Press Releases

Cook Islands calls for ambitious targets to reverse and end plastic pollution

24 April 2023, Rarotonga, Cook Islands - “Saying No to single-use plastics” is not enough, much more must be done by our global community to address the plastic crisis we now face. Recognising this, the UN Environment Assembly passed a resolution...

Progress of work to improve climate change adaptation and mitigation in 15 Pacific countries commended

20 April 2023, Suva, Fiji - Whether it is providing water tanks for villages in Papua New Guinea (PNG), tree planting on the Tagabe riverbank in Vanuatu to ensure steady supply of freshwater for communities there or providing support for climate...

PICOF-12 highlights importance of communicating climate information as Pacific prepares for possible El Niño

21 April 2023, Apia – The Pacific has just come out of a triple-dip La Niña event, to an El Niño Watch being declared by four organisations under the Pacific Regional Climate Centre node for long-range forecasting. The recent Pacific Islands...

El Niño watch continues as Pacific Met Services convene 187th Ocean and Climate Online Forum

14 April 2023, Port Vila, Vanuatu – The current state of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was one of the items on the agenda for discussion during the 187th session of the Online Climate and Ocean Forum (OCOF) which was convened this...

Sogavare commends PNA for sustainable management of Tuna Fisheries

Sogavare commends PNA for sustainable management of Tuna Fisheries Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has highly commended the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) group of nations for its tremendous leadership in ensuring the region’s tuna stocks...

Building climate resilience for people and nature at marine World Heritage sites

By developing pioneering resilience strategies, both Ningaloo Coast in Australia and Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System in Belize work to safeguard their World Heritage-listed coral ecosystems from the impacts of climate change and strengthen the...

Planning Workshop brings 5 Pacific Island Countries to enhance climate information and knowledge service for resilience

The Secretariat of Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) hosted a hybrid regional planning workshop on “Enhancing Climate Information and Knowledge Services for Resilience in 5 island countries of the Pacific Ocean” from 21 to 24 March...

Tree planting on Tagabe riverbanks increasing Vanuatu’s climate change resilience

29 March 2023, Port Vila - The Tagabe river is critical to Vanuatu’s ecosystem, supplying fresh water to a population of over 50,000 in Port Vila and its nearby suburbs. But as climate change worsens, the river continues to be severely impacted...

Ministry of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, Republic of Palau

Employment policy Ngirai Tmetuchl, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, shared his thoughts on the development of National Employment Policy (NEP) for Inclusive Economic Diversification and Environmental Sustainability in...

GCCA+ SUPA Project holds Fifth Steering Committee and Lessons Learned Meeting in Palau

17 March 2023, Koror, Palau – The Global Climate Change Alliance Plus Scaling Up Pacific Adaptation (GCCA+ SUPA) Project convened its Fifth Steering Committee and Lessons Learned Meeting in Koror, Palau from 13 – 17 March 2023. The GCCA+ SUPA is a...

PACRES project building Tuvalu’s resilience to adapt to climate change

10 March 2023, Funafuti Tuvalu - A project which exists to improve regional, national adaptation and mitigation solutions to climate change in 15 Pacific countries has provided critical assistance to the tiny island of Tuvalu to battle the climate...

Enhancing climate resilience in the Pacific through improved climate prediction services

28 February 2022, Nadi, Fiji – Meteorological Services from around the Pacific have gathered in Nadi, Fiji for the Joint Regional Training for the Republic of Korea-Pacific Islands Climate Prediction Services Project (ROK PI CliPS) Phase 2 and...

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...

Pohnpei State Senator promotes Sustainable Tourism at PATA Micronesia Chapter

Pohnpei State Senator, Brian P. Etscheit attended the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Micronesia Chapter Summit on 10th March 2023 in Palau to promote the warmth of One Micronesia and the notable islands of Pohnpei connected by clean oceans...

2023, our 30th Anniversary, a year of recommitment to our vision and journey towards Pacific sustainability, resilience and wellbeing through safeguarding our island culture and heritage

By Mr Sefanaia Nawadra, Director General, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) I am excited for 2023 as our 30th anniversary and as the winds of political change sweep through our region in recent months – Australia,...

Ningaloo Coast releases world's first community-led resilience strategy to adapt World Heritage reef to climate change

Earlier this month, Ningaloo Coast World Heritage site in Australia released a pioneering resilient reefs strategy that is aimed at securing the long-term conservation of the coral reef and its communities in a rapidly changing climate. The...

At Ocean Conference, Vanuatu rallies support for Advisory Opinion on implications of climate crisis

“We reach out the hand of friendship to all those who may wish to join us in taking a holistic, integrated approach to protecting human rights from climate change impacts as well as the survival of our oceans.” 30 June 2022, Lisbon Portugal, UNOC...

COVID pandemic compounds climate and Ocean challenges, Nauru reminds

30 June 2022, Lisbon Portugal, UNOC2022 - The impacts of the climate crisis on Pacific Island countries have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, Nauru has reminded the international community. A COVID wave in Nauru has prevented a...

How Belize is pioneering climate resilience in world's second largest reef

Today, Belize’s Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation launched the Belize Strategy for Reef Resilience, paving the way for concerted action across government, businesses and civil society to help safeguard the future of the UNESCO World...

President Lai meets delegation led by Saint Lucia Deputy Prime Minister Ernest Hilaire  

TAIWAN, September 3 - Details 2025-09-02 President Lai meets delegation from University of Tokyo cross-strait relations research group On the afternoon of September 2, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the University of Tokyo’s...