In this bulletin:
- PACIFIC — Tuvalu, tiny Pacific nation at the forefront of climate crisis, to host world leaders before Cop31 summit
- PACIFIC — Typhoon left a trail of damage across the Northern Mariana Islands
- FIJI — Suva falls silent as nation honours former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau in final journey
- UN — Developing countries band together as Iran war batters global economy
- PACIFIC — Pacific hopes rise: Faith, justice and the ocean
- PACNEWS BIZ — Tuvalu Leaders Reset Development Agenda at Mid-Term Summit
- FIJI — Concerns raised over $1.4b waste project without national plan
- PACIFIC — PCF launches Pacific collaborative futures in a major strategic reset
- PACNEWS BIZ — Allowing Starlink now risks $50m debt burden on Palau: President Whipps
- PACNEWS BIZ — Strengthening Fisheries Management in Vanuatu
- PACNEWS DIGEST — Commonwealth support strengthens voice of member countries in deep-sea mining talks
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: THE GUARDIAN PACNEWS 2: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Tuvalu, tiny Pacific nation at the forefront of climate crisis, to host world leaders before Cop31 summit
FUNAFUTI/CANBERRA, 16 APRIL 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) —Tuvalu, the Pacific nation at the forefront of the global climate crisis, will host a special meeting of world leaders before this year’s Cop31 summit, as the conference president expresses “complete faith” in Chris Bowen to lead tough negotiations.
Turkey’s climate minister, Murat Kurum, is president-designate for the November summit, set to see world leaders meet in Antalya to thrash out new targets for cutting carbon emissions.
After a drawn-out fight with Australia over hosting rights, Kurum used his first letter to global partners overnight to announce plans for the pre-summit meeting to take place in Fiji in October.
He and Bowen, Australia’s energy and emissions minister, will also convene a special leaders’ event in Tuvalu as part of the preparations.
The main leaders’ summit will take place in Antalya, Turkey, on 11-12 November, part of a joint model agreed between the Albanese government and the administration of Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Kurum said Bowen and the administration of Turkey’s president had shared purpose and would work with sincere cooperation.
“I have complete faith in his work,” Kurum said of Bowen, who will have “exclusive authority” over negotiations.
“To advance the fight against climate change, help boost climate resilience and accelerate the clean energy transition, already under way and irreversible, yet needing to progress more rapidly, we will bring together our diplomatic, geopolitical and economic strengths.”
Before the Cop31 summit, Bowen met with Germany’s state secretary for environment and climate action, Jochen Flasbarth, in Canberra to discuss preparations and the global energy shock emanating from the Middle East.
Flasbarth told Guardian Australia the war in Iran and moves by European countries to lift defence spending must not distract from global efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
He said the world should seek faster electrification of heavy freight transport, manufacturing and household technologies.
“This is all horrible but, on top of this disaster in the Middle East, it takes away the attention that is so desperately needed for global challenges, which will not disappear just because there is war,” Flasbarth said.
“This situation might create a new momentum for the Cop in Antalya, that countries are more open, including also those who were a little bit reluctant that we need to do the next steps to transition away from fossil fuels.”
Renewables make up about 60 percent of Germany’s energy supply, with coal accounting for about 22 percent in 2024. The country’s last coal-fired plants are due to be phased out by 2038, though some have been brought back online in recent weeks due to the crisis from the closure of the strait of Hormuz.
Flasbarth said, like in Australia, faster efforts to promote electrification were essential, including in passenger and freight vehicle technology.
“Electrification is the key track we all need to use,” he said.
“We started too late. We should have started this transformation much earlier and now our companies are surprised that China is faster. But nobody forced our industry to be so reluctant to invest in electric vehicles and I’m sure we will catch up … because it’s one of the backbones of our national industries.”
Darling Downs cattle and cropping farmer Sally Higgins has been named as the summit’s youth climate champion. The talks will feature core principles of “dialogue, consensus and action”…..PACNEWS
PAC – TYPHOON DAMAGE: AP PACNEWS 2: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Typhoon left a trail of damage across the Northern Mariana Islands
SAIPAN, 16 APRIL 2026 (AP)—The super typhoon in the Pacific Ocean that hammered the Northern Mariana Islands flipped over cars, toppled utility poles and ripped away tin roofs. So far, there have been no reports of deaths.
