In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Forum Foreign Ministers activate regional crisis mechanism as Middle East conflict threatens Pacific fuel and supply chains
2. GUAM — Guam Governor signs ban on deep-sea mining, violators face $50K fines
3. TONGA — Court dismisses election petition against Deputy Prime Minister Viliami Latu
4. PACIFIC — Proposed NOAA cuts could hit Pacific weather forecasts, fisheries and coral programs
5. UN— World Ocean Assessment highlights urgent need for science and global action
6. FIJI — Cut Cabinet numbers, not civil servants’ pay:Fiji Opposition MP Kumar
7. SOL — China continues Cyclone Maila support with a new SBD359,000 donation
8. UN — Unsafe food kills 1.5 million people each year; children most at risk: WHO
9. PACIFIC — Kiribati Minister makes history as first Pacific Islander elected to UN gender body
10. PACIFIC — Pacific civil society groups strengthen regional voice with renewed alliance
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Trade officials meet to shape region’s Trade agenda ahead of Ministerial talks
13. PACNEWS BIZ — New EU seafood regulation to affect 97 percent of EU-listed Pacific Island-flagged vessels
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji and Australia sign Project variation for resilient food systems
14. PACNEWS BIZ — BSP investigates possible system breach, Fiji not affected
15. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — ‘A Pavarotti rebirth’: the Samoan tenor taking over the world’s most gilded opera stages
16. PACNEWS DIGEST — PNG validates ambitious NDC 3.0 to accelerate Climate action and Resilient development
17. PACNEWS DIGEST — EU, UNDP and FAO launch an Accelerator to strengthen Climate, Forestry and Biodiversity governance in PNG
18. PACNEWS DIGEST — Killed for speaking up: UN sounds alarm over attacks on environmental defenders
19. PACNEWS DIGEST — When institutions fuel conflict or cooperation: lessons from Afghanistan and PNG
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Forum Foreign Ministers activate regional crisis mechanism as Middle East conflict threatens Pacific fuel and supply chains
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)—Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers have endorsed a new Regional Response Mechanism to help the region manage the growing economic and security risks arising from the Middle East crisis, warning that Pacific nations remain vulnerable to disruptions in fuel supplies, transport links and global supply chains.
The decision was made during a Special Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting held virtually on 22 May 2026, after Forum Leaders invoked the Biketawa Declaration in response to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
The meeting was chaired by Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Rick Houenipwela and attended by Forum members at leader, ministerial and senior official levels.
In opening the meeting, Houenipwela stressed the significance of the crisis and its potential consequences for Pacific nations.
He acknowledged “the urgency and seriousness of the evolving situation in the Middle East and its implications for the Pacific region.”
The Chair said the Leaders’ decision to invoke the Biketawa Declaration reflected “the seriousness with which the Forum was approaching the evolving situation” and highlighted the need for the region to remain closely connected as events continue to unfold.
Houenipwela also highlighted the importance of Pacific unity, saying the regional response should be guided by “the Pacific Way and Leaders shared vision for a peaceful, resilient and secure Blue Pacific region.”
Forum Secretary General Baron Waqa congratulated Houenipwela on assuming the chairmanship and acknowledged Solomon Islands’ leadership in coordinating the regional response.
Waqa told ministers that the crisis carried implications beyond geopolitics, including risks to fuel security, transport connectivity, economic stability and wider regional resilience.
Ministers agreed that although the Pacific is geographically distant from the conflict, the region’s heavy reliance on imported fuel, aviation services, shipping routes, communications networks and global supply chains means it cannot escape the fallout.
They noted that the effects of the crisis are already extending beyond fuel prices and inflation to broader pressures on connectivity, access to essential goods and services, household resilience and increasing strategic competition.
Foreign ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Biketawa Declaration as a framework for coordinated regional action in response to emerging challenges.
They also shared updates on national preparedness measures, including emergency response planning, fuel and supply chain monitoring, fiscal support initiatives and efforts to protect essential services and vulnerable sectors.
Ministers stressed that regional action should complement national measures while improving collective awareness, technical coordination and resilience.
A key outcome of the meeting was the endorsement of a Regional Response Mechanism designed to provide political oversight and coordinated regional action in response to the emerging energy crisis.
The mechanism includes governance arrangements, guiding principles for regional engagement, escalation pathways and technical coordination structures.
Ministers said the framework would ensure issues are addressed at the appropriate level, with clear pathways from technical assessments through to political decision-making when required.
Drawing on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, ministers highlighted the need for timely political engagement and practical collective responses to region-wide shocks.
They also emphasised the importance of maintaining partnerships through technical coordination, information-sharing and budget support to ensure essential services continue and vulnerable communities are protected.
The meeting recognised the need to strengthen fuel storage arrangements, logistics planning, information-sharing systems, communications networks and emergency response capabilities across the region.
Ministers also discussed potential collective engagement with partners, particularly major fuel suppliers such as Singapore, on fuel supply, storage and logistics issues.
The meeting welcomed ongoing technical work by the Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) Taskforce on the Middle East Crisis and related technical working groups.
Foreign ministers supported the rapid completion of a regional fuel security audit to provide evidence-based information on vulnerabilities, priority areas and practical response options.
They also encouraged development partners to support Pacific efforts to prepare for and manage the impacts of the crisis.
Looking ahead, ministers agreed to meet virtually at least once before the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting to maintain political oversight of the Regional Response Mechanism and monitor developments.
The meeting also considered a draft Political Statement by Pacific Islands Forum Leaders titled Appeal for Global Peace, Grounded in the Ocean of Peace Declaration.
Ministers acknowledged Fiji’s leadership in advancing the draft statement and endorsed its submission to Forum Leaders for consideration.
The outcomes of the Special Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting will now be finalised by a drafting committee and circulated to members for endorsement through the silence procedure…..PACNEWS
GUAM – DEEP SEA MINING: GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Guam Governor signs ban on deep-sea mining, violators face $50K fines
HAGATNA, 05 JUNE 2026 (GUAM PACIFIC DAILY NEWS) —Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed a bill into law banning deep-sea mining from Guam and its nearshore waters under threat of fines of up to US$50,000 per day and barring the use of the island’s port without “full consultation” of the community.
Senator Therese Terlaje’s recently passed Bill 253-38, for the ban, is now enacted as Public Law 38-129.
The ban does not bar mining from the 69.1 million acres of seafloor around the Marianas claimed by the federal government and eyed for possible critical mineral extraction.
But it does mean that any deep-sea mining operation in the Marianas will have to run without the use of the Port Authority of Guam, unless the local government agrees.
Guam’s port is the largest in the western Pacific by far, bigger than any port for over 1,000 miles in any direction.
“Our island’s connection to the ocean is inseparable from who we are as a people,” Leon Guerrero said in a Wednesday night statement. “This law sends a clear message that Guam will not support activities that threaten the health of our waters, our reefs, and the natural resources that sustain our community.”
The ban
Guam’s territorial waters, which the new ban covers, only extend 3 nautical miles offshore of the island.
But Terlaje has said that the ban is meant to deter the use of the island as a staging area for mining operations.
Fines of between US$10,000 and US$50,000 per day will be levied against any person who violates the ban on mining in Guam’s waters.
Permitting of any facility or infrastructure for mining in Guam waters is likewise banned, under threat of fine.
Mining in the 69.1 million acres of seafloor further offshore of Guam and the Mariana Islands, claimed by the U.S government, faces a different restriction.
