Press Releases

Balancing the scales, addressing the disproportionate impact of marine plastic pollution on indigenous communities in the Pacific

24 April 2024, Ottawa Canada – In the village of Nacamaki on the Island of Koro in Fiji, villagers would at certain times of the year take part in a sacred ancient ceremony where they would make their way to the beach, chant songs, sound the horn...

Three-point Q and A with Head of Delegation from Niue at the INC4 on plastic pollution

25 April 2024, Ottawa, Canada - The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), is taking place from 23 to...

Canada shows the way to address plastic pollution and calls on members to make INC-4 count

23 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Canada, the host country of the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-4), is showing the...

Pacific countries convene to align National Biodiversity Targets to Global Biodiversity Framework

18 March 2024, Nadi, Fiji – A historical agreement which sets out an ambitious agenda towards the vision of living in harmony with nature, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, was adopted during the 15th Conference of the Parties to...

Pacific Leaders support for High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution

14 February 2024, Auckland NZ - Given the negative impact of plastic pollution on Pacific communities, Pacific Leaders at the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in the Cook Islands last year encouraged members to join the High Ambition Coalition...

Fathom and World Bank collaborate to enhance flood resilience in 16 climate vulnerable countries with free data access

Global flood risk intelligence leader Fathom will offer its flood data for non-commercial use, free of charge, to 16 countries under a new agreement with the World Bank. These countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change, such as...

Solomon Islands, newest member of High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, leaves mark in Nairobi

15 November 2023, Nairobi Kenya - Solomon Islands might be the newest member of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) to End Plastic Pollution but this has not stopped the Pacific nation from taking the global stage at the plastic treaty negotiations...

USNS Mercy Arrives in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

The arrival of USNS Mercy to Chuuk marks the final stop of Pacific Partnership 24-1, the largest multinational humanitarian and disaster relief mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Mercy’s arrival to Chuuk marks the seventh time Pacific...

Palau, as PSIDS Chair, calls for a revolution to end plastic pollution

14 November 2023, Nairobi Kenya - Twenty three million tonnes of plastic are released to the environment every year and half of it ends up in the Pacific Ocean every time. This number is expected to double by 2030 under a business-as-usual...

New Caledonia to host the Pacific Islands Conference on Nature Conservation and Protected Areas in 2025

At the annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Roundtable for Nature Conservation (PIRT) held in Suva, Fiji, PIRT members welcomed the announcement by the Government of New Caledonia at the recent 31st SPREP Meeting in Apia that it will host the...

Pacific Partnership 24-1 Kicks off Third Mission Stop in Micronesia

This mission stop will host a fly-in only team of 76 Pacific Partnership 24-1 (PP 24-1) personnel. Due to the size of USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), the ship was unable to anchor off the coast of Pohnpei. The fly-in team will have PP24-1 medical, U.S....

Impact of ACP MEA 3 to safeguard environment acknowledged at High Level Ministerial Talanoa

08 September 2023, Apia Samoa - On the margins of 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials: Environment Ministers High Level Talanoa at Taumeasina Island Resort in Samoa, the ACP MEA Phase 3 project hosted a Ministerial networking lunch for Pacific...

SPREP and World Bank build capacities for Environmental and Social Risk Management

07 September 2023, Apia Samoa – The pressing challenges faced by Pacific countries in managing environmental and social risks, especially in a time when climate change and other global issues are exacerbating these risks, have been spotlighted at...

Leveraging digital technologies for a resilient Pacific environment

06 September 2023, Apia – The application and leveraging of digital technologies to address environmental issues was highlighted during a side event at the 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials in Apia, Samoa, on Wednesday. The Vanuatu Klaemet Infomesen...

Prime Minister of Samoa reiterates Pacific leaders’ commitment to the protection of environment

04 September 2023, Apia Samoa - The gathering of SPREP members, partners and donors in Samoa this week embodies the collective commitment and priority Pacific leaders have placed on the protection and management of environment resources of our...

New SPREP guidelines to support Sustainable and Resilient Coastal Development in the Pacific launched

06 September 2023, Apia Samoa – A landmark set of guidelines developed to support resilient coastal infrastructure development in the Pacific have been launched in Apia, on the margins of the 31st SPREP Meeting of Officials. The ‘Good Practice in...

Training strengthens climate resilience of Micronesian countries

26 July 2023, Majuro - The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, Nauru, Palau and Republic of Marshal Islands (RMI) have benefited from the final in person training on “Strengthening Climate resilience and safe water access in rural...

Top 10 Reasons to Visit this Gem in the Federated States of Micronesia

The Pacific Ocean holds a treasure trove of hidden gems, and Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, is one such jewel just waiting to be discovered. With its untouched nature, rich cultural heritage, and breathtaking underwater wonders, Yap is...

Gender equity, human rights and social inclusion critical to strengthening Kiwa Nature based solution projects

20 June 2023, Suva Fiji - Integrating human rights, gender equity, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) in the work of the Kiwa Initiative is critical to strengthening climate change resilience of Pacific Island ecosystems, communities and...

L’égalité femmes-hommes, les droits humains et l'inclusion sociale pour renforcer les projets Kiwa de solutions fondées sur la nature de Kiwa

20 juin 2023, Suva Fiji – La prise en compte des droits humains, de l’égalité de genre, du handicap et de l’inclusion sociale (gender equity, disability and social inclusion, GEDSI) dans les activités de l'Initiative Kiwa est essentielle pour...