Press Releases

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...

INC Chair expresses optimism for Ottawa negotiations to end with an agreed text

20 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - The Chair of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, Ambassador Luis Vayas Valdivieso, has...

FFC Officials conclude 133rd Meeting in Nauru

FFC Officials conclude 133rd Meeting in Nauru Pictured from left, FFA Deputy Director General Dr Pio Manoa, NFMRA CEO Charleston Deiye, MIMRA Director Glen Joseph, and FFA Director General Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen. The FFC Officials chair was handed...

Saunoaga a le Palemia le Afioga Fiame Naomi Mataafa i le fa’ailogaina o le 100 Tausaga o Avele i Samoa (12 Iuni, 2024 i le 8:00 am) Luma Maota o le FMFMII, Eleele Fou

SAMOA, June 12 - Lau Susuga i le Taitai o le Sauniga – Lau Susuga Ioane Petaia Lau afioga i le Sui Palemia ma Minisita o le Kapeneta Lau afioga Sir Tom & Lady Masters – Kiorana and greetings to you Le afioga i le Peresetene ma le mamalu o tulaga...

Tonga on the path to phasing out single-use plastics, recognises the importance of national actions in meeting future plastics treaty obligations

19 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Despite the challenges associated with being a small island developing state, the Kingdom of Tonga is making significant strides towards addressing the very visible problem of plastics. Tonga will soon finalise a...

Pacific Tourism Organisation Partners with FSM-Yap to Drive Data Excellence for Sustainable Development

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) in collaboration with the Yap Visitors Bureau (YVB) conducted a week-long in-country workshop (June 10-14) focused on data initiatives and the Digital Measurement and Benchmarking Dashboard under the Pacific...

MEDIA RELEASE – Samoa remains steadfast in pursuit of sustainable development.

Apia, Samoa; 7th June 2024 – Samoa recently held successful national validation workshops on June 5th and 7th, 2024, as part of its preparations for the third Voluntary National Review (VNR) process. Supported by the United Nations, the Ministry...

Voices of Pacific Women: Kathleen Taituave Afereti

Negotiating a Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution including in the Marine Environment 26 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - With a broad range of UN negotiations experience under her belt, Kathleen Taituave of Samoa, is a young negotiator...

Magnifying Pacific issues in a global declaration on waste

16 May 2024 - Pacific voices were given the lens to magnify their concerns when it comes to waste management on the global stage. Over a two-day period, Pacific Islands have undergone consultations for their input into the Pre-Zero Draft...

Pacific negotiators feel the pressure as INC ramps up work to meet deadline

28 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Delegates from 14 Pacific countries advocating their national and regional priorities at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding...

Samoa – ADB Pacific Disaster Resilience Program – Phase 4

SAMOA, March 23 - The Government of Samoa and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed the Grant Agreement for the assistance of US$10 million under the Pacific Disaster Resilience Program – Phase 4 on Tuesday 21 March 2023. The Honourable Mulipola...

French Polynesia announces Coral Reef Protection Plan at Ocean Conference

01 July 2022, Lisbon Portugal, UNOC2022 - The Government of French Polynesia has announced its Coral Reef Protection plan, which aims to protect all coral species this year and then, by 2030, all its coral ecosystems. The announcement was made by...

Voices of Pacific Women: Marjorie Wells

Negotiating a Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution including in the Marine Environment 29 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Stepping into deep shoes at the Plastics Treaty now underway, this Pacific Islands women negotiator is showing she can...

Samoa, as Chair of AOSIS, flags special circumstances of SIDS at plastic treaty talks

24 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - As officials and negotiators sift through the revised draft text of the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)...

Fiji calls on the plastics treaty to comprehensively address the full lifecycle of ghost fishing gear

21 April 2024, Ottawa Canada -Fiji contributes a fraction of one per cent of the global macroplastic leakages from abandoned, lost, discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) but bears a disproportionate burden on its devastating impact on marine life and...

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...

Pacific Islands calls on the plastic treaty to include legally binding obligations and implementing mechanisms to address legacy plastics

26 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - The plastics treaty needs to include legally binding obligations that cover the full lifecycle of plastics including addressing legacy plastic already in the marine environment. The point was raised by Samoa, as the...

Vanuatu as PSIDS Chair calls for stronger commitment to plastics treaty in build up to INC-4

17 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Delegates from 14 Pacific countries have descended upon Ottawa, Canada, to finalise preparations for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding...

Pacific Tourism Organisation Partners with Papua New Guinea Tourism to Drive Data Excellence for Sustainable Development

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) in collaboration with the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA) conducted a week-long in-country workshop (May 13-17) focused on data initiatives and the Digital Measurement and Benchmarking...

Three-point Q and A with Chair of the Pacific Small Islands Developing States H.E Ambassador Odo Tevi

21 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...