No vessel engaged in mining of those waters will be allowed to use Guam’s “ports, harbors, anchorages, and territorial waters as staging, supply, or logistics bases” unless they get approval from GovGuam and federal authorities.
That approval must come “following full consultation with the Department of Agriculture and affected communities,” the new law states.
Port Authority of Guam may deny entry or departure for any vessel upon notice that the vessel is engaged in unauthorized mining activity, it states.
Adelup in a statement Wednesday night said that scientists and environmental advocates around the world have raised concerns that seabed mining could cause irreversible damage to fragile marine ecosystems.
Those ecosystems remain largely unexplored since plans to eventually sell mineral rights leases in the Pacific were first announced by the Trump Administration, the release stated.
Discussion about the risks of deep-sea mining extended well beyond the Marianas, the release stated.
President Donald Trump in an April 2025 executive order called for the “unleashing” of the U.S’ offshore critical minerals, spurring the current federal push for seafloor mining.
Minerals like nickel and cobalt are needed for electronics and military technologies. Their global supply is largely dominated by U.S competitor China.
Over 60,000 comments were submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management opposing the push for potential commercial mining leases on the Marianas seafloor in recent months.
A few companies did support the effort, according to reports from BOEM.
After reviewing the comments, BOEM nearly doubled the size of the seafloor area slated for possible mineral leases. It moved the areas even closer to the Marianas, just 46 miles offshore Guam and 57 miles offshore Saipan….PACNEWS
TONGA – COURTS: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Court dismisses election petition against Deputy Prime Minister Viliami Latu
NUKU’ALOFA, 05 JUNE 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA)—The Tonga Supreme Court has dismissed an election petition filed against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Labour Dr Viliami Latu, ruling that allegations of breaches of Tonga’s electoral laws were not proven.
The case was brought by fellow Vava’u 16 constituency candidate Etuate Lavulavu following the 2025 General Election. Both men represented themselves during proceedings before Acting Chief Justice Hon Justice Elisapeta Langi.
Justice Langi delivered her decision via Zoom from Vava’u after a hearing that examined allegations relating to campaign activities and election spending.
Dr Latu had twice sought to have the petition dismissed, arguing that Mr Lavulavu lacked sufficient evidence. However, the court ruled that the nature of the allegations warranted a full hearing.
Lavulavu initially filed 14 allegations against Dr Latu, but the court accepted six for consideration. These included claims that campaign posters were not removed from a polling area on election day, cash donations were made to church groups and community organisations within three months of the election, and that false financial information had been submitted to the Electoral Commission regarding campaign expenditure.
The allegations involved reported donations of cash and goods to church groups in Mataika and Ta’anea, contributions linked to a rugby concert in Leimatu’a, and a payment to the town office in Holeva.
During the trial, Lavulavu called 10 witnesses while Dr Latu presented evidence from five witnesses in his defence.
After reviewing the evidence, Justice Langi found that the allegations had not been established and ruled that Lavulavu had failed to prove his claims against Dr Latu. The court dismissed the petition and ordered Lavulavu to pay Dr Latu’s legal costs.
The ruling leaves Dr Latu’s election victory in Vava’u 16 unchanged and brings the legal challenge arising from the 2025 election to a close….PACNEWS
PAC – BUDGET CUTS: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Proposed NOAA cuts could hit Pacific weather forecasts, fisheries and coral programs
WASHINGTON, 05 JUNE 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—The Trump administration’s proposed 2027 budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration would slash more than US$1 billion from the agency and eliminate dozens of programmes, raising concerns across the Pacific islands where communities rely heavily on weather forecasting, fisheries management and coastal conservation.
NOAA’s fiscal year 2027 budget request seeks US$4.54 billion, a decrease of about US$1.09 billion from the 2026 enacted level.
The proposal includes more than US$1.3 billion in program terminations and another US$523 million in reductions, partially offset by investments in weather radar modernization, satellite systems and selected fisheries initiatives.
For Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the proposed cuts touch areas closely tied to daily life, from typhoon forecasting and marine observations to coral reef protection and coastal resilience.
The budget documents call for terminating the Coral Reef Conservation Program, ending Integrated Ocean Acidification efforts, eliminating regional Integrated Ocean Observing System programs and terminating Coastal Zone Management Grants. The proposal would also eliminate NOAA’s National Coastal Resilience Fund and reduce funding for ocean observations and monitoring.
Those programmes have long supported research and monitoring across U.S island territories, including coral reef ecosystems that help buffer coastlines from storms and support tourism and fisheries.
The proposal also includes cuts within the National Weather Service, including reductions to marine observations, high-performance computing and research grants related to streamflow and rainfall. NOAA would continue investing in next-generation weather radar and cloud-based forecasting systems, but several supporting programs would see reductions.
The issue carries particular weight for Guam and the CNMI, where residents depend on NOAA forecasts and satellite data during typhoon season. The islands sit in one of the world’s most active tropical cyclone regions, making weather monitoring and forecasting critical for emergency planning, aviation and maritime operations.
While NOAA’s budget request describes weather forecasting as a core mission and proposes continued investments in weather satellites and radar modernization, it also seeks reductions in marine observations and weather-related research programs. The agency says new investments would help improve severe weather warnings and forecasting capabilities.
American Samoa could see impacts through the fisheries side of the proposal.
The budget seeks major reductions within the National Marine Fisheries Service, including cuts to fisheries science and ecosystem programs, fisheries management activities, fisheries surveys and data collection, observer programs and training, and cooperative research efforts. It would also terminate Interjurisdictional Fisheries Grants and several habitat and species recovery programs.
At the same time, NOAA proposes a US$1.24 million increase for regional fishery management councils and new funding for fisheries modernization and seafood competitiveness initiatives. The budget includes US$5 million to modernise fisheries surveys and data collection using advanced technologies and additional funding tied to the administration’s “America First Seafood Strategy.”
For American Samoa, where tuna fisheries remain a cornerstone of the economy, fisheries surveys and stock assessments play a key role in determining catch limits and long-term management decisions. NOAA said emerging technologies such as autonomous vehicles and environmental DNA could help expand survey coverage and improve fisheries data collection.
The Department of Commerce released additional details showing that proposed eliminations are broader than those outlined in earlier budget discussions. The cuts follow the administration’s fiscal 2027 request released earlier this year.
Environmental advocates argue the reductions could have consequences far beyond federal agencies.
“The proposed cuts to NOAA fly directly in the face of the clear bipartisan support Congress showed earlier this year by protecting funding for this critical agency,” said Katherine Tsantiris, director of government relations for Ocean Conservancy.
“Slashing NOAA’s budget would weaken weather forecasting, disrupt fisheries management and stall ocean research – putting American lives, livelihoods and global scientific leadership at risk. Congress should once again reject these cuts to ensure NOAA has the resources it needs to support our economy, protect our ocean and keep Americans safe.”
NOAA’s budget proposal is only a request and must still be reviewed by Congress, which ultimately determines agency funding levels.
That process will likely draw close attention in the Pacific, where NOAA’s work extends beyond forecasts and fish counts. The agency provides typhoon warnings, fisheries monitoring, coral reef research, ocean mapping and climate data that many island governments, businesses and residents use every day.
