity and energy infrastructure identified as areas of engagement.
The meeting comes as Pacific island countries seek investment and partnerships to strengthen economic resilience, improve infrastructure and expand access to reliable energy and digital services.
The State Department did not provide further details of specific agreements or initiatives arising from the meeting….PACNEWS
FIJI – ANTI CORRUPTION: RNZ PACIFIC/FIJI TIMES/FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 29 Oct 2026
Rokoika denies involvement in missing $50m cocaine case
SUVA, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC/FIJI TIMES/FIJI SUN)—Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) acting Commissioner Lavi Rokoika has denied speculation linking her to the investigation into the disappearance of cocaine valued at more than $50 million(US$25 million) from the Suva High Court evidence room.
In an email response to RNZ Pacific, Rokoika rejected suggestions that she was the high-ranking official reportedly identified in connection with the investigation.
“I am not aware of the Fiji Police pursuing me in connection with any investigation concerning missing cocaine,” Rokoika told RNZ Pacific.
“I have no knowledge of, or involvement in, any alleged missing cocaine referred to in your email.”
Rokoika also confirmed to RNZ Pacific that she was currently in Suva and was “attending to my official duties”.
Her response follows media reports that police had identified an official who is allegedly related to one of six persons of interest in the investigation.
The case involves 39.5 kilograms of cocaine that allegedly disappeared from the Suva High Court registry and was replaced with flour.
RNZ Pacific also sought clarification from Fiji Police regarding reports of a high-ranking official allegedly linked to the case.
Police maintained that no individual had been publicly identified in connection with the ongoing investigation beyond references to persons of interest.
Investigations into the missing cocaine remain ongoing.
Meanwhile, Acting Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner Lavinia Rokoika returned to the office on Monday after being absent since September.
Rokoika was on medical leave, which is due to end this month.
She is expected to officially resume work on Monday, November 2.
On Tuesday, Rokoika declined to comment, saying the media had already taken a stance on her absence.
The same day, FICAC posted a photo on its Facebook page showing Rokoika with Transparency and Integrity Fiji executive director Paulina Rauca and Sikeli Naketeca during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s office.
Discussions covered Transparency and Integrity Fiji’s strategic priorities and areas of mutual interest, including public awareness, corruption prevention and integrity in the use of public resources.
In another development, interviews for the FICAC commissioner position are expected to begin next week.
A recommendation will then be presented to the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
FICAC’s mission is to independently investigate, prosecute and prevent corruption, protect public money and build a culture of integrity across Fiji….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PACIFIC – TRADE INVEST: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 29 Oct 2026
Forum SG Waqa urges PTI to turn Pacific trade commitments into business opportunities
SUVA, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) must turn regional economic commitments into practical trade, investment and market access opportunities for Pacific businesses as it prepares its next five-year strategic plan, Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa says.
Waqa said PTI’s 2027–2031 Strategic Plan must respond to global economic uncertainty, geopolitical shifts and mounting pressures on Pacific economies while delivering measurable results for businesses across the region.
“Regional policy commitments must translate into practical opportunities for Pacific businesses in trade, investment and market access,” Waqa said in his remarks at the 11th PTI Independent Advisory Board meeting in Suva.
He said the new strategic plan, which had completed its final draft following consultations across the PTI Network, provided an opportunity to strengthen coordination across PTI offices and align the organisation’s work with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s priorities.
The plan is expected to undergo further consultation within the Secretariat before guiding PTI’s next strategic cycle.
Waqa said PTI’s work must remain anchored in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and reflect priorities identified by Pacific leaders at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau.
These include strengthening economic resilience, regional cooperation and private-sector development, as well as accelerating implementation of the 2050 Strategy.
“A shifting global economy, evolving geopolitical dynamics and mounting pressures on Pacific economies require PTI to remain agile, commercially responsive, and resolutely focused on delivering tangible outcomes for Pacific businesses,” he said.
Waqa also highlighted the Pacific Pre-COP31 meeting held in Nadi from 05 to 08 October, saying its focus on climate resilience, sustainable development and access to finance had implications for regional trade and investment.
He said PTI could complement wider regional efforts by helping mobilise investment and supporting businesses to respond to economic and climate challenges.
The future direction of PTI must also take account of the ongoing PIFS organisational review, which aims to ensure the Secretariat remains effective and responsive to the needs of its member countries.
Waqa said PTI’s operating arrangements, institutional capacity and resource requirements needed to align with its regional mandate and changing economic conditions.
