Tackling the Pacific’s plastics crisis
The Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), an initiative under the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), is fighting the threat of single-use plastics to the Pacific coastal environment. With
Opinion: Most plastics are made from fossil fuels and end up in the ocean, but marine microbes can’t degrade them
Marine plastic pollution is a massive environmental issue, with a plastic smog of an estimated 170 trillion particles afloat in the world’s oceans. This highlights how urgently we need to develop strategies to
$10 million project aims to reduce single-use plastics in Cook Islands
A project to reduce the number of plastics entering the country, focused on the food and beverage sector, was discussed during a workshop in Rarotonga last week. Like other countries around the world, the Cook Islands
‘Greenwashing’: Cook Islands Environment group slams ‘mineral harvesting’ in Seabed Mining Act
The introduction of the term ‘mineral harvesting’ in the legislation governing seabed minerals in the Cook Islands is an attempt to ‘greenwash this destructive industry’, says a local environment group. Te
Opinion: What can the Pacific learn from the EU Parliament vote against Norway’s decision to advance deep-sea mining
On February the 7th, the European Union (EU) Parliament voted against Norway’s recent decision to advance deep-sea mining in the Arctic by reaffirming its moratorium position and called for the European Commission and
Cook Islands Parliament makes changes to seabed mining law
The Cook Islands has made amendments to its Seabed Minerals Act this week, including replacing the term “mining” with “minerals harvesting … to reflect the actual activity that takes
Plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals
Plastic producers have known for more than 30 years that recycling is not an economically or technically feasible plastic waste management solution. That has not stopped them from promoting it, according to a new
Fiji Business Briefs: Pine harvesting, Nabouwalu development, Kinetic Growth updates
RBF gives insurers time to implement new standards The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) says licensed insurers will only have to reflect new reporting standards in their prudential reporting from 1 January 2026. This follows
Oceanic Refractions: A transcendent dive into Pacific realities
Mere Nailatikau and Amer Kanngieser Unveil Immersive Exhibition Blending Art and Environmental Activism In a captivating intersection of art, environmental awareness, and cultural storytelling, Mere Nailatikau and Amer
Seabed regulations: Public input ends, future updates planned
Cook Islands has concluded public consultation for seabed mineral exploration guidelines, while the Prime Minister emphasises exploration’s potential for future prosperity and responsible resource
Fiji’s national living treasure: Dr Dick Watling
Dr Dick Watling believes that for conservation programmes to be successful, they must “place resource owners and their needs and aspirations at their centre and train people to implement them.” Dr Watling makes his