Opinion: World’s biggest deforestation project gets underway in Papua for sugarcane
Excavators have begun clearing land in the Indonesian region of Papua in what’s been described as the largest deforestation undertaking in the world. A total of 2 million hectares (5 million acres) of forests,
In French Polynesia, boom in whale-based tourism sparks concern
A giant whale stole the show at the Summer Olympic Games, shooting out of the water as athletes competed in women’s surfing semi-finals on the French Pacific island of Tahiti last month. It is for spectacular
Cook Islands Opposition welcomes regulations, warns against premature mining
The Cook Islands Opposition leader has welcomed the regulatory framework for deep-sea mining but maintains the stance against any mining activities until ‘environmentally friendly technology’ is available and Cook
Recyclers deserve respect and recognition, not handouts: PRA
In a significant shift for the local recycling sector, the Pacific Recyclers Alliance has recently gained formal recognition, marking a critical step forward for grassroots recycling advocates. This acknowledgment
New EU regulations challenge Fiji’s fairtrade producers
A balancing act between global standards and local realities Fair trade practices in Fiji are under increasing scrutiny as new international regulations push producers to meet stringent environmental and human rights
Sailing to sustainability
The arrival of the SV Juren Ae into Majuro Lagoon under full sail at the end of last month was a majestic sight. It was also an important moment for sustainable shipping in our region. In 2020, Marshall Islands
Addressing Kiribati’s ‘alarming’ water situation
In Kiribati, many people still struggle to get adequate access to safe, clean drinking water. But work is well underway to try and ensure more schools can provide this basic human need to students. “If you don’t
More gold to be mined, says PM Marape
Papua New Guinea has an estimated 100 million ounces of gold that is yet to be mined, says Prime Minister James Marape. Marape said this when closing the three-day Geoscience, Exploration and Extraction Conference 2024
A Lawsuit Promises Justice for Rio Tinto’s Mining Disaster in Bougainville. Some Say It’s Nothing But a Cash Grab.
The Panguna mine made a fortune but left war and pollution in its wake. A new lawsuit backed by anonymous investors is now seeking billions in compensation – and raising concerns about who stands to benefit. High in
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
Dr Sivendra Michael is Fiji’s new PS for Environment and Climate Change
Fiji’s Dr Sivendra Michael has become the country’s newly-appointed Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change. Dr Michael has spent the last 10 years working in the climate change adaptation (CCA) and
Tonga wins 2023 Pacific Invasive Species Battler of the Year Award
National Invasive Species Coordinator of the Tonga Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), Viliami Hakaumotu has been honoured as the
Opinion: Regenerate forests and save humanity
“The era of global boiling has arrived,” UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, recently warned. It looks as if the climate change tipping point has been activated and all hands are required on deck to mitigate the