PINA

The plight of Pacific countries, where entire communities are at risk from the scourge of the plastic crisis despite contributing less than 1.3 per cent to global plastic statistics, has been highlighted in Paris where officials continue to negotiate a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. At the official opening of the second session of...

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul Concerns raised by Pacific Leaders about Japan’s plan to discharge over a million tonnes of contaminated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, over the next four years will feature prominently on the agenda of the inaugural Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit today. The Korea – Pacific Islands Summit is the first multilateral Summit to be...

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul The Korea – Pacific Islands Summit is set to discuss 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent Monday. This was revealed by Forum Secretary General Henry Puna in an interview with Pacific journalists in Seoul. “It's important that if the 2050 is to be meaningful, our partners need to align their development, their assistance with all...

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul As a responsible Small Island Developing State, with negligible contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, Tuvalu is taking steps to address emissions from the shipping sector, says Prime Minister Kausea Natano. Natano in his remarks at the World Climate Industry Expo- Leaders’ Summit session on Carbon-Free Shipping toward a Greener Ocean on the weekend, said shipping,...

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul Pacific countries support for South Korea’s bid to host the World Expo in 2030, will be a sovereign decision for each member countries to make, says Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna. The issue is expected to be raised at the Inaugural Korea – Pacific Summit Monday. PACNEWS understand Korea will be asking the Pacific...

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul Climate change remains Pacific priorities despite geopolitical interest and security for the Indo Pacific from global superpowers, says Forum Secretary General Henry Puna. Pacific island leaders are meeting South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul today for the inaugural Korea – Pacific Summit, as the region seeks stronger action on climate change. In an interview...

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul Pacific civil society groups have written to Pacific Leaders ahead of the inaugural Korea- Pacific Summit Monday requesting that they use this opportunity to request Korea to withdraw its financial and political support for fossil fuel projects in Australia. The first Korea-Pacific Islands Summit on Monday between Forum Leaders and South Korea President Yoon Suk...

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General and Ocean Commissioner Henry Puna says ‘ocean conservation is vital to our survival, our way of life, our economies, and absolutely essential in addressing climate change.’ In his remarks at the World Climate Industry Expo in Busan attended by Pacific and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) leaders including Belize and Bahamas,...

By Pita Ligaiula Fiji has called on global community to reach an effective legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. The second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC2) is taking place in Paris, France from 29 May - 02 June. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for...

By Stephen Howes Fresh off their meeting with Indian Prime Minister Modi in PNG, Pacific leaders are this coming week gathering in Seoul for the inaugural South Korea-Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting. It is not hard to be sceptical about the value of these summits but, that said, they are not going to go away. Normally, they focus on aid....