In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Marshall Islands warns against 1.5°C overshoot, says relocation is not an option
2. PACIFIC — World must quadruple electrification pace to keep 1.5°C alive – Bowen
3. UN — COP31 must deliver results, keep 1.5°C goal alive – Kurum
4. UN — UN Climate chief Stiell urges countries to accelerate electrification as fossil fuel costs hit economies
5. UN — Climate crisis could push 141 million more women into extreme poverty
6. TONGA — Tonga declares drought in Niuafo’ou as El Niño intensifies
7. PACIFIC — Fear of judgement keeps Pacific people from openly talking about diabetes
8. PACIFIC — Pacific territories face major population declines by 2100, U.S Census projects
9. AUST — ‘Enormously proud’: missing soldiers return to families
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Tonga inflation hits 12.1 percent as IMF warns of El Niño drought and energy shock
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji targets $132 million aquaculture industry by 2028
12. PACNEWS BIZ — ADB provides $6 million to support Marshall Island’s response to El- Nino- related storms and dengue
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Air Nuigini receives licence, to start direct flights to NZ’s Auckland
14. PACNEWS BIZ — Cook Islands govt eyes working holiday to fill jobs in tourism sector
15. PACNEWS BIZ — Worker fears as Qantas blames AI impact for 850 job cuts
16. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Fishing Vessels help fill gaps in Pacific Ocean Observations
17. PACNEWS DIGEST — Yearbook of Global Climate Action 2026 provides new evidence that climate action is delivering results and driving implementation
18. PACNEWS DIGEST — Solomon Islands moves from EITI Membership to Action with International Support for Transparent Natural Resource Governance
PAC – COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Marshall Islands warns against 1.5°C overshoot, says relocation is not an option
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Marshall Islands has warned that exceeding the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming limit, even temporarily, would put vulnerable communities at greater risk and increase the pressure on countries already facing severe climate impacts.
Marshall Islands Minister in-Assistance to the President and Environment, Jess Gasper Jr told a High Ambition Coalition press conference at COP31 that the 1.5-degree target was not simply a scientific benchmark but a matter of people’s lives, communities and survival.
Minister Gasper said the Marshall Islands was already experiencing the consequences of climate change and warned that a temporary overshoot of the 1.5-degree threshold would bring further dangers.
He called on countries to follow the science, increase support for vulnerable nations and commit to bringing global temperatures back below the 1.5-degree limit.
Gasper linked the country’s climate vulnerability to its history of nuclear testing, saying he came from Bikini, one of the major nuclear testing sites in the Pacific.
The legacy of nuclear testing continues to affect the people of Bikini, who have yet to return to their homeland.
He said this history reinforced the Marshall Islands’ determination to prevent another generation from being forced from their homes because of decisions made beyond their control.
The Minister stressed that relocation was not an option for the Marshall Islands, with adaptation remaining the country’s priority.
His remarks highlighted the need for COP31 negotiations to recognise the consequences of exceeding 1.5 degrees and ensure that vulnerable countries receive the support needed to respond to worsening climate impacts.
The Marshall Islands is calling for stronger international action to keep the 1.5-degree goal alive and prevent climate change from creating further displacement and loss across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
PAC – COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
World must quadruple electrification pace to keep 1.5°C alive – Bowen
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — The world must increase the pace of electrification more than four-fold to have any chance of keeping global warming within the 1.5-degree Celsius limit, COP31 President of Negotiations Chris Bowen says.
Bowen said the global rate of electrification must rise significantly, from the current 23percent share of final energy consumption to 35percent by 2035, under a target set by the COP31 Presidency.
“The world has no chance of holding to 1.5 degrees unless we lift that to 35percent,” Bowen said at a joint COP31 Presidency press conference in Antalya, Türkiye.
“That would require more than a four-fold increase in the rate of electrification around the world.”
He said global electrification had increased slowly, rising from 17 percent in 2005 to 19percent in 2015 and 23percent currently.
The target is a key part of the COP31 Energy and Transport Day agenda, with Türkiye and Australia encouraging countries to sign the electrification pledge and consulting Parties on how it should be reflected in the final COP31 decision.
Bowen said electrification could help address several global challenges, including rising energy costs, fuel supply disruptions and increasing pressure on electricity grids from artificial intelligence.
He said the world was facing multiple crises, including cost-of-living pressures, an energy crisis and worsening climate impacts.
“The world’s worst energy crisis in history has seen the cost of fossil fuels go up and the reliability of fossil fuels come down, but families are feeling the pressure of dealing with that,” he said.
Bowen said the rapid growth of artificial intelligence was adding further pressure on energy grids, while climate change continued to intensify extreme weather events and disasters across countries.
“The climate crisis has not gone away, in fact, it’s worsened,” he said.
He pointed to the growing impacts experienced by countries, including Nepal, which had recently faced severe climate-related disasters.
Bowen said the overlapping crises made international cooperation more important, with COP31 needing to demonstrate that multilateralism could deliver practical solutions.
“We must send a message from COP31 that countries working together is not only the best way, it is the only way of dealing with climate change and the other crises countries are facing,” he said.
Bowen also highlighted the close working relationship between Australia and Türkiye in organising COP31, saying both countries had integrated their teams to deliver a coordinated summit.
He thanked COP31 President Murat Kurum and the Turkish team for their preparations and cooperation.
He said the joint Australian-Turkish arrangement was an opportunity to demonstrate that countries could work together effectively despite the challenges facing the international community.
Bowen also welcomed the support of former COP presidents for the COP31 agenda, saying there was still significant work ahead to secure outcomes.
He said communities around the world were counting on governments to demonstrate that international cooperation could work and deliver results.
“It’s important that we can show that the innovative arrangement that Türkiye and Australia have entered into can and will work and that multilateralism can and will work,” Bowen said…. PACNEWS
TURKEY – COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
COP31 must deliver results, keep 1.5°C goal alive – Kurum
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — COP31 President Murat Kurum has called on countries to keep the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature limit within reach and deliver concrete climate action, warning that even a brief overshoot could cause irreversible loss and damage.
Opening the COP31 Presidency press conference in Antalya, Türkiye, Kurum said countries must accelerate efforts to limit global warming, strengthen climate resilience and address the impacts of climate change.
“We must never give up on the 1.5-degree goal. The Paris Agreement continues to guide us.
“Our duty is to act swiftly to limit the temperature rise, minimise the extent and duration of any overshoot, and return below that threshold,” he said.
Kurum said the climate crisis was being compounded by global challenges, including a strong El Niño event, with the World Food Programme warning that it could push around 50 million more people into acute hunger.
He said adaptation and loss and damage must remain central to the climate agenda, with COP31 focusing on strengthening resilience across sectors, from oceans to cities.
The Presidency will also convene a special ministerial meeting on the second Global Stocktake, which Kurum said must address the implications of exceeding the 1.5-degree threshold and guide efforts to bring global temperatures back below it.
He said the COP31 Presidency was consulting Parties on developing a decision that responds to the challenge of limiting temperature overshoot.