Authorities were just beginning to assess the damage left behind by Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which first hit the islands Tuesday night local time and continued with a barrage of fierce winds and relentless rains for hours Wednesday.
Power was out and many of the roads were impassable across Saipan, a U.S territory that’s the largest of the Mariana Islands and home to about 43,000 people, according to local officials.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said water outages were reported on some of the islands. The agency planned to send more personnel to the region and ramp up shipments of supplies.
The storm also battered Guam, another U.S. territory and the site of several American military bases, with tropical force winds.
In an AP interview, AccuWeather meteorologist Jason Nicholls says Super Typhoon Sinlaku has caused damage across the island of Saipan.
The typhoon — the strongest tropical cyclone on Earth this year — was packing sustained winds of up to 150 mph (240 kph) when it made landfall on the islands, the National Weather Service said.
The monster storm still had winds of 125 mph (200 kph) late Wednesday night as it pulled away to the north from the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota, the weather service said. Sinlaku is expected start curving toward sparsely populated volcanic islands in the far northern Marianas.
It was still very windy and rainy roughly 24 hours after the typhoon rattled the islands, but much better than the previous night, said Jaden Sanchez, spokesperson for the Saipan mayor’s office.
Preliminary reports include a lot of flooding, uprooted trees and downed power lines, but no deaths, he said.
Images from Saipan showed residential lots littered with debris and mangled trees. Winds crumbled metal bleachers at a sports field.
Resident Dong Min Lee shot video of a car sitting on top of two others in his apartment building’s parking lot. The winds tore off part of his balcony railing.
The American Red Cross and its partners were sheltering more than 1,000 residents across Guam and the Northern Marianas, agency spokesperson Stephanie Fox said……PACNEWS
FIJI- TRIBUTE: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 2: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Suva falls silent as nation honours former President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau in final journey
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (FIJI GOVT) —The funeral cortege of the late former President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, was solemnly escorted through the streets of Suva, drawing large crowds of mourners who gathered to pay their final respects.
Escorted with full military honours by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the cortege moved in a slow and dignified procession along key city routes. Members of the disciplined forces stood in formation, paying tribute to a leader who dedicated much of his life to national service, both in uniform and in public office.
Hundreds lined the streets from early morning—government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, students, and the general public—many dressed in black or traditional attire. Some stood in silence, while others bowed their heads or offered prayers as the cortege passed, reflecting a deep sense of national mourning and respect.
The procession was marked by ceremonial precision, with the casket draped in the national flag, symbolising Ratu Epeli’s lifelong commitment to Fiji. The slow march through the capital served not only as a final farewell, but also as a moment of unity, allowing Fijians from all walks of life to honour his legacy of leadership, humility, and service.
The cortege concluded at the State House, where the late former President lay in state ahead of official funeral proceedings and traditional ceremonies, accorded the highest honours befitting a former Head of State…. PACNEWS
UN – ECONOMY: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Developing countries band together as Iran war batters global economy
WASHINGTON, 16 APRIL 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) —Developing countries are banking on having a stronger voice in debt negotiations, following the launch of a new country-led borrowing initiative on Wednesday on the margins of the annual IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings.
The economic shockwaves of the Middle East conflict are reaching far beyond the region, from import-reliant Caribbean nations to Island States in the Pacific, where spiking oil prices are having a knock-on effect on the cost of food and other essentials, hitting low-income families particularly hard.
According to UN analysis, the military escalation could push more than 30 million people into poverty worldwide, undoing years of development work.
This makes the creation of the Borrowers’ Platform, a member-state initiative supported by the UN trade agency (UNCTAD), particularly timely.
The problem it’s designed to address has been years in the making, with the cost of paying back debts soaring for developing countries over the last decade.
Least developed countries pay nearly a quarter of their revenue to external creditors, and 54 countries, home to 3.4 billion people, now spend more on debt than on health or education. In 2024, the collective external debt burden of developing nations reached US$11.7 trillion.
The Platform, which is open to borrower nations of all sizes across different stages of development and indebtedness, will allow them to share knowledge and amplify their collective voice.