For Guam, the CNMI and American Samoa, the debate is not just about federal spending. It is about how much support remains available for the weather, oceans and fisheries that shape life across the Pacific…..PACNEWS
UN – OCEANS ASSESMENT: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
World Ocean Assessment highlights urgent need for science and global action
NEW YORK, 05 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—In the wood-panelled rooms of New York’s storied Explorers Club, where portraits of pioneering adventurers line the walls, diplomats, scientists and ocean advocates gathered on Tuesday evening with a shared sense of urgency – and anticipation.
They were joined by renowned ocean advocate Sylvia Earle and explorer Fabien Cousteau to mark the imminent release of the World Ocean Assessment, a sweeping report described at the event as “possibly the most important book about the ocean ever written”.
Set to be launched on World Ocean Day, 8 June, the 1,600-page assessment is the result of more than five years of work by 550 experts from 86 countries, offering a detailed overview of the mounting pressures on the ocean and the action needed to safeguard it.
Speaking at the event, Steven Hill, Assistant Secretary-General for Legal Affairs at the United Nations, said the assessment “reinforces a very clear message: science is indispensable”.
He said the report provides a foundation for “understanding the profound changes that are underway, from climate-driven shifts to biodiversity loss, and for shaping effective action both at the local level, but also at the global level”.
Despite decades of progress, vast areas of the ocean, particularly the deep sea, remain poorly understood.
Sylvia Earle, the renowned veteran oceanographer, warned that the report also points to the scale of the work still needed.
“The one thing that also must be done, and will occupy many volumes, is the magnitude of what we still don’t know,” she said.
Echoing Mark Twain’s famous quote, “what gets us into trouble is not what we don’t know. It’s what we know for sure that just ain’t so,” Earle said scientists now know far more than previous generations but must remain aware of how much remains unknown.
“We shouldn’t be too ambitious about thinking we have all the right answers,” she added.
“Knowledge alone is not enough,” Hill said. “We’re at a moment where ocean ecosystems are approaching critical thresholds, and where the choices we make, that are grounded in the best available science, will determine the future of the ocean and the benefits that it can provide.”
That knowledge must also be inclusive, he added, bringing together disciplines, regions and diverse perspectives, including those of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
“At the end of the day we are in one community and we must all row in the same direction…the only way we can get out of this is together,” Fabien Cousteau, ocean advocate and grandson of legendary ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, said at the Explorers Club.
Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations, said that the assessment “offers a powerful roadmap for action through global collaboration and multilateralism.”
As a co-chair of the assessment, she highlighted that the landmark report could be the most comprehensive and insightful assessment of the ocean to date….PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Cut Cabinet numbers, not civil servants’ pay: Fiji Opposition MP Kumar
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji Opposition MP Premila Kumar has urged Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to reduce the size of his Cabinet and curb government spending instead of considering pay cuts for civil servants.
Kumar said it was troubling that the Government would even talk about salary reductions despite borrowing billions of dollars and collecting record revenues during a period of economic growth.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, Fiji endured the worst economic crisis in its history. The economy contracted by 17 percent, tourism collapsed, one-third of the workforce lost their jobs, schools were closed for 9 months, and government revenues plummeted,” she said.
“Yet civil servants including teachers who stayed home continued to receive their salaries and support was provided to unemployed workers to help families survive.”
Kumar questioned why the Government was contemplating pay cuts after borrowing heavily during more favourable economic conditions.
“Today, after borrowing $2 billion (US$1 billion) during a period of economic growth and strong revenue collections of $4 billion (US$2 billion) in Fiji’s history, Prime Minister Rabuka is already floating the idea of pay cuts for civil servants.”
“This raises a serious question: where has all the money gone? Not in new roads, not in new hospital or any new infrastructure?”
She said ordinary workers should not be made to bear the consequences of government spending decisions.
“Instead of asking civil servants to pay the price, the Prime Minister should first look at reducing the size of his Cabinet, cutting non-essential spending, and curbing excessive overseas travel by ministers.”
Kumar said threatening the livelihoods of public servants was the wrong approach.
“Threatening workers’ livelihoods is not leadership, it is an admission that the Government has run out of ideas,” she said….PACNEWS
SOL – CYCLONE RESPONSE: SOL GOVT PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
China continues Cyclone Maila support with a new SBD359,000 donation
HONIARA, 05 JUNE 2026 (SOL GOVT)— The Chinese Embassy in Honiara has donated SBD$359,000(US$44, 792) as part of China’s ongoing disaster relief assistance to Solomon Islands.
This latest contribution follows China’s recent support for relief efforts after Tropical Cyclone Maila struck in April this year.
The Cyclone brought severe impact and widespread damage to housing, food sources, public infrastructure and community facilities in Western and Choiseul and Provinces.
Immediately after the cyclone in April, China provided SB$$500,000 as humanitarian assistance for purchasing and transporting daily necessities such as rice and tents.
Several days ago, the Chinese Embassy, on behalf of Fujian Province, donated 40 Out Board Motor (OBM) engines to Western Province for disaster relief.
Solomon Islands Minister responsible for Disaster Management, Hon. Wayne Osopo Ghemu, thanked the Government and People of China for standing in solidarity with Solomon Islands in times of need.
He said the donations demonstrates that China and its people through its agencies truly cares and put people in need at the center of the hearts.
“These Chinese assistances are greatly valued, and we truly appreciate and admire China and its people for standing with us during times of hardship and great need,” Minister Ghemu said.
A statement from the Embassy said the People’s Republic of China is willing to help the Solomon Islands in post-disaster recovery.
“China will also provide more disaster relief assistance, including materials, in the near future,” the statement added.
The statement highlighted that China admired the people of Solomon Islands’ courage and resilience in the face of such challenges.
The donations reaffirmed the bilateral bond between China and the Solomon Islands as good friends, with China pledging it will always stand in solidarity with the people of the Solomon Islands in times of need.
During the Covid-19 pandemic and after the 2022 earthquake China provided humanitarian assistance to Solomon Islands within its capacity and this time is no exception.
“We believe that with everyone’s joint efforts, Solomon Islands will surely overcome the difficulties and rebuild as a beautiful homeland,” the statement said……PACNEWS
PAC – FOOD SAFETY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Unsafe food kills 1.5 million people each year; children most at risk: WHO
GENEVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE)—Unsafe food causes an estimated 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths every year worldwide, highlighting the often-overlooked toll of contaminated food on health, development and fragile economies, according to new data from the UN health agency.
The new insights released on Wednesday ahead of next week’s World Food Safety Day, show that children under five are particularly vulnerable.
Although they account for just nine percent of the global population, they suffer nearly one-third of all foodborne diseases, many of them severe diarrhoeal illnesses that can prove fatal, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Exposure to chemicals such as lead and methylmercury through food can also damage developing brains and cause lifelong neurological and developmental problems in children.
“Food safety is not an abstract issue – it touches every meal, every family, every day. Unsafe food has always been a major public health concern, but until now we lacked the bigger picture of its staggering human and economic toll. These new estimates change that,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The study found that foodborne bacteria, viruses and parasites accounted for most illnesses – about 860 million cases in 2021 alone. Yet chemical contamination was responsible for most deaths linked to unsafe food.
According to WHO, chemical hazards accounted for 73 percent of deaths caused by contaminated food in 2021.
Inorganic arsenic and lead were the leading contributors, largely because prolonged exposure increases the risk of heart disease and cancers. Together, the two substances were linked to more than one million deaths in a single year.