Kurum said the swift adoption of the COP31 agenda had provided a positive start to negotiations, adding that the Presidency wanted decisions to be driven by countries rather than imposed from the top down.
“We will not make decisions from the top down,” he said.
He said the adoption of the Action Agenda was an important step in allowing countries to discuss the targets and move towards implementation.
Kurum also announced the launch of the 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, which aims to increase electricity’s share of global final energy consumption from about 23percent to 35percent by 2035.
He said the recent energy market crisis had exposed the vulnerability of countries dependent on imported fossil fuels, with fuel-importing countries facing an estimated US$330 billion in additional costs between March and August.
As electric technologies become more affordable, Kurum said electrification offered countries an opportunity to reduce exposure to fuel price volatility and supply disruptions.
The pledge focuses on expanding electricity use in transport, buildings and industry, with Türkiye also setting national targets as part of its efforts towards greater energy independence.
Kurum said COP31 must bring political commitment and investment together to accelerate the transition towards more reliable energy, cleaner transport and lower-emission production.
He also welcomed a joint statement by former and current COP presidents, from COP21 to COP31, supporting the COP31 Action Agenda and its targets.
He described the statement as a first in COP history and said the Presidency wanted the Antalya summit to be recognised as an implementation COP.
“We want this to be an implementation COP. We want to get results,” he said.
Kurum said the summit must address climate finance, ensure all countries are involved and recognise their different priorities and starting points.
He said the success of COP31 would ultimately be measured by whether its commitments translated into improvements in people’s lives.
“We want to deliver a COP that allows us to leave Antalya saying, ‘Something changed in Antalya. We achieved results here. We delivered outcomes’,” Kurum said.
“We want people to leave here saying, ‘Yes, these things changed at COP31’,” Karum said…. PACNEWS
UN – COP31: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
UN Climate chief Stiell urges countries to accelerate electrification as fossil fuel costs hit economies
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell has urged governments and businesses to accelerate the shift to clean electricity, warning countries they must choose between electrification and continued exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices.
“Nations now face a choice: electric or shock. Rewire the global economy for the electricity age. Or accept ongoing fossil fuel cost pain for families, firms, and national budgets,” Stiell said.
Speaking at the COP31 Presidency press conference in Antalya, Türkiye, Stiell said electrification was a practical solution that could reduce household costs, cut pollution and protect national economies from the instability of fossil fuel markets.
He said COP31 must focus on delivering practical outcomes through negotiations and the Global Climate Action Agenda, which are designed to help countries implement their international climate commitments and national plans.
Stiell said the conference was taking place amid growing climate destruction and economic pressures, with climate-related disasters affecting millions of people and damaging national economies.
He said fossil fuel price volatility had also increased economic pressures this year, contributing to inflation and uncertainty for households and businesses.
“No COP has a magic wand that can solve these multiple crises overnight. But each recent COP has delivered significant steps forward and COP31 must too,” he said.
Stiell said clean electricity offered countries an opportunity to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, pointing to the falling cost of renewable energy.
“Clean energy is cheap energy,” he said, citing International Renewable Energy Agency figures showing that 90percent of large renewable energy projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives.
He said renewables had overtaken coal in global electricity generation, marking significant progress since the Paris Agreement was adopted more than a decade ago.
However, Stiell warned that the global energy transition remained uneven, with many countries requiring greater support to expand clean energy and access to electricity.
He said up to 75 percent of energy demand could already be electrified using existing technologies, but countries needed to accelerate their deployment.
“Up to 75 percent of energy demand can already be electrified with existing technologies,” he said.
“We need to roll out those solutions faster, to far more communities in more countries, as we continue expanding access to electricity.”
Stiell said the COP31 Presidency’s 35-by-35 electrification target, which aims to increase electricity’s share of global final energy consumption to 35percent by 2035, could help accelerate the transition.
He also pointed to growing support from the private sector, saying 180 companies with combined annual revenues of almost US$1.7 trillion were calling on COP31 to “seize the electric advantage”.
He urged governments, businesses, cities and states to support the electrification push and turn commitments into practical action.
Stiell said the climate crisis required sustained work rather than quick fixes, but COP31 presented an opportunity to accelerate solutions.
“There’s no quick fix to climate. There is a ton of hard work ahead,” he said.
“But our climate solutions step-up creates a real chance for faster progress here at COP31. And we must take that,” he said…. PACNEWS
UN – COP31: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Climate crisis could push 141 million more women into extreme poverty
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — More than one in three women and girls worldwide – roughly 1.5 billion – live in so-called “climate hotspots”, where high exposure to hazards such as cyclones and droughts combine with insecure jobs and deep gender inequality.
That’s according to “Gender Equality in the Age of Climate Crisis”, a new fact sheet issued by UN Women at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on Tuesday.
“The climate crisis threatens planetary life and is deepening the inequalities that leave women and girls most at risk,” it says.
The report finds that women and girls in the countries least responsible for climate change are the hardest hit by its effects.
The world is currently heading towards 1.8°C of warming by 2050, if current trends continue, which will result in even more devastating droughts, floods, wildfires and cyclones.
UN Women warns that under a worst-case scenario, climate change could push up to 141 million additional women and girls into extreme poverty by mid-century.
“Across the world, women are already leading the fight for a better future – in their communities, in laboratories, in parliaments and on the front lines of the climate crisis,” said Sima Bahous, the agency’s Executive Director.
“We must give women and girls equal rights, resources and the power to lead, and they will help drive the change our world so urgently needs.”
Data from 24 countries indicates that a 1°C increase in average temperatures could lead to women losing 34percent more of their total income than men, which is likely due to their more limited ability to move to non-farm work or migrate when harvests fail.
Climate change is also increasing women’s unpaid care responsibilities, such as collecting water and fuel and caring for family members following disasters.
Our warming world can also magnify existing factors that drive gender-based violence. Across 14 countries, exposure to prolonged extreme drought was associated with 21percent higher odds of sexual violence against adolescent girls and young women.
The climate crisis is also putting progress towards ending child marriage at risk. In 24 of 46 countries with relevant data, rates of child marriage were higher in more arid environments than in more humid areas. At the same time, 326 million women and girls still lack access to electricity even as artificial intelligence (AI) technology drives up energy demand.
Although 73 percent of countries’ climate action plans recognise the risks facing women and girls, only just over one in three addresses them comprehensively.
Women are still largely excluded from climate decision-making, holding just 12 percent of energy portfolios, while just four percent of climate-focused Official Development Assistance prioritises gender equality. At the same time, women environmental defenders are facing harassment or even death for standing up for their communities and the planet.
At COP31, UN Women is urging leaders to put gender equality and women’s rights at the heart of climate action, which includes recognising and guaranteeing their right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
The agency also calls for protecting women environmental rights defenders and ensuring women and girls have a greater role in decision-making, among other recommendations…. PACNEWS
TONGA – WEATHER WATCH/ELNINO: PACNEWS PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Tonga declares drought in Niuafo’ou as El Niño intensifies
NUKU’ALOFA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Tonga has declared meteorological drought in Niuafo’ou as very dry to seriously dry conditions persist across the country, with forecasts warning of a prolonged period of below-average rainfall under a strong El Niño event.
