Press Releases

Tuvalu hosts Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable

3 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - The Government and the people of Tuvalu have embraced the opportunity to host the Fourth Clean Pacific Roundtable (4CPRT) at the Rt. Hon. Dr Sir Tomasi Puapua Convention Centre (TPCC), Funafuti, from 5 – 9 August...

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...

Work to reduce marine pollution in Pacific countries discussed at 4CPRT

6 August 2024, Funafuti Tuvalu - The Pacific Ocean is the lifeblood of our Pacific communities. It sustains livelihoods, cultures, and economies. However, the growing threats of marine pollution as a result of oil spills, marine invasive species,...

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...

Call for Project Concepts: Enhancing Gender Equality Outcomes in the Pacific Developing Member Countries

Background Gender issues vary across the Pacific developing member countries (DMCs) because of various intersecting factors such as levels of economic development; social, cultural, and gender norms; population size and migration trends; as well...

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...

Mosquito-borne Illnesses

Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses are common in the tropical and sub-tropical climates in many Pacific Islands, in North Queensland (Australia), Asia (including India), tropical Africa and Latin/South America. West Nile virus is commonly found...

Dealing with chemicals in plastics must be part of the global action on plastic pollution

30 May 2023, Paris, France – Overwhelming evidence globally shows that the toxic chemical, additives and pollutants found in plastics have serious risks to human and planetary health. Findings from a recent United Nations Environment Programme...

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...

ARTICLE – Samoa’s recyclers incorporate inclusive approaches and best practices in daily operations

Apia, SAMOA – Strengthening organizational structures, cultures and capacities to systematically mainstream principles of inclusion, diversity, equity and access in the workplace, was the focus of a recent workshop for Samoa’s waste recyclers. The...

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...

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...

REMARKS by the Prime Minister, Hon. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, at the dinner hosted by the WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala

SAMOA, April 16 - Tuesday 16 April 2024, Orator Hotel ___________________________________________________________ E manatu e le toe vāea le pa’ia o fala ‘o’oto, auā sā ma faigata ua afifio nei. Tau ia ina ou fa’apoipoi lili’a ile pa’ia ma le...

Partnerships formalised at Plastics Treaty talks to empower a resilient Cook Islands

25 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Enhancing Cook Islands capacity and learning opportunities when it comes to science, environment and legal policy is at the core of a partnership between the National Environment Service and Monash University in...

Why the One Pacific Voice matters in global effort to end plastic pollution, as we look towards INC2 in Paris

Anthony Talouli Director of Waste Management and Pollution Control, SPREP It’s ironic. Although there is a common global understanding about the adverse impact of plastic pollution on human health, the economy, and the environment, it would be...

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...

Cook Islands joins plastic treaty proposal for chemicals of concern

26 April 29024, Ottawa Canada - The Cook Islands, a large ocean island state is making her mighty voice heard at the Plastics Treaty negotiations now underway. The island nation, with Rwanda, has co-sponsored a proposal by Norway on how to address...

Solomon Islands calls on the global community to address the gaps regarding chemicals of concern in the plastic treaty

Addressing the gap between the few chemicals in plastics that are regulated globally and the growing number of chemicals of concern that are known to be used in plastics but are not identified for listing either for elimination, avoidance and...

Bridge to Busan Declaration open for signing at Plastics Treaty talks

29 April 2024, Ottawa Canada - Today at INC4 over two dozen countries have signed on to the Bridge to Busan Declaration. Launched at the Plastics Treaty negotiations, it invigorates the call for sustainable production levels of primary plastic...

ARTICLE – Circular Economy embraced and localized the Samoan way

Apia, SAMOA – The term, Circular Economy, may be considered a new concept by some, but evidence suggests that this has been widely practiced by many Samoans over the years. The Circular Economy refers to a system that aims to minimise waste and...