Food can become contaminated through unsafe water, improperly handled products or toxins entering the food chain through environmental pollution and industrial activities.
Once chemicals such as arsenic, lead or methylmercury enter the food supply, they are often difficult or impossible to remove.
The burden is not shared equally.
WHO said Africa and Southeast Asia account for nearly three-quarters of all foodborne illnesses and 60 percent of global deaths. Children and people living in low-resource communities face the greatest risks, reflecting persistent inequalities in food systems, healthcare access and sanitation.
The impact also extends far beyond health.
WHO estimates that foodborne diseases resulted in around US$310 billion in lost productivity in 2021 due to time away from work. Adjusted for differences in the cost of living between countries, the economic losses rise to an estimated US$647 billion.
“This report is a wake-up call – but also a roadmap,” said Yuki Minato, a WHO technical officer for food safety and senior author of the study published in The Lancet Global Health.
“The data show that foodborne diseases are not only persistent but are being made worse by climate change, which increases contamination risks, and by antimicrobial resistance, which makes infections harder to treat. We cannot tackle these threats alone.”
WHO said the findings should help countries target interventions, strengthen surveillance and improve cooperation across health, agriculture and environmental sectors.
“Delay costs lives,” Minato warned….PACNEWS
PAC – WOMEN LEADERS MEET: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Kiribati Minister makes history as first Pacific Islander elected to UN gender body
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Kiribati’s Minister for Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs, Ruth Maryanne Cross Kwansing, has become the first Pacific Islander elected to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, marking a historic milestone for the region.
Kwansing, who also serves as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Political Champion for Gender and Social Inclusion, was elected to the global body in April for the 2026-2030 term and said the achievement felt like a miracle.
“From Kiribati, we were so excited and extremely humbled by what we think is a real miracle in how it happened,” Kwansing said.
The UN Commission on the Status of Women is the principal global body dedicated to promoting women’s rights and gender equality. It sets international standards and frameworks for gender-related work around the world.
Kwansing said Kiribati’s seat on the commission meant Pacific voices would be heard at the highest level of global gender policymaking at a particularly critical time.
“The focus going into 2027 is gender and climate change, so I think it’s a really pivotal time for the Pacific to be well represented on that committee,” she said.
Her priorities include economic empowerment for Pacific women and strengthening social protection systems, such as welfare payments and maternal benefits, to shield vulnerable communities from climate and economic shocks.
“When a woman is economically empowered, she can rise above any challenges she faces, whether climate-related, business-related, leadership or education,” Kwansing said.
PIF Secretary-General Baron Waqa congratulated her during the opening of the fifth PIF Women Leaders Meeting in Suva Thursday, describing the election as a major achievement for the region.
“This is a big milestone for all of us and for our Blue Pacific region,” Waqa said……PACNEWS
PAC – NGOS: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 3: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Pacific civil society groups strengthen regional voice with renewed alliance
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Pacific civil society organisations have renewed a regional alliance that leaders say will help strengthen grassroots representation in major policy discussions on climate change, development, human rights and regional governance.
The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisation Alliance formally renewed its partnership through a memorandum of understanding signed in Suva, reaffirming its status as a coalition that has worked collectively across the Pacific since 2000.
The move comes as regional organisations seek greater influence in decision-making forums and growing engagement with governments and international institutions on issues affecting Pacific communities.
Joey Tau, chair of the alliance and coordinator of the Pacific Network on Globalisation (pang), described the signing as a significant milestone for Pacific civil society.
“After 26 years, this renewed commitment is a testament to the work of non-state actors and civil society organisations in informing and implementing regionalism,” Tau said.
He said the agreement formalizes the alliance’s commitment to coordinate and communicate Pacific perspectives while ensuring “recognition and engagement at regional to international policy platforms.”
The alliance has historically played a prominent role in Pacific Islands Forum processes, helping establish civil society engagement frameworks and coordinating forums ahead of meetings involving Pacific leaders. It has also contributed to regional discussions on trade, climate action, ocean governance, development and human rights.
Regional church leaders and development organisations said the renewed partnership comes at a time when collaboration among civil society groups is increasingly important.
Reverend James Bhagwan, general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, said regionalism should be viewed as more than a policy exercise.
“As a regional institution with more than six decades of history, PCC understands regionalism as more than policy. … It is about the well-being of the whole Blue Pasifika Household,” Bhagwan said.
He added that civil society organisations bring community experiences and concerns into regional discussions, helping strengthen efforts related to “justice, peace, climate action, self-determination and the dignity of all Pacific peoples.”
Eunice Wotene, executive director of Oxfam in the Pacific, said cooperation among organisations is particularly important as civic space becomes more restricted in some parts of the world.
“Being part of the Alliance strengthens our ability to contribute to a unified voice, particularly at a time when civic space is increasingly constrained,” Wotene said.
She said the alliance can help connect community concerns with regional decision-making processes and support more inclusive development across the Pacific.
Founded by a group of regional organisations, including the Pacific Conference of Churches, Greenpeace, WWF Pacific, and the Pacific Concerns Resource Center, the alliance has expanded over the past two decades. Current members include organisations representing youth, disability advocates, media groups, climate networks and gender diversity organisations.
The signing ceremony also marked the admission of the International Federation of Red Cross Pacific as the alliance’s newest member, further expanding the coalition’s reach across the region……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – TRADE: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Pacific Trade officials meet to shape region’s Trade agenda ahead of Ministerial talks
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (PACNEWS)—Senior trade officials from Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member countries convened today at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to discuss key trade and economic priorities that will help shape the region’s policy direction in the years ahead.
The annual Forum Trade Officials Meeting (FTOM), chaired by Solomon Islands High Commissioner to Fiji, Joseph Ma’ahanua, brings together senior trade officials from Forum member countries, technical observers and representatives of Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies.
The meeting serves as the region’s main platform for trade officials to review policy priorities and provide recommendations for future consideration by Pacific trade ministers.
While the next Forum Trade Ministers Meeting (FTMM) is scheduled for 2027, officials meeting this week are expected to address a broad range of issues affecting trade, economic development and regional integration across the Blue Pacific.
A key focus of discussions will be the review of the regional architecture relating to trade, including identifying challenges and opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation and improve policy coordination.
Officials will also consider the next steps for implementing the Pacific Regional Labour Mobility Principles, an area increasingly viewed as critical to supporting economic growth, skills development and employment opportunities across the region.
Another major agenda item is deepening regional integration through trade policy implementation. Discussions will focus on Pacific-led initiatives such as the Pacific Aid for Trade Strategy 2026–2030 and the Pacific Regional Private Sector Strategy, both aimed at supporting sustainable economic development and expanding opportunities for Pacific businesses.
The meeting will receive updates from the Pacific Trade Invest Network on efforts to advance business development and increase export opportunities for Pacific Island countries in international markets.
Trade officials will also review the outcomes of the World Trade Organisation’s 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from 26 to 30 March 2026.
Particular attention will be given to ongoing WTO negotiations on the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, especially issues relating to overfishing and overcapacity, and their implications for Pacific economies that depend heavily on marine resources.
The protection and commercial development of kava will also feature prominently on the agenda.
Officials are expected to discuss the proposed Kava Declaration, which seeks to protect the origin and cultural heritage of kava while supporting the commercial trade of kava and related products for the economic benefit of Pacific countries.
The meeting will further explore opportunities to strengthen links between trade, environmental protection and climate change policies as Pacific countries seek to build more resilient and sustainable economies.
