PACNEWS ONE, 30 OCTOBER 2026

In this bulletin:

1. PACIFIC — U.S warns Pacific facing growing threat from drug cartels
2. PACIFIC — Pacific demands justice for nuclear test survivors
3. PACIFIC — Pacific civil society calls for suspension of Israel’s Forum partnership
4. PACIFIC — Ukraine gains sectoral partner status in Pacific Islands Forum
5. PACIFIC — “The decisions we make today will echo across generations.” – FSM takes centre stage at global biodiversity negotiations.
6. FIJI — Filimoni Vosarogo takes on Justice portfolio : Fiji PM Rabuka
7. PACIFIC — Pacific Ocean heat surges past threshold
8. FIJI — Ro Teimumu warns immunity clause leaves door open for coups
9. PACNEWS BIZ — GCF financing tops USD$3 billion for consecutive record year as reforms continue to deliver
10. PACNEWS BIZ — El Nino, fuel threaten PNG economy: BSP
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Employment Bills set for Parliament
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — SPREP calls for sustained Kunming Biodiversity Fund support to deliver nature action in the Blue Pacific
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Communities in Milne Bay Province lead the way in planning for a drier future

PAC – DRUGS FIGHT: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

U.S warns Pacific facing growing threat from drug cartels

By Pita Ligaiula

LOS ANGELES, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— The United States has warned that drug cartels and narcoterrorist groups are expanding their reach into the Pacific, urging greater regional attention and stronger law enforcement cooperation to address rising insecurity.

Cartwright Weiland, U.S Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said criminal networks responsible for violence and drug trafficking in the Americas were increasingly extending their operations into Pacific island countries.

“From a geopolitical perspective, we really can’t ignore the insecurity that we’re now seeing on some of these islands,” Weiland said during a virtual press briefing following the first U.S-Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers in Los Angeles last week.

He said the United States was concerned about reports of rising crime, violence and drug consumption in Pacific communities, warning that the region needed greater international attention.

“From an American perspective, we need to pay more attention than we have in the past to what’s going on, because increasingly, the cartels and the narcoterrorists that are inflicting great harm on the Americas, and the U.S specifically, are now reaching their tentacles into the Pacific,” he said.

Weiland said the shared nature of the threat made closer cooperation between the United States and Pacific governments necessary.

He stressed that Washington recognised the sovereignty of Pacific Island countries and the capabilities of their law enforcement agencies, saying the U.S role was to support rather than dictate their response.

“They know their countries, they know their communities much better than we do,” he said.

Weiland said Pacific countries brought their own strengths and experience to tackling emerging security challenges, drawing on their histories of warriors and traditional navigators who crossed vast distances across the ocean.

He said these traditions reflected the capacity of Pacific nations to address new threats while maintaining control over their own security priorities.

“What they’re seeing is an extension of what we’re seeing in our country.

“And so it really just makes sense for us to become connected in ways that, for better or for worse, we just haven’t been in the past,” Weiland said.

The U.S official described last week’s conference in Los Angeles as a significant step towards closer cooperation between Pacific police ministers and American law enforcement agencies.

He said there was strong interest among participants in continuing the discussions, although no decision had been made on a second conference.

“I don’t know necessarily that we have plans in the works for a COPMIN 2.0, but I think I speak for all of us when I say that there was great desire for this not to be the only conference and for us to build on this perhaps as soon as next year,” he said.

The first U.S-Pacific Islands Conference of Police Ministers (COPMIN) brought together Pacific police ministers and senior U.S officials to discuss drug trafficking, maritime enforcement, cybercrime and other transnational criminal threats.

The meeting was part of broader US efforts to strengthen law enforcement partnerships across the Pacific as criminal networks exploit the region’s vast maritime area and international transport routes.

Weiland said the United States remained available to work with Pacific partners on drug and crime-related issues, emphasising the need for sustained engagement beyond the conference….PACNEWS

PAC – NUKE TEST/DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

Pacific demands justice for nuclear test survivors

SUVA, 30 0CTOBER 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Pacific nations have been urged to unite in demanding justice, compensation and support for communities affected by decades of nuclear weapons testing.

