COP27: leaders urged not to ‘backslide’ on commitments
World leaders have been urged not to backslide on commitments to cut emissions and to deliver on pledges to help smaller countries deal with the impact of the climate crisis. The messages came from speakers during the
New UN climate report ‘a chronicle of chaos’: UN chief
The latest report from the UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), released on Sunday, shows that the last eight years have been the warmest on record, fuelled by ever-rising greenhouse gas concentrations. The
Keeping the Paris promise alive: Henry Puna
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says the pressure is on major emitters and all other G20 nations to ensure COP27 keeps the Paris promise alive. “More than any other COP since the 1.5 net zero
Pacific nations want compensation commitment at COP27, Samoa MP says
Samoa’s environment minister says Pacific island nations want the international climate talks in Egypt this month to establish a basis for compensating developing countries for losses caused by climate change. Pacific
Pacific Elders Group calls for action in Cairo
The Pacific Elders Group is calling for urgent action at upcoming climate talks in Egypt “to enable nations to implement the agreed goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement.” The group is calling for the
PIANGO: Prioritise progress on loss and damage
The Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (PIANGO) wants greater action on mitigation, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ahead of the COP27 climate conference. PIANGO says this requires the
More funding needed for climate adaptation: UNEP
Countries must urgently ramp up action to adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change, as efforts now are too little and too slow, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in its latest report, published
‘Til death do us part: Village holds out against the waves
As the sun sets over Vanua Levu, Fiji’s second largest island, a gong sounds, calling the people to evening prayers. Waves crash on the shoreline, inching ever closer to the village and threatening their very
A Holy Vow: Churches attempt a lost cause
On the black sand a child ran, face turned upwards as he chased a butterfly. Oblivious to the encroachment of rising sea levels and the gradual erosion of his village, he ran back and forth - lost in this moment. Fifty
A cog in Fiji’s history: Site links ancient kingdoms
One account of the origins of Vunisavisavi begins with a young chief setting out from the pre-European kingdom of Verata which was, at the time, a dominant political force. With his retainers, the chief left his home on
Decarbonising transport: hydrogen fuel is next
While electric vehicles are only just entering Pacific Island markets, Tokyo is working towards an ambitious plan that would see a decarbonised society with net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Increasing the number of
Aumua’s Challenge: Fund agriculture for nutrition, inclusion, survival
The international community has been urged to invest in agricultural innovation in a way that includes traditional practitioners and acknowledges the interconnectedness of agriculture with nutrition, culture, climate
PM Brown to lead Cook Islands delegation to COP27
Prime Minister Mark Brown is heading up a Cook Islands delegation to Egypt this week, where leaders from around the world will be gathering for the 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27). Running
1.5C climate target ‘more fragile’ than ever, says COP27 chair
The goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C is “more fragile” than ever, as world leaders prepare to meet for crucial climate talks, the president-designate of the negotiations has warned. Sameh Shoukry, the foreign
Be angry, be strategic, Pacific climate negotiators urged
“I just wanted to say that sometimes a united voice means that you can also genuinely, assertively be angry.” These were strong words from Fijian activist and political adviser for Diverse Voices and Action
Pacific nations double down on their green demands
As is customary in the run up to any gathering of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), predicable fault lines are emerging. Oil producing nations tend to
Tonga’s first large-scale battery systems to achieve climate targets
The first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Tonga was officially opened at an event attended by Prime Minister Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni. Prime Minister Sovaleni, known also by
Human rights and climate change are interlinked: Ian Fry
“Human-induced climate change is the largest, most pervasive threat to the natural environment and societies the world has ever experienced, and the poorest countries are paying the heaviest price”, says Ian Fry,
Kaua’i, first county to regulate devt on sea level rise forecast
Kaua ‘i, the fourth largest island of Hawaii, became one of the first counties to enact proactive development regulations based on scientific modeling projections of sea level rise. “Today is truly a historic day as
Journey to COP27: Pacific Women negotiators state their case for 1.5 world
Pacific women negotiators at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP) are adamant about what they want to come from COP27 in the city of Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
UNDP calls for debt relief now for 54 countries
Fifty-four countries that are home to more than half of the poorest people on the planet need urgent debt relief now, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a paper published on Tuesday that calls for rich
Opinion: A new climate for Australian aid
Australia has just been found to have failed to adequately protect the rights of Torres Strait Islanders from the impacts of climate change. In a landmark ruling, the UN Human Rights Committee heard arguments from
Opinion: More of the same is not the answer to building influence in the Pacific
Following almost a decade of geopolitically driven “stepping up”, ‘uplifting’, ‘resetting’, and “stepping up across the board”, it appears that Western governments believe more of the same will achieve
