Don’t saddle Pacific Islands with disaster debt
Pacific Islands are facing a serious debt crisis that has been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting shutdown of the tourism industry. Research based on International Monetary Fund country reports shows
Vanuatu declares a climate emergency
Vanuatu has become the first Pacific Small Island Developing State to declare it is facing a climate emergency. In a Twitter post, the leader of the opposition Ralph Regenvanu announced parliament passed a
Fiji AG says China proposed deal ‘simply a proposal’
Fiji’s Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has sought to play down concern over China’s proposed deal with 10 Pacific nations covering policing, security and communications. Former Kiribati president Anote Tong
Data, skills and a ‘shared vision’ needed to better manage risk
The Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat says to better manage risk, access to robust and contextualised data that can be used to make decisions is needed. Speaking at this week’s
Farmers need to be part of disaster risk talks
At risk of ‘unintended effects’ of climate policies: World Farmers Organisation Farmers could be hurt by the very actions that are meant to help them if they are not in the room when disaster risk reduction
Albanese victory welcomed by Fiji PM
Pacific Islands leaders will be hoping that the swearing in of Australia’s new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese tomorrow morning will herald a new era in climate action from Australia. Fiji Prime Minister, Frank
French Polynesia hosts Blue Climate Summit this week
Global leaders including the Pacific Oceans Commissioner and Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna, and the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown are in French Polynesia this week for the Blue Climate
2022: The Year to Stop the Decline of Ocean Health
OP-ED by Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean NEW YORK, 10 MAY 2022 (UNRCO)— With every breath we take, we are connected to the ocean. The ocean gives us oxygen, provides
Japan reaffirms Pacific regional support
Japan, Fiji and Palau share the same concerns over a security pact China recently signed with the Solomon Islands, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Sunday as he wrapped up a trip to the two Pacific island
Opinion: The world doesn’t care about swings in marginal seats. Climate action must spearhead a new Australian foreign policy
Late last year, more than 100 former diplomats and officials called for a new Australian foreign policy — with climate action at the centre — to help cement Australia’s future in a world rapidly shifting
Comment: Overcoming shocks to create a more resilient, inclusive future for Fiji
Fiji recorded its strongest post-independence period of economic growth in the decade before COVID-19, underpinned by rising productivity and investment, political stability, and a booming tourism industry. While the
Pacific universities launch climate change partnership
The Fiji National University (FNU) and Monash University have today officially launched their partnership to establish the Monash-FNU Pacific Island Countries Climate Change Research Centre (CCRC). The CCRC, which
Palau’s controversial plan to take climate justice into its own hands
Palau’s waters contain some of the world’s richest marine biodiversity. Critically endangered hawksbill turtles and endangered Napoleon wrasse, which can grow up to six feet long and are known for the distinctive
COVID-19, climate change and non communicable diseases
Pacific health ministers respond to health crises COVID-19 is a big opportunity for Pacific countries to transform their health systems, the region’s health ministers have heard. COVID-19, non communicable diseases
Pacific Elders Voice on Climate Security
The Pacific Elders’ Voice reiterates that the primary security threat to the Pacific is climate change. This fact is clearly articulated in the Boe Declaration on Regional Security which states: “We affirm that
Australia election: Climate the most important security issue, say military and political leaders
As voters in Australia head to the polls on 21 May, there is increasing debate over the link between climate change and security. Capitalising on the heated debate around the China-Solomon Islands security agreement, a
Felled by its own Failures – How Australia’s inaction to reform logging in the Solomon Islands has let China in
We have watched these past few weeks as the evolving situation surrounding the Solomon Islands/China security pact has unfolded. It appears that every journalist and political commentator is suddenly an expert in the
Tuvalu races against time and tide in “Future Now” project
Real threat from rising sea level has forced Tuvalu to future proof its existence as a nation despite considerable challenges. In what it calls its “worst case scenario” preparation, Tuvalu’s recently unveiled
Our Ocean Conference in Palau ends on high note
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has announced that 410 commitments were made at the ocean conference with the value of US$16.35
UN climate report: It’s ‘now or never’ to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees
A new flagship UN report on climate change out Monday indicating that harmful carbon emissions from 2010-2019 have never been higher in human history, is proof that the world is on a “fast track” to disaster,
UN appoints Tuvalu national as climate change expert
Ian Fry, a Tuvaluan national, has been selected as the first Special Rapporteur on Climate Change by top UN rights body for three
2022 UN Ocean Conference: Thomson on SDG14 Commitments
Despite environmental challenges, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson believes there are viable solutions to reverse the decline in ocean health. The 2022 UN Ocean Conference which
Palau to host Our Ocean Conference next month
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr said that Our Ocean Conference next month will be an opportunity for the Pacific region to highlight the role of Pacific Islanders as stewards of the oceans. In a virtual Our Ocean
Fiji cops $500m a year or 5% of GDP from flood and cyclones but Climate Change Act will shock Fiji’s financial system, says RBF
Tropical cyclones and flooding may be costing Fiji $500m (US$250 million) a year but the country’s climate action commitments under its new Climate Change Act, 2021 will expose its financial system to