It will also strengthen their ability to respond to debt challenges.
On Wednesday, at an event in Washington DC to launch the group, UN Secretary-General António Guterres – whose Expert Group on Debt proposed the idea for the Platform in 2025 – described the initiative as a “breakthrough in global financing,” comparable to long-established groups for creditor countries, such as the Paris Club, the London Club and the Institute of International Finance.
Guterres pointed out that borrowers have often been excluded from discussions about their own debt levels, finding themselves paying, on average, interest rates that are more than twice as high as those faced by advanced economies.
This, he said, “leaves developing countries at a distinct disadvantage in accessing the financing they need, which is another clear example of the inequality lurking at the heart of the global financial architecture.”
The UN chief addressed the “intensifying pressures” caused by the war in the Middle East, which is leading to rising raw material costs, slower growth and strained supply chains, on top of higher fuel prices.
The Platform, he said, will help the borrower countries to share specialist knowledge about debt restructuring; give them the tools to engage with their creditors on equal terms; send a clear market signal to creditors – potentially lowering borrowing costs – and put them at the centre of discussions going forward.
“Developing countries are rising economic actors,” argued Guterres, “and global governance must adapt accordingly.”…PACNEWS
PAC – CHURCH: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 2: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Pacific hopes rise: Faith, justice and the ocean
SUVA, 16 APRIL 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —As rising seas force displacement across the region, Pacific church leaders have gathered in Suva, Fiji, to reclaim resurrection.
This is not abstract theology, but a justice-shaped hope rooted in ocean, community, and struggle.
World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Reverend Professor Jerry Pillay, told church leaders the Pacific Ocean was a sacred space.
Pillay said the ocean’s survival was inseparable from the lives, identities, and spirituality of Pacific peoples.
He made the comments as the Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting opened while delivering a sermon titled “Resurrection Hope in the Pacific: Life Rising from the Ocean of Struggle.”
Pillay said the ocean was far more than water for Pacific communities, describing it as memory, story, and identity that connect generations and islands.
“Yet today this sacred space is under threat,” Pillay said, pointing to rising sea levels, ecological destruction, and climate‑driven displacement across the region.
He said the challenges facing Pacific peoples must be understood as more than environmental concerns.
“In the language of the WCC, this is not only an environmental crisis—it is a matter of justice, dignity, and life in fullness for all,” Pillay said.
Linking Christian theology to lived Pacific realities, Pillay said resurrection should be understood as God’s commitment to life amid injustice, rather than simply Christ’s victory over death.
“In the Pacific, the ocean speaks,” he said.
“It speaks of life, beauty, and abundance—but today it also speaks of crisis.”
Pillay echoed the WCC’s long‑standing call for churches to hear “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” stressing that the struggles of Pacific communities are inseparable from the global climate emergency.
“It does not matter whether you are in Fiji, Geneva, Africa, or anywhere else on the earth,” he said.
“We are together family, part of God’s creation.”
He said resurrection hope does not deny suffering but names it truthfully, while affirming that God is bringing forth new life even amid loss and displacement.
Drawing on Pacific navigation traditions, Pillay described the church not as a static institution, but as a pilgrim people—an image he said resonates deeply across the region.
“Island peoples have always been navigators,” he said.
“Crossing vast oceans, trusting currents and stars, moving together as community.”
He acknowledged that many Pacific communities today are again on the move, with some forced to relocate as rising seas threaten their ancestral lands.
He shared a story from Kiribati about a community that gathered for worship before relocating, taking sand from their ancestral shore and carrying it with them—a symbol of faith, identity, and continuity.
“Resurrection transforms displacement into pilgrimage with God,” Pillay said.
He said the WCC understands salvation not as an individual experience, but as communal and cosmic, encompassing the renewal of the whole web of life.
“Resurrection is not passive comfort,” he said. “It is active resistance to death‑dealing powers.”
Pillay said Pacific churches have increasingly become prophetic voices in global forums, bringing lived experience to international conversations on justice, climate change, and human dignity.
“Resurrection hope in the Pacific is not abstract theology,” he said.
“It is lived reality.”
