Negotiations at COP28 hit roadblock as fossil fuel phase-out language faces opposition
On the last day of negotiations at COP28, Karlos Moresi Lee, the Pacific Islands Forum Programme Adviser for Resilient Development Finance, discussed the challenges faced by negotiators from the Alliance of Small Island
Forum SG Puna support change of COP format for amplified youth voices
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Henry Puna has called for a full revamp of the format and structure of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP). Puna emphasised the urgent need to bring
Pacific Resilience Facility set to launch in 2025: Forum Chair Brown
Cook Islands Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum Chair, Mark Brown has announced at the COP28 side event in Dubai that the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) is scheduled to commence operations by 2025. Brown
Milestone COP28 side event calls for urgent global action on 1.5°C goal
Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown has highlighted the nature of the 1.5°C target, emphasising the commitment required to uphold the 2015 Paris Agreement. The COP28 meeting in Dubai
Opinion: Can the Commonwealth save paradise?
As Foreign Minister of Ghana, I do get around a fair bit. Often, I’m immersed in briefing papers on flights, with little to no time for looking out the window to take in the aerial sights on the approach to
Science points to ‘climate collapse’ as UN chief calls COP28 to action
The world is heating up at an unprecedented pace, new climate data shows, and leaders gathered for the COP28 conference which opened in Dubai on Thursday must get us out of “deep trouble”, UN Chief António Guterres
Cook Islands PM happy with Pacific Islands Forum meeting success
Forum Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is happy with the outcome of the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting. “I am very happy with our outcomes as leaders. Of course, there are a number of
Forum outcomes cover environment, security and gender
Meeting in Cook Islands, Pacific Islands Forum leaders confirmed former President of Nauru Baron Waqa as the next Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat, taking over from Henry Puna in 2024. A major focus of the
Forum leaders appointed Baron Waqa as next Forum Secretary General, endorse the 2050 Strategy
Pacific Islands Forum leaders have reaffirmed the decision taken under the Suva Agreement with the appointment of former president of Nauru Baron Waqa as the next Secretary General. This was announced by Forum Chairman
Fiji PM disappointed with Nauru President for not turning up at the Leaders retreat in Aitutaki
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed disappointment at Nauru’s President David Adeang failure to attend the Leaders retreat in Aitutaki today. Adeang walked out of the Forum Leaders Plenary Wednesday
Niue’s Premier says complete phase out of fossil fuels ‘very hard’
Niue has nearly exhausted its climate mitigation options and its focus now is on adaptation, the island’s Premier Dalton Tagelagi says. Tagelagi told RNZ Pacific that Niue’s contribution to global warming is
Suva Agreement called into question after Nauru walkout of the Forum Leaders Meeting
The validity of the Suva Agreement has been thrown into question after Nauru’s President walked out of the Forum Leaders plenary in Cook Islands capital, Rarotonga Wednesday when incoming Secretary General’s
PM Albanese says Pacific backs Australian climate policy with ‘very positive’ feedback
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he’s had “nothing but positive feedback” about his country’s climate change policies as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is expected to test his
PIFLM: Nauru President walks out of meeting, Micronesia will continue to support Waqa
Nauru’s President David Adeang and his delegation walked out of the Pacific Islands Forum plenary meeting Wednesday as questions are raised about the appointment of former President Baron Waqa to take over in 2024
Moetai Brotherson at the Forum: “We all share this Moana Nui a Hiva”
For Moetai Brotherson, the newly elected President of French Polynesia, this week’s Pacific Islands Forum is a time to share ideas with the leaders of state from neighbouring island nations. “It’s necessary to
MSG meeting in Rarotonga appoints special envoy on West Papua
Meeting in Rarotonga in the lead up to the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has agreed to appoint a special envoy to engage in talks with Indonesia on the issue of West Papua. Following a
Strengthening the Pacific’s nukes-free zone
A challenge for leaders in Rarotonga In August 1985, the Pacific Islands Forum held its annual summit in Cook Islands and adopted the Treaty of Rarotonga for a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (SPNFZ). Created at the
Water shocks impact the food chain
“We often think of buckets for food security. But in the Pacific, it means water security,” said Dave Hebblethwaite, the Pacific Community’s Water Security and Governance Coordinator. To illustrate his
Melanesian delegations meet in Rarotonga
As this week’s program kicks off in Rarotonga, member states of the Pacific Island Forum have held sub-regional caucuses, to prepare for the week’s wide-ranging agenda. Leaders and delegates from Melanesia,
Preaching partnership in the Pacific islands
As the Pacific Islands Forum holds its 52nd meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, leaders are eager for international delegations to focus on Pacific agendas and priorities, exemplified by the 2050 Strategy for a Blue
Forum wants action on climate finance and Loss and Damage
RAROTONGA/PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM 2023: As the region faces an El Nino summer and Vanuatu reels from the devastation of Cyclone Lola – the third Category 5 cyclone to hit the nation in seven months – it’s no
Challenging times for regionalism in Rarotonga
Pacific Islands Forum 2023: Every September, the opening of the United Nations General Assembly provides an opportunity for presidents, prime ministers and heads of states to highlight their views on global challenges.
Christopher Luxon won’t attend Pacific Islands Forum in order to form government
New Zealand Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon will not attend next week’s Pacific Islands Forum because he will be busy forming the next Government. Luxon made the call during a media stand-up in Auckland today,
U.S. welcomes Pacific COP bid for Australia in 2026, confirms support for Resilience Facility
A long-running bid for global recognition of a Pacific-owned, initiated and led Resilience fund for disaster-proofing islands nations has received the nod from the United States and Australia. The Pacific Resilience