Fiji’s Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, made the call while opening the three-day Pacific Regional Dialogue on the Implementation of Articles 6 and 7 of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in Lami.

The dialogue, held at the Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre, brought together government representatives, nuclear test survivors, veterans, families and civil society organisations.

Tikoduadua said the consequences of nuclear testing continued to affect Pacific communities across generations.

He highlighted the experiences of Fijian servicemen deployed to Christmas Island between 1957 and 1962, many of whom were exposed to nuclear testing risks without adequate information.

He said Article 6 addressed victim assistance and environmental remediation, while Article 7 focused on international cooperation and assistance.

The Minister called for stronger regional cooperation, improved healthcare, environmental restoration and sustainable financing for affected communities.

He also demanded accountability from countries responsible for nuclear testing.

“Those that did it must pay,” Tikoduadua said.

President of the Returned Soldiers and Ex-Servicemen’s Association of Fiji (RSESA), Peni Volavola, said recognition alone was insufficient without healthcare, compensation and meaningful assistance.

He urged participants to establish a community-driven trust fund, ensure veterans and descendants were included in treaty implementation, and create a Pacific TPNW steering committee.

Volavola said the dialogue represented an opportunity to move from historical recognition towards practical solutions for survivors.

The discussions were expected to strengthen the Pacific’s collective position ahead of the treaty’s first review conference later this year.

Tikoduadua reaffirmed Fiji’s commitment to a nuclear-free Pacific, urging regional leaders to speak with one voice against further nuclear testing and ensure affected families received justice…..PACNEWS

PAC – DIPLOMACY/NGOS: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

Pacific civil society calls for suspension of Israel’s Forum partnership

SUVA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)–A coalition of Pacific civil society organisations is calling on Pacific Islands Forum leaders to suspend engagement with Israel, arguing that the partnership undermines the region’s commitment to international law, Palestinian self-determination and the declaration of the Blue Pacific as an Ocean of Peace.

The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations Alliance (PRNGO Alliance) said the decision to admit Israel as a Forum partner raised serious concerns about the region’s position on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.

In a statement, the alliance said Pacific leaders could not rely on international law to defend their countries against climate change while disregarding international legal rulings on Palestine.

“The Pacific cannot invoke the Court for our islands and ignore it for Palestine,” the alliance said, referring to the International Court of Justice’s July 2024 advisory opinion that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful.

The court said Israel was obliged to end its unlawful presence as rapidly as possible. It also stated that other countries must not recognise the situation as lawful or provide aid or assistance in maintaining it.

The alliance said the Forum’s decision, announced by Israel, had not been accompanied by a public statement from the Forum Secretariat, which had already hosted a development cooperation Talanoa with Israel through its MASHAV programme.

While acknowledging Pacific countries’ need for support in areas such as water security, agriculture, food security and climate adaptation, the alliance questioned whether development cooperation should proceed without conditions relating to international law.

“We reject antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, and mourn every civilian life lost, Israeli and Palestinian,” the statement said.

The organisations also raised concerns about Israel’s continued actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, citing United Nations humanitarian reporting on Palestinian deaths and displacement following the ceasefire announced in October 2025.

They argued that humanitarian assistance and development partnerships could not be separated from obligations to protect civilians and uphold international law.

The alliance also cited United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which states that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory have no legal validity, and Resolution 478, which called on states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from Jerusalem.

It questioned the decisions by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Nauru to establish embassies in Jerusalem, noting that Samoa had also announced plans to follow.

The alliance said the partnership could have implications for the region’s security and political unity, particularly as Pacific leaders advance the Ocean of Peace declaration.

“In September 2025, our Leaders declared the Blue Pacific as an Ocean of Peace, grounded in the UN Charter and international law,” the statement said.

The organisations warned that expanded security cooperation, military technology and surveillance arrangements could conflict with the region’s stated opposition to militarisation and great-power rivalry.

“Pacific regionalism rests on solidarity based on shared values, not merely on shared resources,” the alliance said.