The Tonga Meteorological Services says Niuafo’ou has been upgraded to a meteorological drought declaration, joining Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha’apai and Niuatoputapu, while Vava’u is now under a meteorological drought warning.
The drought status for the remaining island groups remains unchanged.
Tonga Met warns that rainfall outlooks for the next three months, from November 2026 to January 2027, show an 80 to 100 percent chance of very dry conditions across all of Tonga.
The monthly outlook for November also indicates an 80 to 100 percent likelihood of very dry conditions nationwide.
The latest assessment follows three months of below-average rainfall between August and October, when very dry conditions persisted across the northern island groups and Vava’u.
Seriously dry conditions were recorded across Ha’apai and the southern island groups.
Tonga Met says El Niño conditions typically bring below-average rainfall to Tonga, increasing the risk of prolonged drought.
It also forecasts continued warming across the tropical Pacific over the next month, with El Niño conditions expected to peak in December.
The latest outlook raises concerns over continued pressure on water supplies, agriculture and communities across Tonga as the country enters the peak period of the El Niño event…. PACNEWS
PAC – HEALTH: PMN PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Fear of judgement keeps Pacific people from openly talking about diabetes
AUCKLAND, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PMN) — Concern about how family and church communities will react is leading some Pacific people to hide their diabetes, says Diabetes New Zealand.
November is Diabetes Action Month with this year’s campaign “End Diabetes Stigma.”
The organisation says stigma remains one of the biggest barriers to better health for the 365,867 New Zealanders living with the condition.
Diabetes Community Coordinator Ruana Taito says Pacific communities, which have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, feel this keenly. The fear of being judged can make it harder for people to talk openly about their diagnosis, and that affects how they manage their health.
“People feel like if some people, or if whānau or family members or church members do know that they have the condition, they can look upon them as bad luck. They can look upon them as a curse, or you are less fortunate.”
Taito told PMN’s Pacific Days the stigma can keep people from medical care. She has seen people skip GP visits because they expect to be scolded or are afraid of what their test results will show.
“Telling off is a put-off. People will not go to GP visits because they are afraid of that telling-off or they are afraid of their numbers because they know that they’re not eating well, they know that they haven’t been checking. They are very fearful of the recent blood test because it might say something very bad.”
According to Diabetes NZ, 80percent of those living with diabetes face blame, shame or judgement, and up to 53 percent have been treated differently because of their condition.
Dr Elizabeth Holmes-Truscott, a leading researcher on diabetes stigma, says it makes the already demanding job of living with diabetes even harder.
“Research shows diabetes stigma is associated with greater distress, social isolation, disengagement from care, and poorer health outcomes.”
Food adds another layer. In Pacific cultures, sharing a meal signifies love and hospitality, so changing what you eat at a family gathering can be difficult.
Taito says that the attitudes of relatives sometimes don’t help.
“Sometimes it can be awkward, and when you try to make changes… sometimes you can be mocked.”
Taito’s work is personal. Her mother lives with diabetes, and she says including herself in the conversation helps people open up.
To help families support a relative with the condition, Diabetes NZ runs a Self-Management Education course, working with church ministers and community leaders so whole congregations can learn together.
For families wanting to start somewhere, Taito suggests setting one small goal, an approach taught in the course, such as adding a salad to the family meal.
“Think about one thing that you can change. Stepping stone, baby steps.”
She has a message to anyone recently diagnosed, or hiding their condition.
“You are not alone. You’re not the only one. You have hope. You didn’t choose diabetes.
“Talk openly about your condition. Don’t be ashamed to talk openly about it to your family.”
Ramanjot Singh Thiara was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 17 and has lived with it for nearly nine years.
“My first thought was a bit of fear and a little bit of self-blame or guilt. I don’t know whether I caused it or if it was my fault. I wish people just knew that diabetes is not anyone’s fault.”.
Thiara says diabetes doesn’t limit or define him or anyone living with the condition…. PACNEWS
PAC – CENSUS: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Pacific territories face major population declines by 2100, U.S Census projects
HAGATNA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — A new U.S Census Bureau report projects significant population declines in American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands by the end of the century, prompting calls for greater political autonomy and decision-making powers for American territories.
The report, released on 05 November, projects American Samoa will lose 61 percent of its 2026 population by 2100, followed by Guam with 38 percent and the Northern Mariana Islands with 17 percent.
The U.S Virgin Islands is also expected to lose 41 percent of its population over the same period.
The Census Bureau attributes the projected declines to falling birth rates and persistent outmigration, with more people leaving than moving into the territories since 2000.
In the Northern Mariana Islands, the population has been declining since at least 2000, while American Samoa’s decline began around 2010. Guam’s population is not projected to begin falling until 2030.
The report also found that fertility rates in American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands have experienced some of the steepest declines, with the latter’s average number of children per woman falling from 3.3 in 2016 to 2.0 in 2026.
Right to Democracy, a nonprofit organisation advocating for democracy, equity, and self-determination in US territories, said the projections highlight the consequences of the territories’ unequal political relationship with Washington.
Its co-director, Adi Martínez-Román, described the findings as a warning to territorial leaders.
‘These Census projections predicting a continued dramatic loss of population in U.S territories are a striking indictment against the status quo relationship with the federal government. Unilateral federal decision making does not serve our interests,” she said.
‘This report should be a wake-up call to elected officials in U.S territories to demand a fundamental shift in the relationship with Washington, otherwise this displacement will continue.”
Fellow co-director Neil Weare said the lack of political power was affecting the everyday lives of territorial residents.
“No one should have to leave their home and loved ones just to make ends meet or receive the medical care they need,” he said.
The organisation also expressed concern about proposed changes to U.S Census procedures, warning that they could further weaken the collection of demographic data in the territories and among their diaspora communities.
Martínez-Román said federal agencies should improve data collection rather than introduce changes that could further disadvantage territorial populations.
Weare said the projected declines would likely attract far greater national attention if they involved U.S states.
“If these dramatic population declines were predicted for any state, it would be front page national news,” he said.
“The fact it is not shows how the lack of political power contributes to the invisibilisation of our communities.”
The Census Bureau said its projections reflect current demographic trends and assumptions about future births, deaths, and migration, rather than guaranteed population outcomes.
The latest projections do not include Puerto Rico, whose population declined by 11.8 percent between 2010 and 2020…. PACNEWS
AUST – ANZAC DAY: AAP PACNEWS 3: Wed 11 Nov 2026
‘Enormously proud’: missing soldiers return to families
CANBERRA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (AAP) — Across Australia, 11 families have been given closure about what happened to their relatives across battlegrounds more than a century ago.
The soldiers from World War I, all of whom added to the 30,000 count of missing in action Anzacs, have now been formally identified.