The outcomes of the Forum Trade Officials Meeting are expected to provide strategic guidance for future regional trade discussions and help ensure Pacific priorities are reflected in global and regional trade negotiation…PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 05 Jun 2026
New EU seafood regulation to affect 97 percent of EU-listed Pacific Island-flagged vessels
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (FFA/PEUMP)— National Competent Authority officials from Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu met in Suva for a two-week technical training on new European Union (EU) food safety requirements introduced under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1449, which entered into force on 27 January 2026.
The regulation introduces new technical requirements for freezer vessels and is expected to affect approximately 97 percent of EU-listed Pacific Island-flagged vessels currently authorised to export to the EU.
The training, which ran from 25 May – 4 June was designed to strengthen the capacity of National Competent Authorities – government-designated entities with the legal power to perform specific tasks such as certification, regulation and oversight. The training aimed to support industry compliance and maintain access to the valuable EU seafood market.
Organised by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) through the EU-funded Pacific–European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP II) – the second phase of a regional programme supporting sustainable ocean governance and fisheries management across the Pacific.
During the opening, the representative from the European Union Delegation to the Pacific thanked FFA for convening the training and supporting national authorities in developing important food safety competencies.
The regulation was introduced after EU auditors found freezer vessels across the global supply chain failing to reach the required -18°C in brine. In some cases, cannery-grade tuna frozen at higher temperatures had been marketed for direct human consumption, raising food safety concerns.
“When tuna is not frozen correctly, bacteria produce histamine in the fish flesh, a toxin that cannot be removed by cooking or further processing and that causes scombroid poisoning, with symptoms ranging from rashes and nausea to severe allergic reaction,” FFA Market Access Specialist, Ratu Jope Tamani said.
The EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed recorded a rising number of such cases, resulting in the regulation.
Under 2025/1449, tuna is now split into two market categories. Fish frozen at temperatures above -18°C, including tuna frozen to around -9°C, may only be supplied to canneries. Fish intended for direct human consumption such as sashimi, fresh tuna steaks and premium market products must reach minus -18°C or colder. Brine freezer vessels must install real-time electronic temperature monitoring and submit validated freezing capacity plans before they can be listed on the EU’s approved register.
Ratu Jope said the training was a direct response to what the regulation demands.
“The compliance responsibility sits with the National Competent Authority of our Pacific Island nations. Our job is to make sure they have the technical knowledge to carry it out. That is what protects our countries’ place in the EU market and the revenue that comes with it,” Ratu Jope said.
Taina Rauvala, Head of Fiji’s Food Safety Unit and National Competent Authority said compliance would not be straightforward for all operators.
“There is some pushback expected from those using brine freezing. Getting the NCA and industry on the same page is our immediate challenge.”
Fiji’s tuna enters the EU duty-free under Fiji’s Interim Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU.
“Europe has the strictest food safety rules in the world. If Fiji loses the EU’s trust, that trade deal disappears and the damage would hurt workers, families and businesses right across the country,” Rauvala said.
“Getting into the EU market can be straightforward. Staying in is the hard part. It takes commitment from the government, the NCA and industry consistently, not just at audit time.”
Solomon Islands National Chief Health Inspector Patricia Soqoilo said technical knowledge was her department’s most pressing need.
“It is not enough to know what the law says. Our officers need to understand how freezing works on a vessel, the engineering, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) controls, the critical control points. You need the right people, with the right knowledge, properly resourced. All three matter.”
Kiribati already has automatic temperature recording devices, qualified engineering personnel and traceability systems in place.
“Regional support like this has significantly impacted our level of skills and competencies,” said Tereere Tioti, Director of the Competent Authority of the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources.
“It strengthens our ability to conduct official controls, respond to emerging regulatory changes and safeguard Kiribati’s reputation in global markets.”
For Tuvalu, a nation that earns from its ocean primarily through fishing licence fees, EU market access represents a meaningful step towards direct export revenue.
“Compliance is non-negotiable,” said National Competent Authority Technical Officer Alipate Momoka.
“We are not asking for easier rules. We are asking for the knowledge and support to meet the rules that exist.”
The training programme, delivered by Ratu Jope and consultant Cushla Hogarth, covered vessel engineering, refrigeration systems, time and temperature controls, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles and EU audit requirements.
FFA has conducted similar training in the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, with Papua New Guinea to follow….PACNEWS
FIJI – FISHERIES: FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 05 Jun 2026
Fiji and Australia Sign Project Variation for Resilient Food Systems
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (FIJI FISHERIES MINISTRY) —The sustainable development of coastal livelihoods in Fiji received a major boost this week following the formal signing of the Collaboration Services Agreement (CSA) Variation for the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Project FIS/2022/147.
The document was officially signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry, Saimone Tauvoli, marking a critical milestone in the ongoing bilateral partnership between the Government of Fiji and the Australian Government –Jone Ravuikadavu, Assistant Manager – Pacific at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) was present at the signing.
The project, titled “Supporting resilient and equitable food systems: emerging oyster and seaweed mariculture enterprises and an exploration of co-culture of seaweeds in coastal communities in Fiji and northern Australia,” aims to tackle core technical, social, and market challenges over a multi-year period ending in March 2030.
By focusing on the innovative co-culture of oysters and seaweeds, the initiative targets the creation of ecologically sustainable, resilient, and economically equitable food production systems for vulnerable coastal populations.
The newly signed variation details a structured operational roadmap between key executing partners, including the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) as the primary Australian implementing agency, led by Chief Investigator Dr Libby Swanepoel, and Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries (MoF).
Financial and institutional breakdowns highlighted in the formal agreements include:
*Total ACIAR Financial Contribution: Up to a maximum of AUD$642,550 (US$457,267) allocated to the Ministry of Fisheries, disbursed via structured milestones through January 2030.
*Fiji Government In-Kind Contribution: Estimated at AUD$79,232(US$56,385), demonstrating Fiji’s strong national commitment through local personnel, resource deployment, and project monitoring.
The agreement sets out a rigorous schedule of deliverables extending toward the 2030 deadline. Key upcoming milestones for the Fiji component include comprehensive reports on shellfish QA datasets, community engagement updates, the creation of a Fijian Fishing Teams Manual, and localized evaluations of oyster grow-out performances.
This collaborative effort ensures that scientific research translates directly into practical, long-term food security and economic independence for Fiji’s coastal communities…. PACNEWS
FIJI – BANK: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 05 Jun 2026
BSP investigates possible system breach, Fiji not affected
SUVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES)—BSP Financial Group has confirmed that it is investigating unauthorised third-party access to one of its back-office testing systems, an incident that temporarily disrupted internet banking and other services across several Pacific markets.
In a statement to the South Pacific Stock Exchange, BSP said it identified unauthorised access to a non-customer-facing test environment used for various internal systems.
“Upon detecting the incident, BSP took immediate containment action as a precautionary measure, disabling externally facing internet services,” the bank said.
The move affected a number of BSP services, with the most significant disruptions occurring to Internet Banking across the Group, excluding Fiji, and Agency Banking services in Papua New Guinea.
However, BSP confirmed that several key customer services remained operational throughout the incident, including mobile banking, ATM withdrawals and deposits, EFTPOS transactions and over-the-counter branch services.
The banking giant said it had engaged leading external cyber security experts to assist with the response and investigation.
