PINA

The European Union has announced a full suspension of visa-free access for citizens of Vanuatu because of the Pacific island nation’s “golden passports” scheme, which offers nationality to investors. The suspension will come into effect from February 2023, the European Council, which represents the EU’s 27 member states, said on Tuesday. The move broadened a partial suspension for Europe, in place...

One of the smallest and worst affected countries by the climate crisis, Kiribati, has called on the 27th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties (UNFCCC COP) to be more ambitious about the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Speaking to world leaders during the High-Level plenary at COP27 in the red sea city of Sharm El-Sheikh...

Loss and damage caused by the climate crisis can no longer be swept under the rug. The issue, including the call for the establishment of a Loss and Damage Finance Facility, should be regarded by world leaders as a “moral imperative.” The point was raised by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, during the opening of the High-Level Session...

By Anita Roberts in Sharm el -sheikh Vanuatu's President has strongly appealed to world leaders at the climate summit in Egypt to vote in favor for Vanuatu's climate justice resolution that will be tabled at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) soon. The UNGA will be asked to vote on the resolution seeking the world's highest court, International Court of...

Tuvalu declared a State of Public Emergency Tuesday for the prolonged drought throughout the islands. The Government is mobilising efforts to respond to both the drought and the Covid-19 outbreak. “Testing times but we remain steadfast in our faith. Tuvalu mo te Atua,” said Tuvalu's foreign Minister Simon Kofe on twitter. Tuvalu Governor General Sir Tofinga Vaevalu Falani said “By the powers...

Tuvalu has become the first country to use United Nations climate talks to demand an international fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, which would phase out the use of coal, oil and gas. The small Pacific islands nation, which is acutely vulnerable to sea level rises caused by global heating, becomes the second country to call for an agreement to end the...

New Zealand is joining a small group of wealthy countries to commit funding to help developing nations facing losses and damages caused by climate change, with an initial pledge of $20 million (US$11.9 million). The “loss and damage” concept refers to costs already being incurred from climate-fuelled weather extremes or impacts, such as rising sea levels, rather than adapting to...

-A top Pacific leader has shrugged off Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s absence from the COP27 climate talks, saying it “would have been nice to see him there” but “we understand and we accept”. Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general Henry Puna said the 190-plus-country UN climate summit was critical to the survival of the region’s small island nations, but he refused to...

Climate change is the single greatest threat to the Pacific say the South Pacific Defence Ministers who met in Nuku'alofa last month. The Tonga Prime Minister's Office issued the SPDMM Joint Communique Tuesday. The South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting reaffirmed the importance of enhanced cooperation to address climate change and other regional security challenges. Defence Ministers and senior delegates from Australia, Chile,...

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) says it received funding in the budget to further ramp up assistance to Solomon Islands police, including by building a new training centre to help police respond to riots and "accelerating" moves to rearm officers in the Pacific Island country. The AFP sent dozens of officers to Solomon Islands in November last year to restore...