Among them is Defence Minister Richard Marles’ great-uncle, Lieutenant Andrew Anderson, who survived major battles such as Pozieres, Mouquet Farm and Bullecourt, before he was killed during the Battle of Menin Road, near Ypres, in 1917. He was just 19 when he enlisted.
“I feel enormously proud of him, of his service, and the fact that we can remember him in this way,” Marles told ABC TV of his relative.
A handful of Australian soldiers are identified in international efforts each year through a painstaking DNA and fact-matching process. Much of the work is done in Scotland.
On 11 November, people nationwide will attend services honouring those who served their country in all wars and armed conflicts, stopping for a minute’s silence at 11am.
It marks 108 years since the armistice that ended four years of continuous warfare on Europe’s Western Front, the main battleground of World War I, where more than 60,000 Australians died.
For many of today’s soldiers, following in family footsteps by joining the military was something they felt called to do, despite the sacrifices they had witnessed.
That was the case for veteran Brad Copelin, who told AAP he was “programmed”” to follow after his father and grandfather.
Having served nearly 25 years in the Australian Army, including deployments to Afghanistan and the Solomon Islands, the 56-year-old believes the spirit of Remembrance Day should extend beyond an annual pause.
“Remembrance Day brings up a lot of memories,” Copelin said.
“As much as we have some really great memories from our service, and some really great people that we worked with … there’s also the negative memories of our service that we will carry with us all the time.”
Copelin never had any intention of doing anything other than continuing the family legacy and received his parents’ permission to enlist aged 17.
His father had been in the navy on HMAS Melbourne when it crashed with the USS Frank E Evans, cutting it in two.
It was not until after Mr Copelin enlisted that his grandfather, a Japanese prisoner of war on the Burma railway, began telling his grandson of his experience.
‘He never spoke about the war to anyone,” said the veteran, who has a tattoo of a red poppy on his arm.
The president of the Engadine RSL sub-branch, in Sydney’s south, he aims to help fellow veterans and their families know they are not alone in their struggles.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Australia’s soldiers while in Singapore, using a stopover on his journey to the United Nations climate talks to mark the event.
He laid a wreath at the Changi Chapel and Museum early on Wednesday, joined by Australia’s Singapore High Commissioner Robyn Mudie.
The museum tells the stories of some of the 90,000 prisoners of war and civilians interned in Changi during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in World War II.
“The 15,000 Australians who were interned here in Changi represent the best of the Australian character – they showed courage, selflessness, sacrifice and mateship,” Albanese said.
Closer to home, Remembrance Day in 2026 coincides with the opening of the Australian War Memorial 85 years ago in the nation’s capital in 1941, where a major event will occur.
Governor-General Sam Mostyn will lay a scarlet poppy wreath, first laid in 1934 on the memorial’s construction site, to symbolise the continuity of tradition, and many military leaders will be in attendance…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
TONGA – INFLATION/ELNINO/ENERGY COST: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Tonga inflation hits 12.1 percent as IMF warns of El Niño drought and energy shock
NUKU’ALOFA, 11 NOVEMBER 026 (PACNEWS) — Tonga’s economic recovery is being threatened by rising energy costs and an emerging severe El Niño-related drought, with inflation climbing to 12.1 percent and economic growth expected to slow sharply next year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns.
The IMF said Tonga was facing mounting cost-of-living pressures as higher fuel and freight costs pushed up prices, while drought risks threatened agricultural production and household incomes.
“The economy is slowing as the energy shock and El Niño weigh on activity,” the IMF said in its 2026 Article IV Mission concluding statement.
Economic growth is estimated to have fallen to two percent in the 2026 financial year, compared with 4.4 percent in FY2025, which was driven by post-disaster reconstruction.
The IMF projects growth will slow further to 0.5 percent in FY2027 as a severe El Niño event affects largely subsistence agricultural production.
Inflation has risen sharply from two percent in January 2026 to 12.1 percent in September, more than double the National Reserve Bank of Tonga’s five percent reference rate.
The IMF said price increases were spreading beyond fuel and imported goods as businesses passed on costs previously absorbed in their profit margins, while informal-sector wages were also showing signs of rising.
It warned inflation could remain above the central bank’s reference rate until FY2028.
The IMF said the government had responded promptly to the economic pressures by introducing support measures, mobilising development partner assistance and reaffirming its commitment to fiscal discipline.
However, it urged authorities to replace general electricity and transport subsidies with targeted assistance for vulnerable households.
General subsidies introduced in July were benefiting better-off households and visitors, while sustaining demand and adding to inflationary and external pressures, the IMF said.
“Generalized subsidies should be phased out and the resources redirected to protect the most vulnerable from the cost-of-living crisis.”
It recommended using existing social protection programmes, including additional payments for elderly people and persons with disabilities, and the electricity lifeline tariff.
Savings should also support households facing food and income losses from El Niño and protect essential services, particularly health and education.
The IMF said Tonga’s fiscal surplus widened to 4.1 percent of GDP in FY2026, from 1.2 percent in FY2025, but the government’s planned T$31 million (US$12.92 million) support package for FY2027, equivalent to about 1.6 percent of GDP, was expected to contribute to a fiscal deficit of 4.4 percent of GDP.
It also warned that Tonga remained at high risk of debt distress and urged gradual fiscal consolidation to protect long-term debt sustainability.
On monetary policy, the IMF recommended considering an increase in the central bank’s policy rate from its current two percent to prevent inflationary pressures from becoming entrenched.
It said rising prices, pressure on businesses to recover costs and resilient demand increased the risk of further inflation.
The IMF also highlighted risks to Tonga’s financial sector, including elevated non-performing loans and the withdrawal of Australian-dollar correspondent banking services to two domestic banks.
Remittances account for about 39percent of Tonga’s GDP, making the preservation of correspondent banking relationships critical to the economy.
The IMF said authorities needed to maintain engagement with international banks, strengthen anti-money laundering measures and explore safe, affordable digital remittance services.
It also called for faster implementation of public sector reforms, saying complex government procedures, weak inter-agency coordination and limited administrative capacity were slowing development projects.
“Translating the government’s reform commitment into results requires a step change in implementation,” the IMF said.
The Fund urged Tonga to accelerate investment reforms, improve access to finance, address land-tenure constraints and skills shortages, and diversify exports as development grants gradually decline.
It also identified food and water security, fuel storage and renewable energy investment as urgent priorities in preparing for climate-related shocks.
Given Tonga’s limited fuel-storage capacity, the IMF said a national fuel-security strategy was needed alongside continued investment in renewable energy.
It said preparations for El Niño should prioritise food and water security, supported by contingency resources and parametric insurance.
The IMF said Tonga’s commitment to reform provided an important opportunity to address longstanding economic vulnerabilities, but effective implementation would be critical to strengthening resilience and improving living conditions…. PACNEWS
FIJI – FISHERIES: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Fiji targets $132 million aquaculture industry by 2028
SUVA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS) — Fiji is targeting a nearly 12-fold increase in the value of its aquaculture industry to FJD$132 million (US$66 million) by 2028, with a new seafood market assessment expected to identify opportunities to expand production, exports and rural employment.