“BSP is working with leading external cyber experts to respond to and investigate the incident. The investigation is in the early stages and we have been advised it may take some time to complete in line with security incident response processes.”
According to BSP, testing conducted on customer-facing production systems found no evidence that the incident had spread beyond the testing environment.
“BSP has completed the testing of customer facing services in the production environment and has found no residual threats, with impacts confined to the Test Environment.”
The bank said it has now successfully restored full services to customers across its operations.
“As a result BSP has now been able to successfully restore full services to its customers.”
BSP stressed that it does not currently believe there is any ongoing risk outside the affected testing systems, although investigations remain ongoing.
“BSP does not believe there is any ongoing risk beyond the Test Environment but the investigation remains ongoing at this stage.”
The financial institution said it will continue to work with relevant government agencies and regulators across the Pacific region and keep customers, shareholders and stakeholders informed as further details become available.
The incident comes amid growing concerns globally over cyber security threats targeting financial institutions and critical infrastructure, with organisations increasingly strengthening digital security measures to protect customer information and essential services…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
‘A Pavarotti rebirth’: the Samoan tenor taking over the world’s most gilded opera stages
By Susan Chenery
APIA, 05 JUNE 2026 (THE GUARDIAN)—Along roads of scarlet hibiscus and exuberant tropical foliage are the white churches of Samoa. On Sundays the choir, singing in pure harmony, rises up to the cathedral ceilings in one soaring voice of divinity.
Pene Pati, once a child in those churches, is now a commanding, magnetic presence on the world’s greatest gilded stages – a universe away from the tiny, impoverished South Pacific island of Upolu, where he was born. A tenor specialising in the lyrical repertoire and bel canto, he is booked out until 2029, from the Metropolitan Opera to La Scala to Royal Albert Hall. Last month he received the pinnacle of arts awards in France, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres – a medal, he joked in a subsequent interview, that he’d been wearing around the house, much to his wife’s disdain.
Pati’s journey from Upolu to the opera mainstage was not without obstacles, as is detailed in a moving new documentary, Tenor: My Name is Pati, which makes its premiere at Sydney film festival this weekend.
But transcending the highs and lows is the rich velvet voluptuousness of his seemingly effortless voice; a voice imbued with colour, expression and the warmth of the Pacific, and described often as being full of sunshine.
In the film, South African soprano Golda Schultz says of Pati, “this is a beast of talent”, and violinist and conductor Guilio d’Alessio calls him “one of the best singers of his generation already”. When the conductor Marc Minkowski first heard his voice, he thought: “This is a Pavarotti rebirth.”
As a young man, Pati was told again and again that island boys don’t sing opera. In the film, he remembers one singing coach telling him: “there are no Polynesian singers, no one has ever done it, it is not in your blood, you won’t make it.”
“It did hurt a lot of times when people said ‘this is not for you, you should stop, what are you doing?’,” Pati tells the Guardian. “I have still got the emails to prove it. But you can either turn away or you can try to prove them wrong.”
Pati is speaking to the Guardian from Zurich, where he has been proving them wrong by performing Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito with Zurich Opera. He believes part of his success comes down to the emotion in his voice, which people can’t help but respond to.
“People can feel the pain you have on stage, they can hear the love you have on stage. I think people need to feel something.”
It was New Zealand that shaped Pati and his younger brother Amitai, who is now also an international tenor. Pati was born in Samoa in 1987 but his parents, both nurses, brought the family to south Auckland for a better life when he was three. But they struggled, and most of the money they earned was sent back to family.
“They were always busy with work,” Pati tells the Guardian. “I do remember going to school without any food. They would say ‘drink water’. But I didn’t feel poor at all. When you are all going through the same struggle, it doesn’t feel bad.”
From an early age all four kids would sing to the residents at the retirement home where their parents worked. For four hours every Friday night for 15 years, Pati stood with his siblings performing hymns, Pacific island and popular songs. “Often we were the last thing those people heard,” he says.
Pene Pati Sr could be a tough father. “There is a fine line between discipline and domestic violence,” his son Pene says in the film, in which the whole family return to the humble house in Samoa, and spend time at the family house in Auckland, going through old photo albums and reminiscing with their father. Here the great tenor still has to mow the lawn, wash dishes and cook.
There is no bitterness; everything he does is a love letter to the man whose name he has carried across the world. “I harbour no resentment towards him,” he tells the Guardian. “He was a young man trying to figure it out himself. He was just trying to have good kids.” Of talking openly about it in the film, he says, “I wanted him to see this and feel forgiven. I feel like he carried it for so long. And he always thought to himself, ‘Did I do the right thing?’”
In year nine, the brothers came to the attention of Aorere College music teacher Terence Maskell, when the strapping rugby team Pati played for was drafted into the chorus of a school production of HMS Pinafore. After that, Maskell wouldn’t let Pene or Amitai get out of piano lessons or choir. “Music came so easily to them; they weren’t the most diligent of students,” the teacher says in the film.
When Pati met his wife, Amina Edris, at a young artist program, she was the one who made the first move. “I was three times the size I am now,” he says. “When you are that big you think there is no way this beautiful, cute girl would be interested … She told me she never once thought about size. And that is how I knew straight away.”
When he recounts that story with her in the film, Edris asks: “How shallow do you think I am?”
Pati came relatively late to formal opera, partly because he put others first. In Samoan culture, he says, “everyone takes care of everyone. Service is a big part of the culture.”
After winning the NZ Aria award in 2009, he was invited by former tenor Dennis O’Neill to study at the Wales International Academy of Music in Cardiff. A year later, back in New Zealand, the brothers and their cousin, baritone Moses Mackay, formed the trio Sol3 Mio, intending to raise funds for the others to join him back in Cardiff. Sol3 Mio was an instant success, but they only made enough money to send three – and without warning them, Pati put his brother, his cousin and his girlfriend on the flight, and he stayed behind.
Pati lost funding as a result. “I couldn’t understand what was wrong with putting your family first and wanting them to succeed,” he says in the film. Later he would turn down a prestigious fellowship at the San Francisco Opera to stay with Sol3 Mio, who were on the precipice of serious success. But two years and several bestselling albums later, he turned up in San Francisco unannounced and auditioned again. It was a risky strategy, but it worked.
Amitai watched his brother struggling with his ingrained cultural humility. On the same Zoom call, from Paris, he tells the Guardian: “We would say ‘look you have to be doing this for yourself. Otherwise what’s the point? If not for yourself then who?’ We were all proud of him and we wanted him to be proud of himself.”
The brothers insist that there has never been any rivalry. “It’s tough being a tenor,” says Amitai, “because there are only limited jobs and there are thousands of singers. When you are brothers from the other side of the world you have to stick together and say ‘you’ve got this’, you have no other choice. We back each other up all the time because we are in the same boat trying to do the same thing.”
Still, the more successful they get, the lonelier it can be. In April and May, Pene was performing in Zurich and Germany, while his wife, Edris, was singing in New York at the Metropolitan Opera. Later this month she will be in France to perform Mozart’s Mass in C Minor; in June and July he is in Milan at La Scala for Lucia de Lammermoor.
They move from hotel to hotel, studying scores, protecting their voices, isolated and alone. “You have this incredible high of doing something that you work so hard at,” Pati says, “and then you go to the room all alone and you sit there and take off your makeup and costume, and you are suddenly in this quiet space. And then you just put on your shoes and walk home.”