The statement also linked the issue to the Pacific’s continuing decolonisation agenda, including the struggles for self-determination in Kanaky New Caledonia, Ma’ohi Nui, Guahan and West Papua.

It said Forum leaders had repeatedly called for Indonesia to allow a visit by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua, but the visit had yet to take place.

The alliance warned that engaging with states accused of maintaining unlawful occupation without requiring accountability could weaken the principles underpinning Pacific self-determination.

The PRNGO Alliance has called on the Forum Troika, comprising Solomon Islands, Palau and New Zealand as past, current and incoming chairs, to ensure Pacific peoples are consulted before major partnership decisions are made in their name.

It also urged Forum leaders to review Israel’s partnership and suspend engagement until Israel complies with relevant International Court of Justice opinions and United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The alliance called on the Forum Secretariat to publish the basis for the decision and ensure any partnership agreement with Israel includes commitments to international law.

It further urged Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Nauru to return their embassies to Tel Aviv and called on all Forum members to ensure that cooperation on security, cyber capabilities and surveillance does not assist in maintaining the occupation.

The statement was endorsed by more than 20 Pacific civil society organisations, including the Pacific Conference of Churches, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, Pacific Network on Globalisation, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Oxfam in the Pacific.

Professor Vijay Naidu, a member of the Pacific Elders Voice, was among the individual endorsers.

The alliance said the credibility of Pacific regionalism depended on applying the same principles of justice, sovereignty and self-determination consistently to all countries.

“Partnership is measured by justice, not by favours,” the statement said……PACNEWS

PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

Ukraine gains sectoral partner status in Pacific Islands Forum

SUVA/KYIV, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Ukraine has been granted sectoral partner status in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), opening a new channel for cooperation with Pacific countries on food security, digital governance, education and climate change adaptation.

The decision was made by Forum leaders at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau from 30 August to 04 September, with the Ukrainian Embassy in Australia confirming the development on 25 October.

The Forum Secretariat has formally notified Ukraine of its inclusion in the Sectoral Partnership Stream, according to the embassy.

The status follows more than three years of Ukrainian diplomatic efforts to strengthen relations with Pacific island countries and regional organisations.

It provides a framework for regular political dialogue with Forum members, including participation in the annual Forum Foreign Ministers–Forum Partners Dialogue.

Ukraine and the Forum can also develop a joint cooperation plan covering areas of mutual interest.

The Ukrainian Embassy identified food security, digital governance, education and climate adaptation as priority areas for engagement.

Cooperation on food security could provide opportunities for Ukrainian agricultural and food producers, as Pacific island economies seek to strengthen the resilience of food supplies and reduce vulnerabilities linked to import dependence.

Ukraine has also indicated interest in sharing its experience in digital public services and e-governance, while education cooperation could include academic exchanges, joint research and specialist training.

However, the announcement did not include details of specific trade agreements, investment projects or financial commitments.

The embassy said Ukraine also placed importance on cooperation with Pacific countries on international law, the United Nations Charter, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It highlighted the principle that international borders must not be changed by force and thanked the Forum Secretariat and its 18 members for supporting the decision.

The Pacific Islands Forum, established in 1971, is the region’s principal political and economic organisation, bringing together Pacific island countries and territories, Australia and New Zealand.

Its work covers regional economic integration, trade, climate change, sustainable development and security, guided by the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

At the 2026 leaders meeting, members approved an updated framework for engagement with international partners, dividing cooperation into strategic and sectoral streams.

Ukraine’s new status provides an institutional pathway for longer-term engagement with the region but does not make it a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum….PACNEWS

PAC – BIODIVERSITY: SPREP PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

“The decisions we make today will echo across generations.” – FSM takes centre stage at global biodiversity negotiations.

YEREVAN, 30 0CTOBER 2026 (SPREP)—The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with four other Pacific Islands celebrates 20 years of the Micronesia Challenge this year.

Initiated in 2006, FSM, Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands committed to the conservation of a minimum of 30% of nearshore marine resources and 20 percent of terrestrial resources in the vast expanse of islands.