The industry was valued at FJD$11.1 million (US$5.55 million) in 2023, and the growth target is outlined in the Fiji Aquaculture Development Plan 2024–2028.
Acting Director of Fisheries Nanise Kuridrani said the plan aims to generate an additional FJD$80 million (US$40 million) in exports, create more than 3,000 rural jobs and reduce seafood imports by FJD$35 million (US$17.5 million).
Speaking at the Fiji Seafood Markets Landscape Assessment Stakeholder Validation Workshop in Suva, Kuridrani said achieving the targets would require investment across the aquaculture sector.
“Achieving this potential will require continued investment in hatcheries, research, farmer training, market infrastructure, and implementation of key policy and legislative frameworks,” she said.
The assessment, supported by WWF-Fiji, Blue Prosperity Fiji and the Waitt Foundation, examines Fiji’s seafood sector, including inshore and offshore fisheries and smaller seafood value chains.
Inshore fisheries produce about 27,000 tonnes of seafood annually, with an estimated value of FJD$138 million (US$69 million), while offshore fisheries generate more than FJD$100 million (US$50 million) in annual catch value and support over 3,000 jobs.
The offshore tuna catch increased by about 46 percent, from 9,697 tonnes in 2023 to an estimated 14,203 tonnes in 2024. The fishery has also maintained its Marine Stewardship Council sustainability certification.
The study examines the recovery of the sea cucumber fishery, which was closed nationally from 2017 to 2022 before reopening in 2026 under a strengthened management framework.
It also identifies opportunities to increase the value of sea grapes, known locally as nama, through village-level drying and processing.
The assessment found that open-air drying racks costing less than FJ$50 and solar dryers costing about FJD$13,780 (US$6,850) could improve the value of nama products and increase earnings for women, who undertake most of the harvesting and processing.
However, the report identifies several barriers to growth, including weak traceability systems, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, limited value-added processing, infrastructure gaps, restricted market access and climate change.
Kuridrani said sustainable fisheries management and fair access to markets were essential to developing the sector.
“Healthy fish stocks, transparent supply chains, responsible business practices, and equitable market opportunities are essential,” she said.
She urged representatives from government, industry, civil society, academia and communities to ensure the assessment reflected practical challenges and opportunities across the sector.
The workshop findings will help guide future responsible seafood initiatives under Fiji’s blue economy agenda…. PACNEWS
MARSH – DISASTER FINACING: ADB PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
ADB provides $6 million to support the Marshall Islands’ response to El Niño-related storms and dengue outbreak
MANILA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (ADB) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released US$6 million in contingent disaster financing to assist the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in responding to the impacts of El Niño-related hazards and a dengue fever outbreak.
The financing is provided through the fifth phase of the regional Pacific Disaster Resilience Program, approved in June 2024. Phase 5 is financed with a US$20 million concessional loan from ADB and a US$21 million grant from the Asian Development Fund, which supports countries most in need to meet today’s challenges while building the foundations for lasting growth.
“The programme has supported the government in implementing important reforms to strengthen policies, institutional arrangements, and systems for disaster risk management and financing,” said ADB North Pacific Advisor Aziz Haydarov.
“The contingent disaster financing ensures quick support to Marshallese people in time of need.”
The Government of the Marshall Islands declared a state of disaster for El Niño and dengue fever on 8 October.
Hazardous winds and swells have caused damage to coastal areas and infrastructure, disrupting communities and essential services, while increasingly dry conditions are placing pressure on water supplies, food security, and livelihoods.
The dengue outbreak, affecting Majuro and Ebeye, is further straining health services and government resources.
Building on previous phases, the program supports the RMI in strengthening its resilience to disasters and shocks related to the changing climate, as well as health emergencies. It fills a disaster financing gap in the Pacific region while supporting policy reforms that align with budgetary planning for recurring and emerging disasters and health emergencies.
ADB assistance for phase 5 comprises a policy-based loan to the Cook Islands; and policy-based grants to the Federated States of Micronesia, the RMI, Tuvalu, and the Republic of Vanuatu…. PACNEWS
PNG – AIRLINE: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Air Nuigini receives licence, to start direct flights to NZ’s Auckland
PORT MORESBY, 11 NOVEMBER 2206 (THE NATIONAL) — Air Niugini has received an international licence from the Transport Department yesterday to commence direct flights to New Zealand’s Auckland next Tuesday.
An International Airline Licence is an official approval issued by the State that allows an airline to operate air services between countries.
It confirms that the carrier has satisfied all relevant regulatory, safety, operational and financial requirements necessary to conduct international passenger operations.
Speaking at the presentation, Transport secretary Mathew Wowoni said: “The presentation of this licence represents a significant milestone for Air Niugini and PNG as the national airline prepares to recommence services to New Zealand after 26 years.
“It is an important step in strengthening air connectivity, trade, tourism and people-to-people links between the two countries.”
Wowoni noted that Air Niugini currently serves most Pacific Island countries and Australia and the addition of New Zealand further strengthened PNG’s connections throughout the region.
Air Niugini chief executive officer Alan Milne thanked the Government for its support and acknowledged the extensive preparation required to launch a new international service.
“Launching an international route requires significant planning and coordination across many areas of the business, including ground handling, catering, logistics, regulatory approvals and bilateral arrangements,” he said.
“State approval is a critical component of that process and we are grateful for the support received.”
Milne said the Auckland route aligns with the airline’s long-term growth strategy and strengthens its regional network.
“New Zealand is an excellent addition to our network and complements Air Niugini’s hub-and-spoke strategy through Port Moresby,” he said.
“The service will strengthen links between Auckland, Papua New Guinea, Australia’s east coast, and destinations throughout the Pacific and Asia, offering greater travel options for both business and leisure customers.”
Air Niugini will operate three services per week, departing Port Moresby every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Flight PX 31 will leave Port Moresby at 9:30am and arrive in Auckland at 6:30pm local time.
Return services will operate every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, departing Auckland at 9:00am and arriving in Port Moresby at 12:00pm. Flight time between Port Moresby and Auckland is approximately five hours and 40 minutes.
Operations will initially be conducted using Air Niugini’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft before transitioning to the airline’s newest fleet type, the Airbus A220-300…. PACNEWS
COOKS – TOURISM INDUSTRY: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Cook Islands govt eyes working holiday to fill jobs in tourism sector
RAROTONGA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration is developing a proposal for a 12-month pilot in 2027 allowing young overseas travellers to take up short-term work in the hospitality industry through a faster, simpler process, with registered employers and clear conditions.
The Cook Islands Restaurant and Hospitality Association (CIRHA) proposed introducing a working holiday visa for short-term employees from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and North America.
The tourism and hospitality sector is the main economic driver for the Cook Islands, accounting for 70 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. New Zealanders make up the majority of the annual visitor arrival, comprising up to 65 percent of total international arrivals.
“We thank the Cook Islands Restaurant and Hospitality Association for its proposal and for the constructive way it has engaged with us,” MFAI’s secretary Elizabeth Wright-Koteka said.
