Press Releases

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...

Punching above its weight, Pacific leads calls for ambitious targets to end global plastic pollution

Q and A with Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, Director-General of SPREP. 1 June 2023, Paris France - The first scientific findings of marine plastic debris were published in 1972 and reported on small plastic particles found in the Sargasso Sea. Ten years...

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...

Connecting Islands, Empowering Lives: Wallis and Futuna’s Digital Leap

Wallis and Futuna are embarking on a remarkable journey toward digital transformation. The French Territory embraces cutting-edge technology to enhance and promote economic growth and foster digital transformation by participating in the Pacific...

After COVID-19 challenges, parties to Noumea Convention strengthen resolve to protect Pacific’s natural resources and marine environment

31 August 2023, Apia Samoa – The almost full attendance by parties of the first face-to-face meeting of the Noumea Convention, since 2019 when COVID-19 hit and devastated communities around the world, has signalled our commitment to strengthen...

Noumea Convention parties strengthen resolve to protect Pacific’s natural resources and marine environment

SAMOA, August 31 - 31 August 2023, Apia Samoa – The almost full attendance by parties of the first face-to-face meeting of the Noumea Convention, since 2019 when COVID-19 hit and devastated communities around the world, has signalled our...

Paris delivers mandate for zero draft as momentum builds towards plastic treaty

12 June 2023, Paris France – The global community is one step closer towards a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, with the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) in...

PRESS RELEASE: Outgoing Director of Office and UNESCO Representative to the Pacific States, Ms Nisha, Bids Farewell to Samoa after Nearly Seven Years

“UNESCO is honoured to be hosted by Samoa since the inception of its Office for the Pacific States in 1983. It has been an enduring partnership between the Member State and the Organization through the years and one that will prove its relevance...

Call for solidarity to strengthen Met services at Third Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology

18 August 2023, Nadi Fiji - Ministers attending the third Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology (PMMM-3) in Nadi, Fiji, have been urged to stand in solidarity to strengthen weather, climate, water, ocean and related development services in the...

Unlocking waste as a resource through a Circular Economy

07 September 2023, Apia Samoa - The future of waste management is not about building recycling facilities and collecting litter from our oceans, the future of waste management is product design, designing out waste. The 31st Secretariat of the...

More women at the Pacific Meteorological Council Tables

16 August 2023, Nadi Fiji - Ten years ago, at the Second Pacific Meteorological Council there was one woman at the head of the table representing her National Met Service. Today, at the Sixth Pacific Met Council there are six women at the table...

Commitment to protect the Pacific from hazardous and toxic wastes reaffirmed in Apia

1 September 2023, Apia – Pacific Island countries and territories who have committed to reducing and eliminating transboundary movements of hazardous and radioactive waste and minimize the production of hazardous and toxic wastes in the Pacific...

Progressing the Mercury Free Pacific Campaign

08 September 2023, Apia Samoa - The impacts of mercury pollution can be challenging to identify and reverse but strategies to reduce mercury contamination are important because mercury can cause significant adverse effects to humans and ecological...

Factsheets to support Pacific negotiations for Plastics Treaty launched

5 September 2023, Apia – A series of factsheets aimed at supporting Pacific Island negotiators as they navigate through the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process to negotiate a new International legally-binding instrument (ILBI) to...

Pacific Tourism Organisation and Auckland University of Technology complete Data Transfer Agreement.

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and Auckland University of Technology (AUT) have completed the required Data Transfer Agreement under the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI). Taking effect from October 1st, 2023, the PTDI will be...

Dawn of New Era: Kingdom of Tonga Undertakes Historic Conservation Milestone

Late Island, Tonga — In a groundbreaking conservation initiative, Late Island in the Kingdom of Tonga stands as potentially the largest island in the Pacific to have been cleared of invasive rats, setting a remarkable benchmark for similar...

Solomon Islands calls for global plastic production reduction, plans national plastic ban

31 May 2023, Paris France - The pristine beaches, vibrant forests and colourful reefs of 992 islands of the Solomon Islands are threatened by increasing plastic litter arriving on its shores, and from discarded plastic waste locally. In the...

Tonga Tourism Industry Embraces Digital Transformation with Pacific Digital Champions Training

Tongan tourism industry leaders and key stakeholders solidified their dedication to embracing digital transformation. This commitment took shape during their participation in the Pacific Digital Champions training program from 15th-16th August,...

Leaders from the Pacific Region make a clear statement that the conservation of our oceans is not optional

17 December 2022, Montreal, Canada - Much of the talk these past two weeks at the CBD COP15 has centred around developing states concerned that there will be an unfair burden placed upon them to maintain their biodiversity. But the Pacific side...

Tuvalu Embraces Digital Transformation with SPTO’s Pacific Digital Champions Training Program

The Tuvalu Department of Tourism and its stakeholders embraced the opportunity to progress digital transformation, through the Pacific Tourism Organisations (SPTO) Pacific Digital Champions training program. Funded by the New Zealand Government...