For FSM through the Micronesia Challenge it has committed to effectively managing 100% of its ocean and conserve 30 percent of its terrestrial and marine resources.

“It is an honor to speak for Micronesia. Like other Pacific Small Island States, we hold some of Earth’s most distinctive biodiversity. Yet it faces escalating pressure.

For us, climate change is a present, cascading reality that magnifies vulnerability,” stated Elina Akinaga Secretary for the Ministry of Resources and Development for the Federated States of Micronesia as she addressed world leaders and ministers during the high-level segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversityin Yerevan, Armenia.

“Addressing biodiversity loss and climate vulnerability together is both an environmental necessity and a national priority, so we are translating commitments into action.”

FSM is now taking its Micronesia Challenge ambition and expanding this to the High Seas.

The Pacific island nation was the very first to sign on to the BBNJ Treaty – the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement. It developed the first-ever area-based management tools and marine protected area proposals turning their commitments into binding proposals.

“Closer to shore, we are confronting drivers of ecological collapse. Because invasive species cause roughly 60 percent of global extinctions, we have upgraded our biosecurity facilities to intercept threats,” said Secretary Akinaga.

“Furthermore, we are finalising our first National Adaptation Plan, recognising island ecosystems as frontline defences, and advancing a proposal to strengthen the Nagoya Protocol through practical Access and Benefits Sharing systems that provide legal certainty and support local research and conservation.”

Secretary Akinaga is attending the CBD COP17, engaging in the High-Level dialogues. The CBD COP17 is taking place in Yerevan, Armenia from 19 to 30 October.

Highlighting the critical gaps that remain in achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets, Secretary Akinaga shared that while the global review shows unprecedented engagement, the actual implementation lags.

“Promised finance and technology transfer has not kept pace for Small Islands Developing States leaving us disproportionately vulnerable.”

Secretary Akinaga also noted the KMGBF fails to recognise Other-Effective Conservation Measures leaving community protected areas invisible and excluded from global targets.

“To bridge these gaps, Micronesia calls for three urgent interventions: first, the Global Review must acknowledge our region’s underrepresentation and deliver earlier, better-resourced support for Small Islands Developing States reporting; second, predictable, long-term, and diversified financing that translate priorities into implementation; and third, legally recognise and count conservation areas delivered by traditional custodians,” shared Secretary Akinaga.

“Our relationship with the ocean and the land is not merely one of economic dependency; it is the core of our identity. The decisions we make today will echo across generations. Micronesia remains steadfast, and we urge all nations to match our ambition with immediate, unified action,” she said ….PACNEWS

FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

Filimoni Vosarogo takes on Justice portfolio : Fiji PM Rabuka

SUVA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji’s Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo will also serve as Minister for Justice following the resignation of Siromi Turaga, ruling out an increase in Cabinet numbers to fill the vacancy.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed the arrangement in an interview in Levuka.

Rabuka said the Government would rely on existing Cabinet members rather than appoint someone from outside Parliament to the position.

He said the arrangement would remain in place for the remaining weeks and months of the Government’s term.

“Vosarogo is doubling up as Minister for Justice, and there is an Assistant Minister, which is Josaia Niudamu,” Rabuka said.

“Rather than increase the number of Cabinet Ministers, with the closing weeks and months of this, we can continue and have an Assistant, an Acting Minister.”

Rabuka said the Justice portfolio was not a major concern, as any sitting minister could take on the responsibility.

Vosarogo will take on the additional responsibility while continuing to oversee the Lands Ministry, with support from Assistant Minister Josaia Niudamu.

Rabuka said the Government would not expand Cabinet simply to fill the vacancy, opting instead to work with its existing ministerial team….PACNEWS

PAC – WEATHER WATCH/OCEANS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

Pacific Ocean heat surges past threshold

PORT MORESBY, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)–Heat across the Pacific Ocean has increased eight times higher than the threshold, an official has declared.

United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) regional office representative Catherine Jones said this month’s analysis showed that it could reach up to 3.8 degrees, up from 0.5 degrees since El Nino was declared.