“We appreciate the pressure that staff shortages are placing on hospitality businesses, particularly during the busy season, and we share the industry’s goal of maintaining the standard of service our visitors expect.”
She said that MFAI agreed that Cook Islands’ current immigration settings were largely designed for longer-term employment and not well-suited to short-term seasonal work.
CIRHA president Philip Nordt met with Cook Islands Immigration Minister Tingika Elikana in May with the proposal that would allow the industry to fill the labour gaps.
“Great response and a nice way forward to make this happen for the hospitality industry,” Nordt said about the ministry’s plan for the pilot.
Wright-Koteka said that in designing the pilot, the ministry aimed to balance speed and flexibility for employers with other important considerations.
Elizabeth Wright-Koteka says the proposed pilot aims to help hospitality businesses manage staff shortages while protecting local jobs, worker welfare and community interests. Photo/Cook Islands News
These include protecting job opportunities for Cook Islanders, particularly young people entering the workforce; the welfare of overseas workers; pressure on accommodation; and health and community safety, as well as ensuring that delivery by a small Immigration team will have minimal impacts on the timely processing of other permit applications, including those from the CIRHA’s members.
“Starting with hospitality, over a defined period with proper evaluation, allows us to test the model where the need is greatest. The pilot is subject to government consideration and approval, and we have written to CIRHA and will be inviting them to work with us on the detail,” she added.
“CIRHA’s proposals on youth training and wage support fall largely outside the Immigration mandate have been referred to the relevant agencies. We look forward to continuing to work with CIRHA and the wider tourism industry on practical solutions.’
CIRHA had also proposed a $20 (US$11.60) per hour wage for school-leavers to retain youth and reduce the numbers leaving for New Zealand after school.
The CIHRA proposed the introduction of a fast-tracked tourist visa with work rights, subject to the required medical checks.
Where possible, these medical requirements could be completed while the employees are in the Cook Islands, rather than undergoing the standard work visa process prior to arrival.
This will enable a quick and more efficient turnaround wherever possible for both employers and employees.
The proposal seeks to create a flexible labour support mechanism that assists businesses during seasonal peak demand periods, supports economic growth and tourism service delivery, encourages cultural exchange and international connectivity, provides flexibility for young international travellers, reduces excessive administrative barriers for short-term seasonal workers and strengthens the Cook Islands’ reputation as a modern, progressive Pacific destination.
Nordt said the Cook Islands hospitality and tourism sector experiences severe labour shortages during peak tourism months.
Under the proposal, workers will get an initial permit period of six months, which can be extended to an additional three months.
According to CIHRA, the proposed Working Holiday Permit framework would increase available labour during peak tourism periods.
It added it would also improve customer service standards, support tourism growth targets, increase visitor spending, support small and medium-sized enterprises, increase taxation revenue through business growth, reduce operational stress on existing staff, enhance destination competitiveness and encourage longer visitor stays and repeat visitation…. PACNEWS
AUST – AIRLINE: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Wed 11 Nov 2026
Worker fears as Qantas blames AI impact for 850 job cuts
SYDNEY, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (AAP) — Workers are demanding stronger regulations to protect jobs from a corporate artificial intelligence push after Australia’s largest airline revealed sweeping job cuts.
Qantas will dump 850 positions, including through mass redundancies, after inking a deal with tech consultants Accenture.
Staff were told in an email on Tuesday, with the first phase to affect roles in finance, procurement, human resources and marketing.
Most Accenture services will be delivered in India, although some roles will remain in Australia.
Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson cited unwieldy back office workflows and the impact of AI for the move.
“This is hard news for some,” she wrote.
“[The changes] are about modernising the technology behind our business and becoming more efficient, so we can keep investing in our customers, our people and our future.’
Accenture and Qantas would redesign and simplify the airline’s corporate functions, Hudson said.
“Leading organisations around the world are well progressed in using technology and AI to completely transform how they work, and standing still is not an option,” Hudson said.
Job losses would hit Qantas’s Sydney headquarters hardest, NSW and ACT Australian Services Union secretary Angus McFarland said.
“This should be chilling to not just those workers but all Australians because no Australian benefits from this,” McFarland said.
‘This is skills offshore at our national airline and if they can get away with it, well, anyone can.”
ASU assistant national secretary Scott Cowen said regulations might be needed to protect local jobs in the face of an AI revolution.
Several unions in the services, finance and trades sectors want safeguards ensuring AI implementation in workplaces is complemented with consultation, training and worker protections.
Cowen said workers should be supported through a transition to an AI-based model, similar to retraining and alternative employment opportunities offered to workers in the energy sector as Australia transitions to renewable sources.
“We’re really concerned that this Qantas announcement today is just another example of Australia’s corporate greed and of putting profits first, then workers second,” he said.… 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
Fishing Vessels help fill gaps in Pacific Ocean Observations
On Pacific tuna vessels, sensors attached to fishing gear collect temperature readings in waters that scientists rarely sample. These measurements support weather forecasting, fisheries management and research on tropical cyclones.
By Andrew Wright (SPC), Bipendra Prakash (SPC), Cynthia Wickham (SPC), Simon Nicol (SPC), Moninya Roughan (UNSW Sydney)
SUVA/SYDNEY, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (WMO) — Every day, commercial fishing vessels travel through some of the most remote and poorly observed areas of the Pacific Ocean. Now, some of these vessels are doing more than catching fish: sensors attached to their fishing gear are collecting data from hundreds of metres below the ocean surface.
Through a growing regional network led by the Pacific Community (SPC), these observations are helping fill important gaps in our knowledge of the ocean, while contributing to better weather and climate forecasts and more sustainable fisheries management.
The Pacific Ocean: A global climate engine
The tropical Pacific Ocean is fundamental to Earth’s climate. It is the birthplace of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), influences tropical cyclone development across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, drives atmospheric circulation patterns affecting rainfall on several continents and absorbs a significant proportion of the excess heat generated by climate change.
Understanding these processes depends on sustained observations of the ocean’s physical state. Measurements of sea-surface and subsurface temperature, salinity, currents, sea level and atmospheric conditions underpin weather forecasting, seasonal climate outlooks and long-term climate projections.
Although satellites have transformed our ability to observe the ocean surface, they reveal conditions only within the upper few centimetres. Many of the processes that influence weather, climate and marine ecosystems extend hundreds of metres below the surface. Upper-ocean heat content, for example, is a critical factor in tropical cyclone intensification and the development of ENSO events, which can contribute to severe droughts and water-security challenges across many Pacific Island countries.
Changes in the depth of the ocean layer where temperature drops rapidly (the thermocline) also influence ocean productivity and the distribution of economically important species such as tuna. Improving subsurface observations is therefore essential for advancing operational meteorology, oceanography, fisheries science and climate research worldwide.
Filling critical observation gaps
The Western and Central Pacific Ocean encompasses more than one fifth of the Earth’s surface and supports the world’s largest tuna fishery. Despite its global importance, large areas remain poorly sampled beneath the ocean surface.