He also raised the future of PTI China, which supports Pacific countries’ engagement with one of their significant economic partners.
“The present circumstances provide an opportunity for PIFS working with PTI’s leadership and relevant partners to consider how PTI’s engagement in China can be sustained and strategically positioned to advance Members’ trade and investment priorities,” Waqa said.
He said PTI’s future operating model needed sustainable financing, sound governance and the institutional capacity to deliver its regional responsibilities.
The Independent Advisory Board meeting is the second since the Board was reconstituted, providing an opportunity for members to strengthen their understanding of PTI’s role within the wider Pacific regional architecture.
Waqa said the Board’s independent expertise and guidance would be important in determining PTI’s strategic direction and institutional strength for 2027–2031.
He urged members to focus on decisions that would strengthen the organisation’s ability to create economic opportunities for Pacific businesses and deliver lasting benefits for Forum members….PACNEWS
PACIFIC – BUSINESS: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 29 Oct 2026
Australia, PNG business councils push for more investment
PORT MORESBY, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Business councils in Papua New Guinea and Australia are calling for practical action to attract more Australian investment into PNG, improve the business environment and expand commercial opportunities beyond the resources sector.
The Business Council of Papua New Guinea (BCPNG) and the Australia–Papua New Guinea Business Council (APNGBC) made the call following the 32nd Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum Business Dialogue held at APEC Haus in Port Moresby on 20 October.
The dialogue brought together ministers, senior officials and business representatives from both countries to discuss ways to strengthen economic ties, address barriers to investment and encourage greater private-sector participation in PNG’s economic development.
Both councils welcomed the support of PNG Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru and the engagement of Australian government ministers.
They said stronger collaboration between governments and businesses was needed to build investor confidence, support existing Australian companies operating in PNG and attract new investment across a wider range of industries.
Priority areas include agriculture, value-added processing, manufacturing, tourism, infrastructure and services, alongside the established resources sector.
The councils also highlighted the need for more efficient and transparent government administration, reliable and affordable electricity, stronger local business participation and improved workforce skills.
Drawing on BCPNG’s recent Electricity Opportunity Cost Study, they stressed the importance of continued cooperation on electricity sector reform and opportunities for commercially sustainable private investment in power generation, transmission and supply.
The councils said stronger partnerships between Australian and Papua New Guinean businesses could create jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains and increase opportunities for local companies to participate in major investment and development projects.
They also identified development assistance and aid for trade as important to PNG’s economic growth, particularly through infrastructure delivery, improved market access and greater participation by PNG businesses.
Security, law and order and cybersecurity were also identified as key issues affecting investor confidence and the competitiveness of the business environment.
The councils recognised the PNG diaspora in Australia as an additional avenue for strengthening commercial relationships, investment opportunities and people-to-people links.
President of BCPNG Susil Nelson Kongoi said PNG had significant opportunities to attract investment, grow local businesses and create employment.
“Working closely with our Australian partners, we want to help ensure that businesses have the confidence and conditions needed to invest, expand and contribute to PNG’s long-term economic development,” Kongoi said.
He said the ministerial business dialogue provided an opportunity to raise key issues, but maintaining momentum and working with government and industry would be essential to achieving practical results.
APNGBC president Andrew Cairns said the dialogue had strengthened discussions between governments and the private sector on attracting more Australian commercial investment into PNG.
“Our members see significant opportunities to work alongside Papua New Guinean businesses across a range of sectors beyond resources, creating stronger commercial partnerships, supporting local business growth and delivering shared economic benefits,” Cairns said.
He welcomed the engagement of both governments and said the council would continue working with BCPNG to bring business experience and expertise into efforts to translate discussions into outcomes.
The two councils said they would continue engaging with their respective governments and relevant business and senior officials working groups to identify priority issues, recommend practical solutions and support agreed actions.
They emphasised that investment must align with PNG’s development priorities and deliver tangible benefits, including employment, skills development, stronger local enterprises and increased participation in regional and international supply chains.
The councils said sustained cooperation between government and the private sector would be critical to building a more diversified, resilient and inclusive PNG economy….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Fiji calls upon global community to turn commitments into action for nature and for generations to come
YEREVAN, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—For Fiji, part of the Polynesia-Micronesia biodiversity hotspot for which over half of its birds and plants are endemic and all 24 native palm species are found nowhere else on Earth, the value of its biodiversity is valued and respected.
As stated by Hon Alitia Bainivalu, Minister for Fisheries and Forests as she addressed world leaders and ministers during the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention of the Biological Diversity today in Armenia, for Fiji taking action for nature is not a choice.