He does it partly, he says, for “the rush of excitement” on the stage. “That is my home.” But more than anything he does it to “clear the path for the next lot of Pacific singers who want to chase the dream … without being mocked.”….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
PNG validates ambitious NDC 3.0 to accelerate Climate action and Resilient development
PORT MORESBY, 05 JUNE 2026 (UNDP)—The National Validation Workshop, convened by the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other development partners, brought together representatives from government agencies, the private sector, civil society organisations, academia, youth and women’s groups, and technical experts to review and endorse the near-final draft of PNG’s NDC 3.0.
Covering the period 2025–2035, NDC 3.0 outlines Papua New Guinea’s enhanced commitments across climate change mitigation, adaptation, climate finance, transparency systems, nature-based solutions, loss and damage, and inclusive climate action. The document aligns with the country’s Vision 2050, Medium-Term Development Plan IV (MTDP IV), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and broader sustainable development priorities.
The development of PNG’s NDC 3.0 has been led by CCDA through an extensive and inclusive consultation process involving national and sub-national stakeholders across key sectors, including energy, transport, forestry, agriculture, health, infrastructure, biodiversity, and climate finance. The process was supported through a strong partnership between CCDA, UNDP, the NDC Partnership, ESCAP, EU-FCCB, FAO, ADB, UN-REDD Programme, AIM for Forests, and other development partners supporting Papua New Guinea’s climate ambitions.
Through its global Climate Promise Initiative, UNDP has supported PNG in the preparation of NDC 3.0, helping strengthen the evidence base, facilitate sector consultations, enhance technical analysis, and strengthen national coordination behind the country’s climate targets.
The updated NDC sets a pathway for Papua New Guinea to pursue net-zero emissions by 2030 and net-negative emissions by 2035. The contribution includes a target to reduce energy-sector emissions by 29 percent by 2035, increase the share of renewable energy in on-grid electricity generation from 60 percent in 2022 to 80 percent by 2035, and strengthen removals from the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector to approximately -17,000 Gg CO₂e by 2030 and -18,000 Gg CO₂e by 2035. These targets reflect PNG’s ambition to align climate action with sustainable development, energy access, forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and long-term resilience.
Speaking at the workshop,Nicholas Booth, UNDP Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea, commended the Government of Papua New Guinea for its leadership and commitment to advancing climate action.
“Papua New Guinea stands at a pivotal moment in its climate journey. As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts, PNG is demonstrating that ambitious climate action and sustainable development can go hand in hand. NDC 3.0 provides a clear pathway towards net-zero emissions around 2030 and net-negative emissions by 2035, while strengthening resilience, expanding renewable energy, protecting forests and biodiversity, and supporting communities most vulnerable to climate change. This achievement reflects the strong leadership of the Government and the power of partnership among the many stakeholders committed to PNG’s climate future,” said Mr. Booth.
The workshop generated valuable feedback and recommendations that will be incorporated into the final version of the NDC before government endorsement and formal submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The updated NDC sets a pathway for Papua New Guinea to pursue net-zero emissions by 2030 and net-negative emissions by 2035.
The validation of NDC 3.0 demonstrates Papua New Guinea’s continued commitment to contributing to global climate efforts while advancing sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient development at home.
UNDP remains committed to supporting the Government of Papua New Guinea in implementing NDC 3.0 through its Climate Promise Initiative and broader climate portfolio, including support for climate finance mobilisation, adaptation planning, transparency systems, nature-based solutions, early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, and community resilience. Working alongside CCDA and a broad coalition of national and international partners, UNDP will continue supporting PNG to translate its climate commitments into tangible development outcomes for people and nature. …PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
EU, UNDP and FAO launch an Accelerator to strengthen Climate, Forestry and Biodiversity governance in PNG
PORT MORESBY, 05 JUNE 2026 (UNDP)—The signing marks an important milestone in Papua New Guinea’s efforts to strengthen climate and environmental governance, improve public investment planning, and accelerate implementation of national commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and other international environmental agreements.
The FCCB-SRBC Accelerator contributes directly to the PNG Government’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, and environmental governance.
This week, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) signed a EUR 2.1m(US$2.43 million) Contribution Agreement on the Forest, Climate Change and Biodiversity (FCCB) State and Resilience Building Contract (SRBC) Accelerator Project, funded by the European Union, to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s capacity to implement climate, forestry and biodiversity priorities under the Government’s Medium-Term Development Plan IV.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Minister for National Planning, Sir Ano Pala, representatives of the European Union Delegation led by Mr. Peteris Ustubs, FAO RepresentativeKachen Wongsathapornchai, UNDP Resident Representative Nicholas Booth, senior government officials, and development partners.
Implemented jointly by UNDP and FAO in close partnership with the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), Conservation and Environment Protection Authority (CEPA), Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA), Department of National Planning and Monitoring (DNPM), and Department of Treasury, the project will strengthen institutional coordination, improve climate and biodiversity data systems, and support evidence-based planning and investment across the forestry, climate change and biodiversity sectors.
The project will support the development and implementation of key national instruments, including the National Climate Finance Strategy and the National Blue Carbon Strategy, while strengthening the Climate Finance Unit within CCDA. It will also support the preparation of joint Forestry–Climate Change–Biodiversity investment frameworks to improve coordination between sector agencies and ensure that national priorities are translated into funded public investments.
In addition, the initiative will strengthen Papua New Guinea’s National Forest Inventory, improve forest carbon accounting and emission factors, support biodiversity monitoring systems, advance protected area management, and establish a national Protected Areas Network Registry to strengthen environmental governance and reporting.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Nicholas Booth highlighted the strategic value of the partnership.
“Today’s signing is more than the launch of a project. It is an investment in stronger institutions, better data, improved coordination, and evidence-based decision-making. By combining UNDP’s expertise in governance, climate finance, public investment planning, digital systems and institutional strengthening with FAO’s world-class expertise in forestry, biodiversity and ecosystem management, we are helping Papua New Guinea turn its climate and biodiversity ambitions into lasting results for people, nature and future generations.”
Booth noted that Papua New Guinea possesses globally significant forests and biodiversity assets that play a critical role in climate mitigation, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable development. However, achieving national climate and environmental objectives requires stronger systems, enhanced coordination, and sustainable financing mechanisms.
The FCCB-SRBC Accelerator contributes directly to the Government’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, and environmental governance.
Funded by the European Union, the project demonstrates the shared commitment of the Government of Papua New Guinea, the European Union, UNDP, and FAO to support a resilient, low-carbon and nature-positive future for Papua New Guinea….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Killed for speaking up: UN sounds alarm over attacks on environmental defenders
GENEVA, 05 JUNE 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Thursday for greater protection for environmental and land defenders, noting that hundreds worldwide have been killed or detained in recent years.
His appeal came in remarks to the first-ever European Forum on Environmental Human Rights Defenders held in Strasbourg, France, where he warned that the continent is warming twice as fast as the global average, with increasing floods, shrinking glaciers and heatwaves.
“Extreme weather kills thousands of Europeans every summer,” he said. “Across the continent, 95 percent of urban residents breathe unsafe air, and more than 80 percent of habitats are in poor or bad condition.”
Activists under threat
Türk praised defenders of the environment who speak up, mobilise and take concrete action to protect the planet, communities and democracy.
“The environmental justice movement is a powerful human rights alliance uniting science, law, ethics, philosophy, and art – an alliance that cannot be defeated in a fair contest,” he said.