Global observing programmes, including Argo profiling floats, research cruises conducted through the Global Ocean Ship-based Hydrographic Investigations Program (GO-SHIP), drifting buoys, tropical moorings and satellites, have transformed our understanding of large-scale ocean processes. However, significant observational gaps remain, particularly within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Pacific Island countries, the areas of ocean where they have rights over marine resources.
Research vessels are expensive and infrequent, merchant ships follow established shipping routes, and autonomous observing systems alone cannot provide the spatial coverage required for many regional applications. Complementary observing approaches are therefore needed to routinely collect high-quality measurements over extensive areas.
Fishing vessels as Ships of Opportunity
In an effort to provide broadscale ocean data coverage in remote areas efficiently and cost effectively, the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) worked with technology company ZebraTech and fishing communities to develop a new data collection system through the Moana Project, a New Zealand Government-funded research initiative aimed at improving understanding and forecasting of the ocean.
Compact temperature-pressure sensors were developed and attached to multiple types of fishing gear to collect high-resolution temperature profiles during fishing. Solar-powered deck units automatically receive, store and transmit observations whenever vessels enter satellite or cellular communication range. The system operates with minimal crew intervention, enabling continuous ocean observations during routine commercial fishing operations.
The data are returned to the fishers first so they can benefit directly from the observations they collect. This system was subsequently adopted by Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) in 2023 where the programme is known as Fishing Vessels as Ships of Opportunity (FishSOOP) and has since expanded internationally.
Building a Pacific observing network
Commercial tuna fishing vessels routinely operate across remote areas of the western and central Pacific where scientific observations are sparse. During normal fishing operations, purse seine nets, used to catch schools of fish, and longlines naturally move through the upper ocean, providing an ideal platform for collecting subsurface environmental observations at depths of up to 400 m. These observations can also provide valuable information about the environmental conditions that influence fisheries.
Building on the successful initiatives in Australia and New Zealand, in 2025 SPC established the Fishing Vessel Observation Network (FVON), a regional implementation of the FishSOOP concept. The initiative forms part of the Pacific Islands Global Ocean Observing System (PI-GOOS), the Pacific regional component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).
SPC has collaborated with UNSW Sydney, IMOS, ZebraTech (New Zealand), national fisheries administrations, fishing industry associations and commercial tuna fishing companies to establish a regional observing network based on voluntary participation. Fishing companies have embraced the initiative because it improves understanding of the environmental conditions influencing tuna distribution, while also providing a practical demonstration of the industry’s contribution to global ocean science.
Designed to operate automatically with little disruption to commercial activities, the programme does not collect catch or fishing effort information from participating vessels. Oceanographic observations are anonymized before entering scientific databases and made available to users in near real time.
Expanding the network
Since the first installations on six Papua New Guinea-based purse seine vessels in early 2025, FVON has expanded rapidly across the Pacific.
By August 2026, 40 commercial tuna vessels had been instrumented, including eight purse seiners and 32 longline vessels, operating from six SPC members: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. Equipment had also been positioned in Tonga and the Federated States of Micronesia to support further expansion in northern regions across Micronesia.
Participating vessels had completed 4 346 subsurface temperature profiles, generating more than 3.83 million individual temperature observations across the Bismarck Sea, Solomon Sea, North Pacific Ocean and South Pacific Ocean. Fiji currently contributes the largest proportion of observations, followed by Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, providing unprecedented coverage in regions where subsurface measurements have historically been limited.
Ocean observations for better forecasts
The value of FVON extends well beyond fisheries. Following quality assurance, observations are assimilated into operational oceanographic databases and numerical modelling systems. Data are delivered in real time to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) through the Global Telecommunication System, allowing them to be used in operational ocean and atmospheric forecasts. They are also available for regional ocean prediction and research.
FVON data complement observations from Argo floats, research vessels, drifting buoys and satellites, supporting estimates of upper-ocean heat content, model validation and ocean analyses used in weather forecasting, seasonal outlooks and climate projections. Better representation of upper-ocean conditions can also enhance forecasts of tropical cyclone intensity, marine heatwaves and seasonal climate variability, including drought.
Testing the value for cyclone forecasts
FVON is also contributing to the GOOS Ocean Observing Co-Design Tropical Cyclone Exemplar Project, an international initiative designed to improve tropical cyclone forecasting through better integration of ocean observations, forecasting systems and user requirements. In a South Pacific pilot study, SPC and PI-GOOS are collaborating with partners including the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Rutgers University and UNSW to assess how FVON observations can strengthen ocean analyses and coupled forecasting systems used for tropical cyclone prediction. The work is being carried out in consultation with the WMO Regional Association V Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South Pacific and South East Indian Ocean.
A key focus is understanding how better measurements of upper-ocean temperature and heat content can influence forecasts of cyclone intensity and rapid intensification. FVON temperature profiles are being compared with outputs from operational ocean models, alongside observations from Argo profiling floats and other observing platforms to assess their contribution to forecast skill and identify opportunities for improved data assimilation.
Supporting sustainable fisheries
Ocean observations are equally important for sustainable fisheries management. The Western and Central Pacific supplies more than half of the world’s tuna catch, making it one of the most valuable fisheries globally. Tuna distribution is closely linked to oceanographic conditions, and SPC has invested extensively in ecosystem models such as the Spatial Ecosystem and Population Dynamics Model (SEAPODYM) to understand how climate variability and fishing pressure influence tuna populations.
FVON observations improve validation of these models, increasing confidence in projections of future tuna distribution in a changing climate and supporting adaptive fisheries management by Pacific Island countries and regional fisheries management organisations. Better forecasts ultimately strengthen food security, national economies and the resilience of communities that depend on tuna resources.
A Pacific contribution to global ocean observing
Since its launch as a pilot project, FVON has grown into a regional observing network that is already delivering millions of high-quality ocean observations each year.
Its significance extends well beyond the Pacific. Through PI-GOOS, SPC is helping integrate Pacific observing priorities within GOOS, while strengthening collaboration with WMO, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IOC-UNESCO) and other international observing programmes.
By the end of 2026, SPC aims to have installed instrumentation on 70 commercial tuna fishing vessels operating throughout the EEZs of up to 12 SPC Members. This expansion will substantially increase the density and geographic coverage of upper-ocean observations across one of the world’s most climatically significant yet under-observed maritime regions.
Future development will extend beyond subsurface temperature to include additional physical, biological and bioacoustic observations (which use sound to detect and study marine life), further strengthening ocean data collection, operational oceanography, ecosystem assessment and climate research.
FVON demonstrates how regional organisations, individual fishers and companies can contribute to global ocean observing. As the climate changes, sustained ocean observations will become increasingly important for improving weather forecasts, strengthening climate services, supporting sustainable fisheries and helping communities adapt…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Yearbook of Global Climate Action 2026 provides new evidence that climate action is delivering results and driving implementation
ANTALYA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (UNFCCC) — Climate action by cities, regions, businesses and civil society continues to drive implementation, with progress made on 44 global indicators aligned with the first global stocktake. This is one of the key findings of the 2026 Yearbook of Global Climate Action, launched by UN Climate Change Monday.