She said this was really concerning. They have never seen the warming above this extent in the Pacific Ocean.

“It is expected to peak around December and will continue through to April next year, if the temperatures continue to increase.”

National Weather Service assistant director Kasis Inape said the Indian Ocean dipole is an additional effects on the already dry condition, expected to further increase the temperature.

The weakened westerly winds will push warm water and rain towards the Western Indian Ocean, while cold water upwells in the east, bringing drought and bush fire risks to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

“El Nino has reached its peak but when IOD becomes strong, it will amplify the dry condition to continue through to March next year.

“The strength of this El Nino is in the energy that is stored in the ocean. Currently, the sea surface temperature is around 2.78 degrees Celsius, much warmer than the normal temperature.

“Meanwhile, we had six times more bush fires, about 120,000, than what we normally have in the past El Nino cycles, ” Inape said.

He pointed out that this is unusual because much of the bush fires and haze was on the Western part of Indonesia, affecting Southeast Asia, but now is affecting PNG as well.

Inape says the National Capital District, Western, Gulf and Central are in critical stage now.

He said provinces on alert and could soon be declared critical were Hela, Southern Highlands, Chimbu, West New Britian, New Ireland, Madang, Milne Bay, Manus and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

“East Sepik, West Sepik, Enga, Jiwaka, Western Highlands and Eastern Highlands are on watch category”.

Inape said to classify the El Nino impacts, they looked at the rainfall, soil moisture, vegetation health and precipitation index threshold indicators.

“There is a 90 percent chance that this El Nino will continue through to March next year as we have reached its peak.

“When El Nino was declared in June, much of the country was already experiencing dry condition,” he said……PACNEWS

FIJI – IMMUNITY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Fri 30 Oct 2026

Ro Teimumu warns immunity clause leaves door open for coups

SUVA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)–“Why is the immunity clause there? It’s keeping the door open for anybody else who wants to conduct the coup.”

This was the question raised by Na Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa while raising her concerns over the retention of the immunity clause in the Fiji Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026.

She also reaffirmed her support for the Bose Levu Vakaturaga’s (BLV) position calling for the removal of the 2013 Constitution.

Ro Teimumu emphasised that the Constitution must benefit not only the indigenous population but all races in Fiji.

She said there were provisions in the current Constitution that did not benefit the indigenous population.

Council chairman Ratu Viliame Seruvakula earlier told the media that the chiefs rejected the legitimacy of the 2013 Constitution, primarily because they considered it a barrier to indigenous rights and the protection and management of land and resources.

“BLV is there for the wellbeing of iTaukei, and while that is so, that does not mean we don’t look after the well-being of other races,” she said.

Ro Teimumu declined to comment on SODELPA’s internal affairs, including the party’s rejection of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill.

Her name resurfaced recently after SODELPA general secretary Levi Vere said the People’s Alliance Party (PAP) had failed to honour a coalition agreement involving the Presidency of Fiji.

PAP had offered SODELPA the Presidency as part of its proposal to form a coalition government following the 2022 General Election.

However, in a statement on Monday, PAP general secretary Sila Balawa said the presidency offer was not part of the final coalition agreement.

Balawa said the possibility of Ro Teimumu becoming the next President had been discussed during negotiations but was rejected by SODELPA….PACNEWS

PACNEWS BIZ

PACIFIC – CLIMATE CHANGE: GCF PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026

GCF financing tops USD$3 billion for consecutive record year as reforms continue to deliver

SEOUL, 30 0CTOBER 2026 (GCF)—The 46th Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board meeting has approved 21 projects, accredited 16 new partners, and adopted policies to set the stage for the next programming period (GCF-3).

The USD$1.97 billion in new climate finance also included additional financing for an existing facility.

The total is the largest approved at a single GCF Board meeting. In 2026, GCF approvals total USD$3.3 billion, a new annual record.

The balance sheet efficiency measures introduced at the last Board meeting unlocked additional funding capacity, contributing to the record approval.