“That is why some of its opponents resort to brutal and dishonest measures. They kill, abduct, detain, and weaponize laws meant to protect people’s rights.”
Hundreds killed, disappeared or detained
The High Commissioner said his Office, OHCHR, has recorded nearly 600 environmental and land defenders killed or disappeared worldwide over the past three years.
“In at least 55 countries, they have been detained for their activism,” he added.
He noted that while “many European countries pride themselves on ambitious climate and environmental goals,” new laws criminalizing peaceful protest are still being enacted.
“It is shocking that people defending our children’s future are prosecuted under laws designed to fight terrorism and organized crime,” he said.
“I urge all Governments to ensure the safety of environmental defenders and accountability for all abuses.”
He also called for authorities to respect court rulings and establish a stronger regional protection system for environmental defenders.
‘Get low for climate’
The UN rights chief was speaking on the eve of World Environment Day.
The annual celebration on 5 June is led by the UN Environment Progamme (UNEP) which calls for action in the face of global warming and rising emissions as countries struggle to keep global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
“We have to go low,” said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. “We have to make sure that if we bypass 1.5, we quickly bring it back down again. But we can do it. We have all the solutions.”
UNEP has launched a global limbo dance challenge, encouraging people everywhere to “get low for climate.”
Brazilian DJ Alok has loaned his club smash ‘Deep Down’ for the campaign and celebrities such as American actor Jason Momoa, UNEP Advocate for Life Below Water, are showing their support.
“Where I come from, movement means something. It carries story, respect, connection,” said the Hawaii-born star of hit films Aquaman and A Minecraft Movie, along with television series Chief of War.
“So, for World Environment Day, the United Nations Environment Programme is celebrating movement and the power of using our voices to create change.” ….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
When institutions fuel conflict or cooperation: lessons from Afghanistan and PNG
CANBERRA, 05 JUNE 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG) —In a new Development Policy Centre discussion paper, we examine how institutional design shapes patterns of cooperation, competition and conflict in developing countries, focusing on civil service administration in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and Papua New Guinea since independence in 1975.
A central message of our research is that institutions are not neutral containers of governance. They create incentives. And in fragile or politically complex contexts, those incentives can just as easily produce conflict as cooperation.
A common starting point in development policy is that strengthening institutions — for example, civil service commissions or administrative rules — may improve governance outcomes. Our findings suggest that this view is incomplete.
Institutions are always embedded in historical, political and social contexts. In Afghanistan, attempts to build a modern, merit-based bureaucracy after 2001 were shaped by deep distrust among political actors and a legacy of highly centralised rule. In PNG, inherited Westminster-style institutions have interacted with local norms such as wantokism and “big-man” politics.
In both cases, informal networks — of patronage, kinship and political loyalty — have often had greater influence than formal rules. This means that institutional reforms, even when technically sound, do not operate as intended unless they align with underlying incentives.
One of our key findings is that institutional design can inadvertently create incentives for rivalry and conflict.
In Afghanistan, the post-2001 settlement accorded priority to short-term stability by distributing ministries and senior positions among political factions. While this helped accommodate powerful actors, it also created overlapping mandates, duplication and competition across institutions. Government departments became arenas of rivalry rather than coordination.
This situation resulted in low stability in key institutions, where a turnover in leadership would also lead to the replacement of heads of key departments. For instance, even the Finance Ministry, which was relatively meritocratic and governed by civil service constraints, experienced changes in over 50% of its senior positions under each minister from 2009 to 2021.
Excessive centralisation further reinforced these dynamics. With authority and resources concentrated in Kabul, control of the state became highly valuable, increasing the stakes of political competition. In a low-trust environment, this encouraged actors to compete aggressively for control rather than cooperate. Following the disputed 2014 presidential election, a power-sharing National Unity Government was formed, with the two rival candidates becoming President and Chief Executive. Although intended to promote unity and stability, the arrangement soon became vulnerable to internal power struggles, as competition over key decisions and senior appointments weakened the government and civil service.
PNG presents a different configuration of similar challenges. Decentralisation post-1975 independence created multiple layers of government, but with blurred responsibilities. The reversal of some of these reforms at later stages, such as the abolition of provincial elected assemblies in 1995, undermined rather than empowered local administration. The establishment of the District Services Improvement Program (DSIP), which gave Open MPs significant influence over the distribution of funds, arguably institutionalised a form of political patronage and weakened local administrations.
Amid weak institutional capacity, overlapping roles across national, provincial and local levels have often led to weak coordination and delays in service delivery. Low ministerial stability, due to persistent political instability, has reinforced these problems.
These examples illustrate a broader issue: institutional arrangements that appear rational in design can produce counterproductive outcomes if they generate the wrong incentives.
In both Afghanistan and PNG, patronage and clientelism have played a central role in shaping institutional dynamics.
In Afghanistan, the allocation of public office frequently reflected political bargaining rather than merit. Ministries and senior positions were treated as resources to be used to reward allies and maintain coalitions. This contributed to high turnover in leadership, instability within institutions and weakened administrative capacity.
In PNG, patronage operates through both political and administrative channels. Appointments are often influenced by political, regional or kinship ties, and public resources can be used to build electoral support. These dynamics encourage cooperation within networks but limit cooperation across them, while also fostering destructive forms of competition.
Importantly, these patterns are not merely inherited from the past; they are reinforced by contemporary institutional arrangements. In PNG, funding mechanisms such as the DSIP have expanded the discretionary control of MPs, while in Afghanistan, senior appointment processes shaped by the post-Bonn Agreement (2001) political settlement embedded patronage within state institutions.
Both countries have witnessed substantial reform efforts. In Afghanistan, civil service reforms supported by international partners helped create pockets of professionalism or “islands of efficiency“, particularly in some ministries. A new cohort of educated officials improved administrative capacity in specific areas.
Similarly, PNG has implemented multiple waves of reform, including decentralisation and public sector restructuring, including for example the creation of sometimes-effective Provincial Health Authorities.
However, in both contexts, these efforts have had uneven and often limited impacts. Reforms have tended to produce the above-mentioned islands of efficiency rather than system-wide change. Where underlying political incentives remain unchanged, reforms are vulnerable to being undermined or co-opted.
Our analysis suggests three practical implications.
First, institutional design must focus on incentives, not just structures. It is critical to consider how actors are likely to respond to new arrangements in practice.
Second, reforms need to be grounded in context. Imported models — whether centralised or decentralised — may not work as intended if they are not aligned with local political realities.
Third, addressing patronage and political competition is essential. Without engaging with these dynamics, institutional reforms are unlikely to achieve sustained improvements in governance.
The experiences of Afghanistan and PNG highlight a fundamental challenge: building effective, impartial state institutions is not simply a technical task. It is deeply political.
While the goal of a professional, neutral civil service remains important, achieving it requires more than formal institutional design. It demands careful attention to the incentives created by institutions and to the broader environment in which they operate.
As we argue in our paper, without such attention, institutional reforms risk reinforcing the very patterns of negative competition and conflict they are intended to overcome….PACNEWS
Nematullah Bizhan is a senior lecturer at the Development Policy Centre. He leds the Centre’s partnership with the University of Papua New Guinea.
Emeritus Professor William Maley served as Professor of Diplomacy at the Australian National University from 2003-2021, and was Foundation Director of the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy from 2003-2014.