“This Yearbook shows how businesses, cities, communities, and more are turning global commitments into change that people are seeing, feeling and benefiting from,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell. “But we can and must go much further, faster. COP 31 must help scale up solutions, mobilize finance and bring the benefits of climate action to many more people.”
Celebrating the 10 years of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, the 2026 Yearbook comes at an important moment, as COP 31 is expected to have a strong focus on driving real-economy progress through the Global Climate Action Agenda, in parallel with – and complementary to – the progress needed through formal negotiations.
Following the structure of the COP 31 Action Agenda and its six thematic priorities, the Yearbook presents the latest data and trends on 96 global socio-economic indicators aligned with the first global stocktake, as well as snapshots of climate action – particularly by businesses in key sectors, sub-national governments and others.
The global indicators, aimed at strengthening transparency and comparability over the years, show the latest data available and highlight progress and gaps under the six axes. Momentum is visible across areas, with increasing renewable energy capacity, slowing deforestation, and growth in various adaptation measures. However, several gaps remain, for instance in oil and gas methane emissions and food loss, and the lack of global indicators across key areas is another limitation to address.
The 2026 edition of the Yearbook also draws on a record number of progress reports collected through the Non-State Actor Zone for Climate Action (NAZCA), with 83 Cooperative Climate Initiatives (CCIs) reporting more than 200 actions. Self-reported actions showcase how initiatives can measure and demonstrate the delivery of concrete results, thereby strengthening transparency and supporting greater implementation of climate action.
The latest data on Plans to Accelerate Solutions (or PAS, multi-stakeholder workplans summarizing key actions and voluntary commitments to accelerate implementation), also shows that the Action Agenda is advancing, with 84 percent of PAS reporting progress after one year of implementation.
Launched during the first week of COP 31 (taking place from 9-20 November in Antalya, Türkiye), the Yearbook is published annually by UN Climate Change and highlights progress and gaps in climate action, showcasing concrete initiatives by non-Party stakeholders to inspire further action and raise ambition.
This year, the Yearbook is launched in a new online format and will be updated to reflect key outcomes on Global Climate Action at COP31.
When adopting the Paris Agreement in 2015, Parties also welcomed the efforts of non-Party stakeholders to address climate change and appointed two High-Level Champions to scale up initiatives and actions and strengthen collaboration.
At COP 29, the mandate of the Climate High-Level Champions was renewed until 2030. At COP 30, a five-year vision for 2026-2030 was launched to guide the work looking forward and accelerate implementation.
First launched in 2016, the Marrakech Partnership, under the leadership of the Climate High-Level Champions, has been enabling collaboration between governments and cities, regions, businesses and investors acting on climate change.
UN Climate Change tracks and recogniSes climate action through its NAZCA Evidence Portal, an online platform tracking individual climate action by businesses, organisations, cities, subnational governments and regions, as well as collective forms of climate action…. PACNEWS
The Yearbook of Global Climate Action 2026 is available online https://unfccc.int/resource/yearbook-global-climate-action-2026/
For media enquiries, please contact: globalclimateaction@unfccc.int
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Solomon Islands Moves from EITI Membership to Action with International Support for Transparent Natural Resource Governance
HONIARA, 11 NOVEMBER 2026 (UNDP) — More than 50 representatives of government, mining companies, civil society, development partners, students and other stakeholders gathered in Honiara on 03 November for strategic consultations marking an important step in Solomon Islands’ journey towards transparent and accountable management of its natural resources.
Organised by the Solomon Islands Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (SI-EITI) National Secretariat, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with financial support from the United Kingdom, the event took place alongside the first mission of the EITI International Secretariat to the country since its admission as an implementing country.
On 16 September 2026, Solomon Islands was formally welcomed as the 56th implementing country of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), following the EITI Board’s Decision 2026-34. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the country’s renewed commitment to strengthening transparency, accountability and public participation in the governance of its natural resources, particularly as the extractive sector assumes an increasingly important role in its economic development prospects.
The November consultations focused on translating this commitment into a practical national implementation agenda. With technical guidance from the EITI International Secretariat, participants examined the requirements of the EITI Standard, the responsibilities of the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) and the proposed implementation roadmap.
Discussions also explored national priorities for the next three to five years and helped inform the preparation of the 2027 SI-EITI Work Plan, including activities, responsibilities, institutional capacity needs and resource requirements.
The breadth of participation reflected the importance of bringing government, industry and civil society together in shaping the country’s EITI process. As a multi-stakeholder initiative, EITI provides a platform for these constituencies to work collectively, improve access to information and promote informed public dialogue about the extractive industries.
Representing the Government of Solomon Islands, Selwyn Takana, Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that EITI implementation reflects national priorities and strengthens transparency, accountability and public participation in the management of the country’s natural resources.
“Solomon Islands’ admission to EITI is an important achievement, but the real value will come from how we implement it. We must ensure that this process reflects our national priorities, involves all stakeholders and strengthens the way we manage our natural resources for the benefit of our people.”
Solomon Kalu, UNDP Programme Specialist for Inclusive Governance and Economic Growth, highlighted UNDP’s commitment to supporting the Government and SI-EITI National Secretariat in translating the country’s EITI membership into meaningful action through strengthened institutions, inclusive stakeholder engagement and effective partnerships.
“EITI membership provides Solomon Islands with an important opportunity to strengthen transparency and accountability in a sector that will increasingly shape the country’s development. Our priority is to support the Government and the SI-EITI National Secretariat in translating this commitment into a credible, nationally owned process – one that strengthens institutions, promotes meaningful participation and enables citizens to better understand how the country’s natural resources are managed. We are pleased to do this in partnership with the United Kingdom, whose support is helping build the foundations for effective EITI implementation.”
The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Solomon Islands’ next phase of EITI implementation. Mr. Paul Turner, British High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, said: “The UK is pleased to support Solomon Islands as it takes forward the next step in implementation of the EITI. EITI gives clear wins for the Government in terms of tax revenue; for local communities in terms of having a stronger voice in mining decisions; and for mining companies themselves in terms of expanding their export markets.”
The EITI International Secretariat’s mission brought international expertise and practical guidance at a critical moment, helping national stakeholders consider the requirements and opportunities of implementation and identify priorities for the road ahead.
Effective EITI implementation can help improve the availability of information on extractive-sector activities and revenues, strengthen public oversight and support more informed decisions about the use and distribution of natural resource wealth. It can also contribute to building trust between government, companies and communities, ensuring that the country’s resource development is guided by transparency, accountability and inclusive participation.
Solomon Islands’ EITI journey is now entering a new phase. Through the leadership of national institutions and continued collaboration between the Government, SI-EITI National Secretariat, UNDP, the United Kingdom and the wider EITI stakeholder community, the country has an opportunity to turn its membership commitment into tangible progress towards responsible natural resource governance and sustainable development for all Solomon Islanders…. PACNEWS