The new approvals bring GCF’s portfolio to 379 projects and programmes with USD$22.3 billion in GCF funding across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, amounting to USD$87.3 billion when including co-financing.

GCF efficiency reforms are becoming the new normal; 13 of the 15 projects subject to the Efficient GCF standard met it, with an average review time of six months against the nine-month target.

Direct Access Entities (DAEs) will manage 34 percent of the funding approved at the Board meeting, marking strong support for increasing direct access. Five of the projects are the first single-country projects for their countries: Algeria, Cameroon (two projects), Moldova and Yemen.

The projects also include the first direct sovereign loan responding to the Belém call to action for the Congo Basin Forests. Two Brazilian projects (FP326 and FP327) are the first GCF projects approved from the pipeline of a GCF Readiness-supported country platform: the Brazil Climate and Ecological Transformation Investment Platform.

The Board approved 16 new accreditation applicants, 9 of them DAEs. Thirteen are the first entities accredited under the Revised Accreditation Framework, with an average review time of four months against the nine-month service standard, again showing the impact of Efficient GCF. Maldives Finance and Leasing Company Private Limited (MFLC) becomes the first national DAE of Maldives.

In preparation for the GCF-3 replenishment, the Board approved two landmark policies: an updated Policy for Contributions for GCF-3 with greater flexibility to engage with contributors and the Fund’s first-ever Policy for Contributions from Other Sources to mobilise contributions from non-sovereign and alternative sources.

After two years of service, this board meeting was the last to be co-chaired by Leif Holmberg of Sweden and Seyni Nafo of Mali.

Co-Chair Leif Holmberg, Sweden, said: “This Board meeting has once again demonstrated GCF’s ability to deliver climate finance at scale. With a record level of project approvals and the agreement of a significant package of policies, the Board has laid a strong foundation for the replenishment of GCF’s third programming cycle. These outcomes reflect a Fund that continues to evolve and strengthen, enhancing its capacity to support developing countries and reinforcing confidence in GCF’s ability to deploy climate finance effectively and deliver tangible results on the ground.”

Co-Chair Ambassador Seyni Nafo, Mali said:“The outcomes of this Board Meeting clearly show GCF’s ongoing determination to meet the climate priorities of developing countries. I am particularly pleased at how we are continuing to deliver on our pledge to strengthen country ownership: 34 percent of the finance approved at this Board will flow through national and regional Direct Access Entities. We are also bringing GCF finance to first single-country projects in Algeria, Cameroon, Moldova and Yemen. Approving almost USD 2 billion at this Board Meeting is what delivering at scale means: more finance, through country institutions, reaching more countries and communities.”….PACNEWS

PNG – WEATHER WATCH: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026

El Nino, fuel threaten PNG economy: BSP

PORT MORESBY, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —-Businesses have good reason to remain cautiously positive, but events in the final months of the year, including higher fuel prices and El Nino can quickly reshape the Papua New Guinea economic path ahead, according to Bank South Pacific.

BSP Financial Group Limited general manager – corporate and institutional banking – Daniel Faunt said consumers were still earning and spending.

“The government remains committed to supporting the economy while ensuring fiscal sustainability, and businesses continue to invest in physical capacity, which together have helped firms deliver better earnings.”

BSP released its September Quarter 2026 Economic Pulse on Wednesday this week.

Faunt cautioned, however, that the final quarter calendar could quickly reshape the path ahead.

“A stronger-than-expected El Niño may shift expectations for taxes, spending and business activity in PNG, while higher fuel costs provide the clearest link between geopolitics, the economy and broad market performance,” he said.

“In the medium term, we remain optimistic. There is a positive contribution to the PNG economy coming from the PNG Chiefs’ 2028 NRL entry and the K45 billion(US$10.6 billion) Papua LNG is progressing towards a final investment decision.

“In addition, a pipeline of other energy and mineral projects offers the prospect of another resources super cycle in PNG, which will create significant economic growth in the medium-term.”

