Press Releases

Joint Media Release – REAPing the benefits of creating early awareness of waste management and recovery in schools

28 August 2024 Apia, Samoa – The REAP, or Recover-Enrich-Appreciate-Prosper education programme, and The Bag that Builds (TBTB) initiative, are two waste management and recovery programmes that were piloted in 12 local schools with funding from...

Pacific Islands gather in Funafuti for first-ever Plastic Dialogue

7 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - With the community of nations deadlocked in international negotiations to conclude a global instrument to end plastic pollution by the end of 2024, a first-of-its-kind Plastic Dialogue was convened today in...

L’Initiative Kiwa annonce une contribution supplémentaire de l’Australie et lance un nouvel appel à projets régionaux pour renforcer la résilience climatique dans le Pacifique

Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie, 15 juillet 2024 Aujourd'hui, l'Initiative Kiwa - Solutions fondées sur la Nature (SfN) pour la résilience climatique, lance un nouvel appel à projets régionaux (incluant au moins deux des 18 Etats et/ou territoires...

Tonga launches National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan

The Kingdom of Tonga’s fight to manage invasive species has taken a massive leap forward with the Prime Minister, Honourable Hu’akavameilikiu Siaosi Sovaleni, launching their National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plan (NISSAP) 2021 – 2027....

Pacific countries and SPREP envision future of work to manage waste and pollution

8 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - Waste management and pollution control remains one of the most pressing environmental issues facing the Pacific, a region already struggling with the impacts of the triple planetary crises of climate change,...

Pacific Women Negotiators take the lead

Ms Anama Solofa, Lead Negotiator on Ocean Issues, Alliance of Small Island States 1 June 2023, Paris France - More than 190 governments are now negotiating a new global treaty to end plastic pollution through an Intergovernmental Negotiation...

How the Kingdom of Tonga is dealing with the scourge of End of Life Vehicles

6 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - The mountain of End of Life Vehicles (ELVs) is an imposing challenge for the Kingdom of Tonga. Statistics show that the main island of Tongatapu has accumulated more than 30,000 ELVs over the years – and with more...

Ottawa one step closer to a plastics treaty

01 May 2023, Ottawa Canada - Pacific delegates are leaving Ottawa Canada exhausted but reasonably satisfied with an advanced draft text of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. They...

Fiji committed to global cooperation for an ambitious and robust plastics treaty

31 May 2023, Paris France - The voice of Fiji was heard during a meeting of 193 governments tasked with the responsibility of developing a legally binding agreement to address the plastic pollution crisis. The second Intergovernmental Negotiating...

Kiribati’s lead-acid battery recycling system highlighted at Clean Pacific Roundtable

7 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - A commercial operation to recycle used lead-acid batteries in Kiribati, where 7000 tonnes of toxic waste has been removed from the island over a twenty year period, could be replicated and used in other Pacific...

Pacific Tourism Organisation Announces New Digital Champions Program

The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), is pleased to announce newly appointed Pacific Digital Champions, under the New Zealand government-funded Pacific Digital Tourism Transformation Project (Phase 2). In support of the SPTO Digital Strategy...

First for the Pacific: Solomon Islands to Host Regional Directors of Women Learning Exchange

First for the Pacific: Solomon Islands to Host Regional Directors of Women Learning Exchange Honiara, Solomon Islands – The Government of Solomon Islands is hosting Directors of Women from 13 Pacific Islands Countries at a Regional Directors of...

Solomon Islands seek stronger and deeper partnership with India.

Solomon Islands seek stronger and deeper partnership with India. Solomon Islands is seeking a stronger and deeper partnership with India as the former invests to establish diplomatic presence in New Delhi with Prime Minister Sogavare saying……….“We...

Pacific Invasive Species Battlers Armed to Target Widespread Weeds with Natural Enemies

Natural enemies play a crucial role in the biological control of widespread weeds, offering an environmentally sustainable alternative to chemical herbicides. When prioritising weeds for biological control, several critical criteria must be...

PROJECT LAUNCH Strengthening Capacity of Border Control for Responding to Infectious Diseases in Pacific Island Countries

SAMOA, May 3 - Speech By UNDP RR, Jorn Sorensen On behalf Dr Simona Marinescu – 2 May 2023 (Prime Minister’s Lounge, Lava Hotel, Apia) Honourable Senta Keisuke, Ambassador of Japan to Samoa Peseta Noumea Simi, CEO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and...

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...

Joint Media Release – Promoting a just green transition for the benefit of all

19 July 2024 Apia, Samoa – A just green transition is not just a buzz phrase of the moment. It is in fact a critical issue that every country needs to consider in light of the current climate crisis. This is especially so for small island...

Pacific Tourism Organisation and Vanuatu Tourism Office Collaborate on Data Analytics Capacity-Building Workshop in Port Vila

As the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) in-country visits continue, the SPTO team, in collaboration with the Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO), was in Port Vila from July 1 to July 5 to conduct a week-long capacity-building workshop. The workshop...

PRESS RELEASE – PASO ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2024, SAMOA RE-ELECTED AS CHAIRPERSON

Apia, Samoa/Press Release/10 June 2024 – The Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO), welcomed representatives from Member States and a special delegation from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to its Annual General Meeting, held...

Midway INC-4 update: Contact groups work to streamline revised draft text

26 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) in Ottawa Canada has reached...