He concluded by affirming that the Pacific will not be defined by loss, but by life, calling on church leaders to listen together for what the Spirit is saying to the churches of the region.
The Pacific Church Leaders’ Meeting, held from 13-17 April at the Pasifika Communities University, continues to bring together regional church leaders to reflect on faith, justice, and the Pacific’s future…. PACNEWS
TUVALU – GOVT: PACNEWS/TUVALU GOVT PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Tuvalu Leaders Reset Development Agenda at Mid-Term Summit
FUNAFUTI, 16 APRIL 2026 (PACNEWS/TUVALU GOVT) —Leaders across Tuvalu have wrapped up a key national summit reviewing progress on the country’s long-term development plan, with a renewed push for unity and action heading into the next five years.
Held from 9–10 April, the Mid-Term Review Summit of ‘Te Kete’ — Tuvalu’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2021–2030 — brought together voices from the outer islands, women, youth, civil society, NGOs, the private sector and government.
Under the theme “A Peaceful, Resilient and Prosperous Tuvalu,” the meeting assessed progress from 2021 to 2025, while setting priorities for the next phase through to 2030.
Discussions over two days focused on the strategy’s five priority areas — enabling environment, economic development, social development, island and cultural development, and infrastructure.
Leaders acknowledged progress but also flagged emerging challenges, stressing the need to better align these priorities with the Government’s 21 Priority Areas to keep national efforts coordinated and responsive.
The summit closed with the endorsement of an Outcome Statement, with all stakeholders committing to its full implementation.
Prime Minister Feleti Teo and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Panapasi Nelesone highlighted the importance of collective action.
They stressed that unity and shared responsibility will be critical to delivering “a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Tuvalu” for all…. PACNEWS
FIJI – INCENRATOR PROJECT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Concerns raised over $1.4b waste project without national plan
NADI, 16 APRIL 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji’s proposed $1.4 billion(US$700 million) waste-to-energy (WtE) incinerator is moving forward without a national waste management plan, raising concerns about oversight of one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects.
Members of the TNG Objection Taskforce say the proposal by The Next Generation Holdings Fiji Pte Limited (TNG) is not aligned with any overarching national framework, despite its wide-ranging environmental, economic, and social implications.
At the update meeting of the TNG project objection taskforce in Vuda last Saturday, taskforce second chair and adviser Jim Dunn said the absence of national legislation leaves waste management fragmented across municipal councils.
“Under current legislation, because we don’t have a national waste management plan, waste management is left to municipalities,” Dunn said.
“Each town has its own plans, linking in areas like Nadi and Lautoka. It’s not coming under a national framework, which leads to inefficiencies.”
He said a project of this scale should be guided by a cohesive national strategy to ensure accountability and long-term planning.
Dunn also stressed that concerns extended beyond waste volumes to heritage, tourism, and long-term impacts on communities.
“There is concern for future generations, land, the heritage economy, health, tourism, and livelihoods.
“Vuda-Saweni is acknowledged Fiji-wide as a heritage site; it’s the First Landing, the history of this area.
“This project will downplay and diminish the uniqueness of this area, and we in tourism development are trying to showcase it as an important part of Fiji’s history, heritage, and culture,” he said.
He said the lack of a national framework elevated the issue from a local development to one of national significance.
Taskforce member and Saweni resident Ron Blake said the proposal was being presented as a local solution while addressing a broader regional issue.
“They’re trying to present themselves as coming to help us sort out our rubbish, but the reality is Fiji is being used to solve a regional problem,” Blake said.
“We’re talking about 700 tonnes of imported rubbish compared to the 200 tonnes we face locally, so they are twisting the whole thing to actually make it like they are saving us,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PCF PACNEWS 2: Thu 16 Apr 2026
PCF launches Pacific collaborative futures in a major strategic reset
AUCKLAND, 16 APRIL 2026 (PCF)—A major strategic reset for one of Aotearoa’s longest‑standing Pacific organisations, the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF), has announced a refreshed strategic identity and public‑facing name — Pacific Collaborative Futures — marking a significant shift in how the organisation positions itself across Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific region.