“Our reefs, mangroves and forests feed our people, protect our coasts and sustain our economy. When they decline, our people are the first to feel it,” presented Minister Bainivalu.
“We have committed to protect thirty percent of our marine spaces by 2030 and to manage one hundred percent sustainably. Much of this work is led by our communities, in their customary fishing grounds, the qoliqoli, and through their locally managed marine areas. Our communities have shown what works. What they need now is the finance and resources to sustain and expand it.”
In May this year Fiji launched its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for 2026 to 2030, a plan for all of Fiji shaped by all of Fiji. It was launched together with a National Invasive Species Framework and a National Access and Benefit Sharing Policy that protects Fiji’s traditional knowledge and ensures that the benefits of its biodiversity returns to its people.
Fiji is also preparing a Biodiversity Finance Plan to ensure that biodiversity is planned and funded across the whole of government and with all stakeholders, so it is not left to the environment ministry alone.
Minister Bainivalu took the global stage today stressing that finance access must flow directly to support implementation and it must go to the communities who are the front face of the brunt of biodiversity loss. This will be supported by organisations and development partners, guided by Fijis ministries that are already taking strategic actions to expand the commitment that already exists.
“Excellencies, the gap we see globally is a gap in delivery, and finance remains our greatest barrier. Small island developing States need access to finance that is simpler, faster and more responsive to our circumstances,” stated Minister Bainivalu.
“We need support that follows country-led plans, and investment in capacity that stays in our countries after projects close. The international finance commitments made in Kunming-Montreal must now be met in full.”
Target 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to mobilise 200 billion per year by 2030 for biodiversity, including international financial flows of at least 20 billion per year by 2025 and 30 billion per year by 2030 from developed to developing nations from all sources including through international finance.
Minister Bainivalu ended her statement calling upon the room to act for nature.
“For Fiji, biodiversity, ocean and climate are one agenda, an agenda that continues to suffer from silos and a fragmented financing architecture. We call for stronger synergies among the Rio Conventions, so that every dollar invested in nature also builds our resilience to climate change. Fiji will carry this message from Yerevan to COP31 in Antalya.”
“Let us leave Yerevan having turned our commitments into action, for nature, for our people, and for the generations to come.”
Minister Alitia Bainivalu, Minister for Fisheries and Forests of Fiji spoke before global leaders and ministers on 27 October 2026 during the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity hosted in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October 2026.
The Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are Pacific Island Parties to the CBD. …PACNEWS
For more information please visit: https://cop17yerevan.am/en
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Tonga applies a Nexus Approach in taking action for nature
YEREVAN, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—“When we invest in islands, we invest in global solutions,” Siaosi Sovaleni, Minister for Public Enterprise for the Kingdom of Tonga told world leaders and ministers as he took centre stage during the high-level segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Armenia.
CBD COP17 is the first assessment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to reverse, and halt, the loss of biodiversity. Only four years away from achieving the first set of 2030 targets, the global community has come together for two weeks to agree upon a way forward to accelerate action.
Sovaleni told world leaders and ministers the challenge for the global community is ensuring the efficient and effective implementation of the GBF translates collective commitments into tangible outcomes for people and nature.
“For Tonga, effective implementation begins with a simple truth: nature does not work in silos. Neither should we. Many of the challenges we face are interconnected and require coherent responses across multilateral environmental agreements, relevant instruments, frameworks and bodies, including at national level,” stated Minister Sovaleni.
“That is why Tonga has embraced a Nexus Approach, recognising the connections from highlands to high seas, and bringing biodiversity, climate action, pollution prevention, sustainable finance and development together.”
“For the Government and people of Tonga, the ocean provides a unifying thread, linking the health of our forests, agricultural landscapes, watersheds, coasts, ocean and areas beyond national jurisdiction with the wellbeing, resilience and prosperity of present and future generations.”
Tonga is strengthening its conservation and sustainable use from its islands to the high seas through Tonga’s Ocean Management Act 2025, its Marine Spatial Plan to sustainably manage 100% of Tonga’s waters, its commitment to the effective implementation of the Target 3 of the GBF, ratification of the BBN Agreement as well as its implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement.
The Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) will hold its first Conference of the Parties in January next year. In 2027 Tonga will also convene the Polynesian Ocean Summit, a Polynesian-led initiative to strengthen regional cooperation on ocean stewardship. This will provide the platform for innovation and collective action in support of the GBF, the BBNJ Agreement and other ocean commitments.
