The long, hard road to climate finance
It’s the classic Catch-22. Pacific and other small island developing states desperately need to access climate finance to survive the growing impacts of climate change. That much is well known. And the
UN
We’re not trying to impress anyone: Tonga PM on UN truce
Tonga’s Prime Minister said, “We are not trying to impress anyone. This was a sovereign decision made by the Government of Tonga…,” when he was asked why Tonga had opposed the UN General Assembly
‘Tipping points’ of risk pose new threats, UN report warns
A new UN report launched on Wednesday has some useful insights on “risk tipping points” which are becoming an increasing challenge worldwide. Tipping points are reached when the systems we rely on stop functioning
Organisations call for swift ratification and implementation of BBNJ Treaty
The European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) are calling for a rapid ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement to address the triple planetary crisis of
Abandon fossil fuels: UN SG told world leaders
UN Secretary General António Guterres has urged leaders “to ensure that projects deliver the green, sustainable infrastructure countries need to support people and ecosystems alike, while breaking free of failed
COP28: Boiling Point
It’s taken 70 years but some of the life is slowly coming back around Bikini atoll, ravaged by the United States’ nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands immediately after World War Two. For a team from the
Chinese grifters tie up UN, Marshalls in scam
The stakes could scarcely have been higher for Hilda Heine, the former president of the Marshall Islands. For years, her remote archipelago nation of just 40,000 people was best known to the world — if known at all
Opinion: High seas treaty too late to stop seabed mining
When the International Seabed Authority begins accepting applications for deep-sea mining operations in the coming weeks, there will remain a lingering question. How much control will authorities have over operations to
Temperatures off the charts, but more records imminent: WMO
Global sea surface temperatures reached a record high in May, June, and July – and the warming El Niño weather pattern is only just getting started – experts at the UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said
Israel frees Fijian UN peacekeepers cleared of drug smuggling suspicion
Israel has released three Fijian UN peacekeepers arrested for drug smuggling, after it emerged the suspicious substance they were carrying across the border was not liquid cocaine, police said Sunday. The three
Pacific calls for immediate ratification of Highseas Treaty
As the global community embrace the adoption of the new Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty, the Pacific are calling on the international community to seize this milestone momentum and rally
First steps agreed on plastics treaty after breakthrough at Paris talks
Nation-state representatives have taken the first concrete step toward a legally binding treaty to regulate plastic, described as the most important green deal since the 2015 international climate agreement. The banging
New Caledonia’s FLNKS wants ICJ advice on contested vote
A New Caledonian pro-independence leader says the advice of the International Court of Justice is being sought over the contested 2021 referendum on independence from France. Roch Wamytan, who is the president of New
Samoa sends first team of UN Peacekeepers since COVID lockdown
A 10 member team of Samoan police officers leaves today for training in Jakarta, Indonesia before deployment under the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission. It is the first team sent for peace keeping duties since the
Tongan Foreign Minister ‘Utoikamanu accepts Chair of the ESCAP 79th Session
Tongan Foreign Minister Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu is the new chair of the ESCAP 79th Session underway in Bangkok, Thailand this week. In her acceptance speech, ‘Utoikamanu said the deliberations of the
UN resolution a victory for Pacific youth
The United Nations’ adoption of a resolution calling for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of States on climate change, is a victory for the Pacific, and for a group
Current climate policies ‘a death sentence’ for the world: UN Chief
If governments continue with the same environmental policies currently in place, the world will become 2.8°C hotter by the end of the century, which would be “a death sentence”, warned the UN chief on Thursday.
UN court gets request for advisory opinion on climate change
The United Nations’ highest court confirmed Wednesday that the General Assembly has asked for it to issue an advisory opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change.” UN nations led by the
How Vanuatu’s climate campaign could save the world
The tiny island country has pushed the UN and the International Court of Justice to take unprecedented action that could help avert planetary catastrophe. A small miracle happened in New York on 29 March. A humble
Cop28 host UAE tried to weaken global shipping climate ambition
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) tried to weaken global shipping’s climate target last week, sparking fears that it will lack ambition as host of the Cop28 climate summit. According to four sources in the room, the UAE
Deep-sea mining meeting closes without consensus
As meetings to oversee deep-sea mining on the high seas draw to a close, it remains unclear whether regulators will allow it to commence in the near future. At the 07-31 March meetings in Kingston, Jamaica, of the
UN backs landmark Pacific-led climate resolution
The United Nations has adopted a landmark resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to deliver an opinion on climate change and the legal consequences countries face for harming the environment. It is
Use of automated systems boosts revenue in Tuvalu
Tuvalu has increased revenue by 20% after automating its customs management systems. Paperless customs procedures have really made it simpler for traders in Tuvalu, says Sania Teisini, Director of Tuvalu’s Revenue