The shift from Pacific Cooperation Foundation to Pacific Collaborative Futures reflects PCF’s dynamic, partnership‑driven identity and its commitment to strengthening Pacific futures. The repositioning is not a rebrand, but a strategic reset designed to make PCF’s role clear and compelling for a new generation of decision‑makers, funders, and regional partners.
PCF’s Vision and Mission remain unchanged. The acronym PCF will be retained.
The refreshed identity strengthens PCF’s ability to articulate its unique role as an independent connector, catalyst, convener and influencer across the Pacific region.
“This repositioning gives us the clarity and confidence to meet the moment. Pacific Collaborative Futures reflects who we are today — an independent connector, catalyst and convener — and the role we must play in strengthening Pacific capability, leadership and collaboration across the Pacific region. Our focus is on turning evidence and dialogue into action, and ensuring Pacific people are equipped and supported to shape their own futures,” said Joanna Bourke, Chief Executive, Pacific Collaborative Futures.
The repositioning elevates three flagship areas that demonstrate PCF’s distinctive value:
- Pacific Talent, Leadership & Workforce Pathways
Supporting Pacific scholars and interns — including Manaaki scholars — to gain work experience, leadership capability, and employability skills so they return home ready to contribute to national development.
- Evidence, Insight & Convening
PCF’s Perceptions Report remains a unique insights product in Aotearoa, providing evidence and dialogue that strengthen Pacific identity, deepen relationships, and amplify Pacific voices.
- Pacific Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Youth‑centred, diaspora‑focused entrepreneurship programmes — including capability‑building cohorts in Asia — that position PCF as a safe, relatable, future‑focused partner for emerging Pacific leaders.
What changes today:
*PCF will begin using Pacific Collaborative Futures as its public‑facing name.
*Website and social channels will be updated to reflect the new positioning.
*A visual identity map summarising the new strategic framework is available for media use.
No logo or design changes are being made at this stage……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PALAU – STARLINK: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Allowing Starlink now risks $50M debt burden on Palau: President Whipps
KOROR, 16 APRIL 2026 (ISLAND TIMES)—Questions over why Starlink is not allowed to operate in parts of Palau without internet access were raised, but national leaders say a temporary ban is necessary to protect the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and financial stability.
A law enacted by the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) places a moratorium on new telecommunications operators entering the Palau market until 2028, a move President Surangel Whipps Jr. said is designed to safeguard state-owned corporations Belau Submarine Cable Corporation (BSCC) and Palau National Communications Corporation (PNCC).
The restriction comes as some areas remain without reliable internet service, prompting calls for alternatives such as Starlink to fill coverage gaps. However, Whipps warned that allowing new entrants—particularly companies with direct-to-consumer models—could destabilize Palau’s existing telecom system.
Before the country was connected to a submarine cable network, Palau relied on costly satellite services. To improve connectivity and reduce long-term costs, the government established BSCC, which secured loans to build the nation’s first submarine fiber-optic cable. The system became operational in December 2017.
In 2019, Palau pursued a second submarine cable to ensure redundancy. Financing agreements were signed in May 2020 with Export Finance Australia, the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC).
Whipps said BSCC has already begun repaying loans for the second cable, with PNCC as its largest customer. He cautioned that introducing new competitors such as Starlink could erode PNCC’s customer base and revenue, placing both companies at risk of insolvency.
“If both companies go bankrupt, we Palauans will bear the cost because they belong to us,” Whipps said. “If we don’t pay through service, we will pay as taxpayers because they are our debts. We provided a 100% guarantee.”
The president said Palau could face significant fiscal consequences if BSCC fails to meet its obligations, including the possibility of raising the Palau Goods and Services Tax (PGST) by 2% to cover an estimated US$50 million loan.
Both BSCC and PNCC are fully Palauan-owned, while there is no Palauan ownership in Starlink, officials noted.
Whipps also pointed to ongoing infrastructure development, including PNCC’s 5G and Open Radio Access Network project funded by the United States. Once completed, alongside the activation of the second submarine cable, he said PNCC is expected to deliver high-quality service capable of competing globally.
“Ultimately, PNCC will have the best services and Starlink cannot compete,” he said.
Minister Charles Obichang, whose ministry regulates the communications sector, urged caution, saying Palau should learn from other Pacific nations and avoid decisions that could bring unintended long-term consequences.