Minister Sovaleni also stressed Tonga’s efforts to advance ecosystem valuation, Natural Capital Accounting and Ocean Accounts as for Small Islands Developing States every dollar must deliver multiple benefits.
“Sustainable implementation requires more than finance alone. It requires durable financing mechanisms that can mobilise, channel and sustain investment over the long term, while supporting conservation, resilient livelihoods and the effective delivery of the Framework.”
“Tonga underscores that biodiversity loss in island countries is increasingly inseparable from loss and damage, and welcomes the Loss and Damage Fund as a means to support ecosystem restoration, nature-based protection and resilient livelihoods under the Framework.”
For Tonga, the pathway to 2030 runs from highlands to high seas and is being be done by strengthening coherence across policies, institutions and investments, and by aligning implementation across biodiversity, climate, pollution, ocean governance, loss and damage, and sustainable development agendas.
“For Small Island Developing States, coherence is not merely good policy, it is essential for accelerated and effective implementation,” stated Minister Sovaleni.
Siaosi Sovaleni Minister of Public Enterprise of Tonga spoke before global leaders and ministers on 27 October 2026 during the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity hosted in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October 2026….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Strengthening Pacific Environmental Data: Regional Project Consultation Gets Underway in Fiji
SUVA, 29 OCTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—Ten Pacific Island countries are gathering in Suva this week for a three-day consultation to review and validate the design of the Pacific Environmental Data (PED) project.
Taking place from Monday 26 October until Wednesday 28 October 2026, the meeting marks an important stage in designing a regional initiative aimed at continuing to strengthen the management, access and use of environmental data to inform policy and decision-making.
In his opening remarks, Jope Davetanivalu, Director of the SPREP’s Environmental Governance Programme emphasised; “This is your project. It belongs to the countries and territories it is designed to serve, not to SPREP and not to UNEP; which is exactly why you are in the room”.
“Over the next three days, we are asking you to test the design and tell us where it is right and where it is not, the barriers to be addressed, the objective, components and outcomes, the logframe, the gender work and grievance redress mechanism, co-financing, and the timeline toward a possible 2027 start”
While regular environmental data collection, analysis and reporting are essential for understanding environmental trends and guiding national planning, significant capacity gaps persist in the region.
The PED project aims to continue the efforts in bridging those capacity gaps, ensuring that future environmental policies are firmly anchored on reliable, localized science and data driven insights.
This week’s meeting brings together key stakeholders from ten participating countries – the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. The project is supported with US$3.7 million over five years and aims to strengthen environmental standards, routine monitoring and field data collection, enhance the use of the Pacific Environment Data Portal, geographic information systems (GIS) and strengthen the advocacy and communication skills needed to provide decision makers with reliable data and products.
The PED project directly builds upon the foundational successes of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded flagship Inform project formally titled “Building National and Regional Capacity to Implement Multilateral Environment Agreements by Strengthening Planning and State of Environment Assessment and Reporting in the Pacific” that was implemented across members from 2017 until 2022.
“Accessible, reliable and timely environmental data is our most valuable asset in combating the triple planetary crisis. This project will continue to empower institutions across the Pacific to monitor environmental shifts seamlessly, driving robust planning where it is needed most,” said Jochem Zoetelief, Head of the UNEP’s Climate Early Warning Division in his remarks delivered remotely.
Over the three-day session, participants are sharing barriers to data access, communicating national data priorities that align with core project objectives and review outputs, outcomes and allocated output budgets. Furthermore, , the consultation also examines the project’s gender and stakeholder engagement to guarantee that the final project framework supports inclusive participation and responds transparently to local community concerns.
Through this interactive approach, member’s perspectives are taking centre stage throughout the validation process to guarantee that the final design directly addresses national capacity gaps and supports the frontline institutions responsible for state-of-environment reporting.
“Naoero faces challenges of remoteness and a small staff base, with officers often stretched across different work areas, including environmental data collection and management. The PED project is an important initiative that will directly support one of our national priorities: ensuring that reliable, timely environmental data is available to inform national planning and to strengthen reporting against our National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) key performance indicators” said Grace Gadeowa, Waste and Chemical Manager Department of Environmental Management & Agriculture (DEMA) of the Republic of Naoero.
Delegates will conclude the week by finalising proposed project co-financing requirements and cementing the remaining development and approval timeline before the official project launch and commencement.
The Project Preparation Grant (PPG) consultation for the Pacific Environmental Data Project workshop is jointly facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with additional support provided through the Emma Luke Centre and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)….PACNEWS