Commenting on the foreign exchange market, BSP Group general manager treasury and markets Rohan George said PNG foreign exchange (FX) market turnover remained solid in the September quarter, with mining export receipts remaining the key source of FX inflows, supported by higher production and gold and copper prices, with additional support from agricultural receipts.

“Gold prices are expected to remain under pressure in the final quarter of 2026, while copper prices continue to provide a strong base for PNG’s mineral export earnings supported by growing demand from global electrification and the continued expansion of AI-related data centre infrastructure,” George said.

“Risks to PNG’s FX inflows largely stem from further impacts of El Niño.

“While El Niño has supported global prices for key agricultural commodities, drier domestic conditions are weighing on agricultural production and export volumes.

“Logistical disruptions have also contributed to timing delays in FX inflows from the mineral sector,” he said…. PACNEWS

FIJI – EMPLOYMENT BILL: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 30 Oct 2026

Fiji Employment Bills set for Parliament

SUVA, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—-The proposed Fiji Employment Relations (Amendment) Bill and the draft Work Care Bill will be presented at the next Parliament sitting.

Ministry for Employment permanent secretary Maretino Nemani said the two proposed legislations were currently undergoing a final review by a Parliamentary Standing Committee following a comprehensive nationwide consultation.

“We have had a lot of consultation because this reform has an impact on employees,” he said.

“We have had a good round of two and a half years of going back and forth with employees, union reps and others, carrying out consultations.

“I think overall we have had almost 50 consultations, probably the widest consultation of any Bill.

So right now, after two and a half years of these technical meetings, it will be presented in Parliament next week.”

He said the draft legislations offered a sweeping review of Fiji’s employment laws.

“In that review we will look at how we can better improve our systems based on the law.

“Also, because for one reason, the working dynamics is changing.

“There are new issues coming up, things that we haven’t thought of.”

He said the current legislation was obstructed on the surface.

“There are emerging issues, things that we need to do better so that we are protecting the right of our people.

“I think people are going to notice that we are more proactive than ever before.

“This means that we are reviewing our legislations, our regulations and policies to make sure that we are on par with what’s happening around us.”

Parliament will hold its next sitting from 02 – 06 November…PACNEWS

PACNEWS DIGEST

The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS

SPREP calls for sustained Kunming Biodiversity Fund support to deliver nature action in the Blue Pacific

YEREVAN, 30 0CTOBER 2026 (SPREP)–Representing 21 Pacific Small Islands Developing States that live in the Blue Pacific Continent covering a fifth of the world’s ocean, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) urged countries to fully capitalise and continually replenish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund.

Director General Sefanaia Nawadra spoke during the High-Level Segment of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity underway in Yerevan Armenia.

The special fund to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to halt, and reverse, the loss of biodiversity saw a commitment of 20 USD billion per year agreed to by over 195 Parties two years ago.

“It is encouraging that the Fund demonstrates effectiveness when explicit criteria are established: small islands and least developed countries now receive allocations exceeding their target share,” stated Nawadra.

“Our Blue Pacific consists of 27 million square kilometers of Exclusive Economic Zone, including a quarter of the world’s coral reefs and the only sustainably managed tuna fishery left in the world. Implementing the GBF in our part of the world is crucial for our global community.”

SPREP, an intergovernmental organisation supporting our Pacific Small Islands Developing States has five programmes which encompass the Triple Planetary Crisis those being Climate Change Resilience, Climate Science Information, Waste Management and Pollution Control, Environmental Governance as well as Biodiversity Conservation.

While islands comprise only five percent of the Earth’s land area they have more than half of all recorded extinctions.

Pacific leadership has been demonstrated through the adoption of the Moo Ma Awe Declaration establishing 16 regional commitments on nature conservation and protected areas through to 2030 as well as approval of the Pacific Regional Framework for Nature Conservation 2026 – 2030, its regional framework to implement the KMGBF.

“The special circumstances of Small Islands Developing States is a fundamental pillar of the Rio Conventions and must continue to be a cornerstone for the synergistic implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and all Multilateral Environmental Agreements,” said Nawadra.