The moratorium, officials say, is intended to provide time for Palau’s existing telecom investments to stabilise—balancing the urgent need for expanded internet access with the financial risks of opening the market too quickly…..PACNEWS
PAC – FISHERIES: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 16 Apr 2026
Strengthening Fisheries Management in Vanuatu
PORT VILA, 16 APRIL 2026 (FFA)—The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), in partnership with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), recently co-facilitated a three-day Fisheries Management Context Workshop in Port Vila from 31 March – 02 April 2026.
The workshop brought together 18 participants – 10 men and 8 women from the Vanuatu Fisheries Department, including Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) officers, fisheries data specialists, senior fisheries officials, and industry representatives. The sessions aimed to strengthen national fisheries management systems in line with the MSC Fisheries Standard.
Over the three days, participants reviewed existing decision-making frameworks, compliance and enforcement systems, and monitoring processes to identify areas for improvement ahead of upcoming MSC surveillance audits.
Discussions also focused on strengthening documentation, transparency, and evidence systems needed to demonstrate sustainable fisheries management.
Key outcomes included identifying ways to improve decision-making processes, enhance monitoring and enforcement systems, and strengthen traceability across fisheries data systems. Participants also outlined priority actions to help ensure the continued sustainability and effective governance of tuna fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
FFA remains committed to supporting its members through technical assistance, capacity building, and regional collaboration to ensure Pacific fisheries remain sustainable, transparent, and globally competitive.
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This workshop was supported through the Oceanic Fisheries Management Project III and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Common Oceans Tuna Project……PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Commonwealth support strengthens voice of member countries in deep-sea mining talks
KINGSTON, 16 APRIL 2206 (COMSEC)—As global demand for critical minerals accelerates, Commonwealth countries are working to ensure that the emerging deep seabed mining industry is governed not just by opportunity but by fairness, sustainability, and shared benefits.
At the 31st Session of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) held in Jamaica from 09–19 March, negotiations on draft regulations for mining in international waters entered a crucial stage. These discussions will determine how resources beneath the ocean floor, considered the ‘common heritage of humankind’, are managed for generations to come.
For many Commonwealth developing countries and small states, the stakes are significant. Deep seabed minerals could support economic development and the global clean energy transition, but only if strong environmental safeguards and equitable governance frameworks are in place.
Led by Dr Chilenye Nwapi, Legal Adviser and Team Lead, Victor Kitange, Economic Adviser, in the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Energy and Natural Resources Section, the Secretariat provided hands-on technical support throughout the Session. This included analysing evolving draft regulations, supporting national interventions and strengthening coordination, particularly within the African Group of States at the ISA, to help countries navigate complex legal, environmental and economic issues and engage effectively in the negotiations.
Ahead of the negotiations, Dr Nwapi said: “Our role is to ensure that Commonwealth countries are not only present in these negotiations, but able to engage effectively and shape outcomes that reflect sustainability, equity and their long-term development priorities.”
This year’s negotiations were particularly intensive, addressing a wide range of issues, from environmental protections and benefit-sharing mechanisms to financial models and regulatory oversight. For many Commonwealth developing nations and small states, the pace and technical depth of discussions present ongoing challenges, underscoring the importance of sustained support.
The Secretariat supports more than 25 member states each year in these complex negotiations, helping those with limited technical capacity to participate on a more equal footing. This sustained support is vital to securing inclusive and balanced outcomes as global rules for seabed resources take shape.
Speaking on behalf of the Kiribati delegation, Tieri Tamoa, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, said:“This assistance has been instrumental in ensuring that smaller delegations, such as ours, are able to participate on a more equal footing in complex negotiations that would shape the governance of mineral resources in the international seabed area for years to come,” adding that “we particularly appreciate [the Secretariat team’s] responsiveness, professionalism and depth of expertise throughout.”
By empowering its member states to participate meaningfully, the Commonwealth Secretariat is helping to shape a balanced global framework, one that recognises both the opportunities of seabed resources and the responsibility to protect fragile marine ecosystems.
As negotiations continue, the Commonwealth remains committed to ensuring that its member states can pursue sustainable economic opportunities while safeguarding the ocean for future generations……PACNEWS