“Marine and island biodiversity, invasive species, and traditional knowledge, are areas in which the Pacific region contributes significantly to global outcomes. It is imperative to provide us the necessary means of implementation to conserve and provide global benefits.”

Supporting Pacific Islands to address their environmental needs, SPREP applies a whole-of-SPREP organisational approach to strengthen the region that is heavily impacted by the Triple Planetary Crisis. Driving Pacific-led solutions, Nawadra highlighted that the Pacific region is implementing and geared for further action for nature.

SPREP is also the Pacific’s subregional centre for Technical and Scientific Cooperation (TSC) under the Convention on Biological Diversity. A Memorandum of Understanding is yet to be signed as the designation has not come with resources to support this role. SPREP continues to service the needs of its Members’ within its resources.

“We call upon Parties and partners to transition from commitment to implementation: support Pacific-led solutions by providing the means of implementation to strengthen national and regional capacity, and collaborate in measuring outcomes,” stated Nawadra.

“My final call is to the Multilateral Environment Agreement Secretariats. We continue to talk about synergies and integration. Small Islands Developing States with our small administrations need the Secretariats to work synergistically to remove some of this burden of administration and reporting so we can concentrate on much-needed implementation.”

Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) presented on 28 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

Communities in Milne Bay Province lead the way in planning for a drier future

PORT MORESBY, 30 OCTOBER 2026 (SPC)—Communities in Papua New Guinea’s Milne Bay Province are already feeling the impacts of increasingly frequent and severe droughts, with water shortages, declining crop yields and pressure on fisheries threatening livelihoods and food security. As climate change intensifies these challenges, turning lessons from recent drought events into practical action has never been more important.

On 06-07 October, the Pacific Community (SPC), in partnership with the Milne Bay Provincial Administration, convened a Post-Drought Assessment Validation Workshop in Port Moresby to review and validate findings from the Integrated Post-Drought Scoping Assessment conducted on Slade and Skelton Islands.

The workshop brought together representatives from the National Weather Service, National Fisheries Authority, Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Climate Change and Development Authority, National Department of Health, Australian High Commission, provincial authorities, development partners and community representatives to identify and agree on priority actions for strengthening drought resilience.

The workshop was officially opened by Dr Sergie Bang, Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock, and Sharon Mua, Acting Provincial Administrator of Milne Bay Province. Both emphasised the urgent need for coordinated action to address the growing impacts of climate change on water security, food systems, public health and livelihoods.

A key objective of the workshop was to ensure that technical findings from the assessment reflected local realities and community priorities.

Through collaborative discussions, stakeholders endorsed seven priority adaptation pathways aimed at strengthening resilience across the islands. These include enhancing climate information and early warning systems, improving water security, restoring agricultural productivity, supporting sustainable fisheries, improving nutrition and health outcomes, strengthening the adaptive capacity of women and youth, and building more resilient livelihoods.

Participants highlighted several practical interventions that could deliver immediate and long-term benefits for communities. These include rehabilitating weather monitoring infrastructure, improving the dissemination of climate and early warning information, promoting drought-tolerant crops and community seed banks, strengthening rainwater harvesting and water storage systems, and expanding community-based fisheries management initiatives, including the use of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).

Importantly, discussions also recognised that resilience cannot be built through technology and infrastructure alone. Participants emphasised the value of integrating traditional knowledge, customary governance systems and local coping strategies alongside scientific climate information to support sustainable and locally led adaptation efforts.

One of the workshop’s most significant outcomes was the establishment of a multi-stakeholder drafting committee tasked with developing an investment-ready concept note based on the validated priorities. The concept note will help mobilise resources and support future investments that respond directly to community needs and evidence generated through the assessment process.

For the people of Slade and Skelton Islands, this workshop represents more than the validation of an assessment. It marks an important step towards transforming local experiences of drought into targeted action that protects water supplies, strengthens food security and supports sustainable livelihoods. The lessons emerging from Milne Bay also offer valuable insights for other Pacific communities facing similar climate risks, demonstrating how collaborative planning and locally driven solutions can help build resilience in an increasingly uncertain climate future….PACNEWS